There are many many international variants of familiar "classic" names. Where we have Christopher; other countries have Christophe, Kryštof, Hristofor and Cristoforo. Most of these variants also have their own distinct diminutives.
So, here's a thought, if Fins use Kaisa as a nickname for Katariina, why can't Brits use it as an alternative nickname for Katherine? I don't think it's too much of a leap for those parents who are looking for something a bit more distinctive in the diminutive stakes. After all, the Scots and the Welsh have been creating and using their own distinctive diminutives for classic anglicised names for centuries -- Tam (Thomas), Kester (Christopher) and Bethan (Elizabeth) to name just a few.
Let's have a look at some of these international nicknames:
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Alexander
Aleš -- Czech
Ali -- Scottish
Olek-- Polish
Sander -- Dutch
Sandro -- Italian
Sandor -- Hungarian
Santo -- Cornish
Anthony
Anĉjo (an-chyo) -- Esperanto
Andon -- Bulgarian
Anto -- Croatian
Christopher
Kester -- Scottish
Kitto -- Cornish
Risto -- Finnish
George
Jory -- Cornish
James/Jacob
Jago -- Cornish
Jem -- Medieval English
Jeppe -- Scandinavian
John
Hans -- Scandinavian
Hasse -- Scandinavian
Jens -- Scandinavian
Jockie -- Scottish
Johs -- Scandinavian
Joseph
Jef -- Dutch
Jos -- Dutch
Zef -- Dutch
Matthew
Mads -- Danish
Mats -- Scandinavian
Ties -- Dutch
Michael
Miĉjo (mee-chyo) -- Esperanto
Miho -- Croatian
Mikko -- Finnish
Nicholas
Klas/Klaus -- Scandinavian
Kolya -- Russian
Nicca -- Cornish
Nils -- Scandinavian
Peter
Per -- Scandinavian
Piers -- Medieval English
Pyrs -- Welsh
Robert
Bo -- Scandinavian
Boye -- Scandinavian
Thomas
Tam -- Scottish
Tomek -- Polish
William
Bilo -- Welsh
Ville -- Scandinavian
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Adelaide
Alida -- Dutch
Aleit -- German
Elke -- Dutch, German
Alexandra
Alessa -- Italian
Alondra -- Spanish
Lesya -- Russian
Ola -- Polish
Sanda -- Romanian
Sassa -- Swedish
Ann/Anna
Anja -- Scandinavian
Anica -- Serbian
Anjo -- Esperanto
Anka -- Polish
Anneli -- Finnish
Anouk -- French
Ans -- Dutch
Anya -- Russian
Angela/Angelina
Anđa (an-ja) -- Croatian
Aniela (an-yell-a) -- Polish
Anielka (an-yell-ka) -- Polish
Caroline
Kaja -- Polish
Karo -- Scandinavian
Liina -- Finnish
Line/Lina -- Scandinavian
Catherine
Cadi-- Welsh
Cati-- Welsh
Catia -- Portugese
Cato -- Dutch
Ine -- Scandinavian
Kaisa -- Finnish
Kajsa (ky-sa)-- Scandinavian
Kari
Karna
Kasia (kah-sha) -- Polish
Katya -- Russian
Trine-- Scandinavian
Cecilia
Cille-- Danish
Cili-- Hungarian
Cilka -- Slovene
Silja -- Finnish
Silla-- Scandinavian
Zilla -- German
Christina
Kia -- Swedish
Kikki-- Scandinavian
Kirsi -- Finnish
Kirstie/ Kirsty -- Scottish
Stina-- Scandinavian
Dorothy/Dorothea
Ditte-- Danish
Dora-- Scandinavian
Dorit-- Scandinavian
Dorti-- Welsh
Teija (tay-a) -- Finnish
Thit -- Scandinavian
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Elizabeth
Bethan-- Welsh
Betsan-- Welsh
Beti-- Welsh
Betja (bet-ya) -- Dutch
Betsi-- Welsh
Eliška (el-eesh-ka) -- Czech
Ilsa-- Dutch
Lies -- Dutch
Liesl-- German
Liesje (lee-sha) -- Dutch
Liisi -- Finnish
Lysod-- Welsh
Helen/Helena
Eli -- Scandinavian
Elin -- Scandinavian
Eline -- Scandinavian
Ili-- Hungarian
Leni -- Scandinavian
Henrietta
Henna -- Finnish
Hennie -- Dutch
Jetta -- Dutch
Rikke-- Scandinavian
Jane/Joanna
Hannie -- Dutch
Janken-- Scandinavian
Jannicke-- Scandinavian
Madeleine/Magdalena
Duci -- Hungarian
Lene / Leni -- Scandinavian
Lenka -- Czech / Slovak
Madel-- Scandinavian
Madicken-- Scandinavian
Magli-- Scandinavian
Malena-- Scandinavian
Malin -- Swedish
Margaret
Beggan-- Welsh
Magali -- Provencial
Mared -- Welsh
Megan-- Welsh
Meta -- Scandinavian
Mette -- Danish
Paaie -- Manx
Reetta -- Finnish
Mary/Maria
Maiken -- Scandinavian
Mali -- Welsh
Manjo -- Esperanto
Masha -- Russian
Mia -- Dutch/German
My (mee) -- Swedish
Matilda
Mette-- Scandinavian
Thilda -- Scandinavian
Tilla -- Scandinavian
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I admit to cheating a bit. A few of the names are actually international variants in their own right. But they serve quite well as nicknames in this case. And, yes, I know, I know, medieval Endlish hardly counts as "international", but hey, it's a bit different and I was on a roll.
