Nicknames

[Johnner Kid]

Hi Folks
In my youth and brought up in the NE few of us were known by the names given at our christenings.
Nicknames were in everyday use. 
Names like CY for Alexander or Sandy, PEEM for James, DOAD for George, NANCY for Anne or Annie, LEIB for Elizabeth, and a few more.
As an adult living in the SW for the past thirty years I have not found much evidence of these particular names in use elsewhere.
Is that the experience of others with a NE up bringing who have moved elswhere?