What's in a nickname?
By vanilla_28
@vanilla_28 (176)
Malta
January 15, 2009 3:36pm CST
Ever heard of some strange or funny nicknames and wondered where do they came from? Some people carry nicknames from childhood and are still called that way when they become adults. Although I never had a nickname, I do have some friends whose nickname came as a joke but it seems that they can do nothing about it to change it.
What's your opinion about nicknames?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@KatieDidit (989)
• United States
16 Jan 09
I had one of those nicknames that started as a joke when I was 12. It got to be the only thing people called me and what was funny was that they actually forgot my real name! Not just my peers but the adults around me too... teachers, my friends parents, people at church.... They'd go to introduce me to someone new and have to ask me my name and they'd known me since I was 7! 
@vanilla_28 (176)
• Malta
16 Jan 09
Thanks for your sharing your experience with us. It is very shocking to hear such stories, that people may even forgot your real name.
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
15 Jan 09
Somtimes nicknames are a very useful thing to have. If someone has an unusual name that would cause problems for them as a child for instance, then a nickname could be very useful to avoid teasing and being turned against their real name. An example of this might be a gender non-specific name or a name that is very unusual and that has a spelling similar but not the same as a common name of the gender that is not the person's. This could cause teasing, etc. Of course nicknames that are given in jest or to be hurtful are not good or useful and reflect on the bullies who give them and not on the victim.
@vanilla_28 (176)
• Malta
16 Jan 09
Yes, that's true. Sometimes they are used against someone as a form of bullying, and can be very shameful.
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
16 Jan 09
My grandma's sister family nick was really funny. She was into business. It was a rather "awkard" nickname in Maltese (better not translate it here). Everybody found the family like that.
