A Ginger Cat Called Blue
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382034)
Rockingham, Australia
April 5, 2017 7:34am CST
In my last post, I added a photo of a cat we once owned and loved. He was called Blue. Several people have queried why we called him Blue when he was ginger. Giving people or animals strange nicknames seems to be an Australian habit.
Aussies often bestow nicknames which are seemingly opposite to whatever attributes the person might have. Ginger- or red-headed people will often be called 'Bluey' or 'Blue'. A former Prime Minister, and our first female in the role, had red hair and was often referred to a 'ranga'. This came from an abbreviation of orang-utan.
I couldn't find too many examples of these types of names but 'Curly' is another one. This nickname might be given to someone who is bald. So the name is in the opposite direction to what is the truth. A short person might be called 'Lofty' or a tall person 'Shorty'. It's just something Aussies seem to like to do.
Photo is of Blue on a hot day.
26 people like this
27 responses
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
5 Apr 17
since it's totally opposite, right? hahaha! or dominoes!
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
5 Apr 17
@hereandthere Oh yes, Domino would be a great name too.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382034)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Apr 17
@Nawsheen It's certainly is a bit weird. I can't think of nicknames like that here but I'm sure there are some. I've come back to edit this. I know a guy called 'Mouse'. He was given the nickname at school as he was so small and quiet.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43586)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Apr 17
The Harlem Globetrotters had a legendary point guard named Curly Neal. He was bald.
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@JudyEv (382034)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr 17
@teamfreak16 Exactly. I was finding it hard to come up with examples but that's another one.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43586)
• Denver, Colorado
6 Apr 17
@JudyEv - At least it was in the 70's. I guess it's like calling a fat guy "slim."
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382034)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 17
I miss not having a cat but we have too many lovely little birds here. I wouldn't want to endanger them.
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
5 Apr 17
lol I guess it makes perfect sense to the Aussies but to the rest of us not so much! hehehehehe
Beautiful cat even if he isn't blue!! lol
Beautiful cat even if he isn't blue!! lol2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
5 Apr 17
@JudyEv Could be but at least they have a good sense of humour!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
6 Apr 17
It did not take me long to guess the name of a black dog (lol)
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
5 Apr 17
i know aussies are funny that way, but if i were ginger-haired, i think i'd rather be called blue than ranga. curly of the 3 stoogies was bald.
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@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
5 Apr 17
@JudyEv he could have been baldy, and larry curly, then moe, mophead!
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@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
11 Apr 17
We name all the bluetongue lizards around the garden 'Bluey' .. lol ..
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
12 Apr 17
@JudyEv Yes we do get up to 4 at a time because we have big rocks in the front garden where they live .. But the dog attacks them when they venture out in the backyard..
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@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
5 Apr 17
Glad you explained, I wasnt sure why blue myself!
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@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
6 Apr 17
@JudyEv nope, cant say people don't say call a big guy Tiny, but that sort of thing is more rare, esp when it comes to a version like calling an orange cat blue! lol
1 person likes this
@manasamanu (3797)
• Bangalore, India
5 Apr 17
That's a nice habbit. Even we Indians call people with nick names. My family calls me MANU (nickname). I love that and my friends call me with different names, I love them all. It makes me feel special.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
6 Apr 17
Interesting. I wondered where Curly for bald came from.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (38848)
• Philippines
6 Apr 17
Nice cat. Good to know how Aussies give nicknames
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@JudyEv (382034)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Apr 17
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply. I must have missed some notifications. Yes, Aussies like to give nicknames to people and pets.
@JudyEv (382034)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Apr 17
Being PC has got in the way of many a funny nickname. 
Sorry about the late reply. I must have missed a day or something.
Sorry about the late reply. I must have missed a day or something.
@JudyEv (382034)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr 17
We was indeed. And our little Smoky cat would run rings round him - steal his mouse if he ever managed to catch one and whack him now and then just to remind him who was boss.
@JudyEv (382034)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr 17
I didn't know 'mate' was in common usage in England. It is here too. 'Cobber' used to be another term but you don't hear that so often now. Women are 'sheilas' here. I don't know where that started - another thing to look up! (sigh)
