James = Jim. Know some more?

[442w30]

You usually take the long multisyllable version at birth as your official name. Friends and family get to use your simple nickname. If someone usess it assuming that is what you go by and you don't know them, they are a choad.

You can also make it known to people when you introduce yourself they can use your simple name. "My name is Stephen Stewart, you can call me steve" shows you like them enough to be cordial or you don't like your official name.

[toejam]

Can you be christened "Joe" for instance or would that person always be christened "Joseph"?

My name is Joseph, but everyone calls me Joe. I've had teachers back in high school call me Joey before. You can be named just Joe if that's what the parents want.
Most people named John have the full name of Jonathan, but I know guys whose parents named them just John or Jon, or even Chris instead of Christopher.

[SeventhSon]

When do you use them? I mean, when is it socially correct to use them?

I wouldn't lead with "Dick" for "Richard" unless you knew that was his preference.

Also, there are the "y" extensions...

Richard > Rick > Ricky
Samual > Sam > Sammy

which you would never use unless you were friends with the guy

[Endrik]

Badass Motherfucker = Endrik

[Jason1212]

Jason-jay
Victor-Vick
Nickolas-Nick

[zeegler]

Paul = Zeeg

[atomic charvel guy]

Thomas, Tommy = Bender i.e. Flippy, Flighty, i.e.- watchout!!!!!

[Mr White]

James - Jamie (thats a family name for me)
Nedward - Ned (thats a pisstake that my mate loves)

James

[VitaminG]

Francis = Frank
Phillip or Philip = Dr Phil
Nicholas = Nick
Matthew = Matt
Elizabeth = Liz
Leslie or Lesley = Les
Raelene = Rae
Lynette = Lyn
Emily = Em
Danielle = Dani
Oliver = Ollie
Redmond = Red
Melanie = Mel
Jacqueline = Jacki or Jacqui
Patricia = Trish
Natalie = Nat
Kenneth = Ken
Kevin = Kev
Kathleen, Katherine, Catherine = Kath, Kathy, Cath or Cathy
Judith = Judy
Jennifer = Jenny
Deirdre = Dee

Charming, good looking, well hung man beast = Gary

well, that's most of my family.....

[texasfury]

I think jackson1 wants the one where the alternate version isn't the obvious simple shortening of the existing name. I think he wants the ones that don't make sense, like Jack = John, as opposed to the quite obvious Albert = Al.

Here's some Spanish ones:

Jose = Pepe
Francisco = Pancho

[QuantumRider]

Elizabeth = Liz, Beth, or Biffy (although the last one may be geographically limited)

Following up on Texasfury's Spanish theme,

Cresencio = Chencho

[finnman]

Henrik=Henry
Finn= Finn

[texasfury]

More Spanish ones:

Dionisio = Nicho
Gonzalo = Chalo
Jesus = Chuy
Francisco = Paco

[SGplayer]

Gerald=Gerry

[RacerX]

Delores can also be Dee, I had a Spanish teacher that liked that. Some gals also will do a (shorten then repeat) = DeeDee

or Josephine from Iron Maidens = JoJo

Sometimes with my close friends I'll do the repeat thing, or just add "ie" on the end....like joking around ie

Dennis = DenDen

Clyde = Clydie