The first two sons were named after the child's Grandfathers. It was usually the father's side first honored unless the Mother's father had died before the Father's father and the Father's father was still living. The females were named in like order. They believed in honoring their fathers and mothers. This naming order started to go out in the 1840's.
Nicknames can also cause trouble.
These are some among the Pennsylvania Germans. Barbara was Bevvy. Dietrich became Dieter. Elizabeth could be Eliz, Eliza, or Lis. Johannans was Hans or Hannes.