Are nicknames common in your country?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (370673)
Rockingham, Australia
December 16, 2025 11:14pm CST
I’m wondering if nicknames are common in countries other than Australia. I often hear of some very clever nicknames but can’t always remember them.
I heard a new one today. There is a guy in the sea shanty group that we follow and he is called ‘the florist’ because he is always making arrangements – not floral arrangements, mind you, but other sorts of arrangements. Waterside workers or wharfies are notoriously lazy and one at the Esperance Port Authority was known as ‘rigor mortis’ because it was said that no-one had ever seen him move. Redheads are often called ‘Blue’, simply because they are not I guess.
My sister was known as ‘Herb’ for quite some years. Her name was Shirley and it became Sherbert Herbert which was then shortened to ‘Herb’. Go figure. Are nicknames common among your friends and associates?
The photo is of my brother and sister. They’re twins.
20 people like this
20 responses
@innertalks (23525)
• Australia
18 Dec
We can sometimes have a nickname for a person, behind their back, and they do not know about it, unless we make a faux pas, like my mother, once did.
She had a nickname for the next door neighbour, whose name was Regie, but behind his back, she would call him humorously to us kids, Regie Rat.
There was one time, this neighbour gave us a lift in his car, Mum, and me, to the shops, as we did not have a car.
We were waiting for him in a bookshop, for him to finish his shopping, and we had arranged that he would pick us up from there.
Mum was looking at a book, and she said out loud to me,
"I wonder what time Regie Rat will be here to pick us up?"
She went a very bright red when Regie, tapped her on her shoulder, and said,
"I am here now, Joan."
@innertalks (23525)
• Australia
18 Dec
@JudyEv She felt a bit sheepish every tie that she saw this neighbour again too.
@Shiva49 (27861)
• Singapore
18 Dec
Then again, one has to be careful while in the midst of children with regard to airing views about friends and relatives.
I recall one such case where a kid opened the door and called out to his father - "Dad, the person you said you will never vote for is here to see you."
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (166868)
• United States
17 Dec
Oh, yes, and often you don't want anyone calling you by that nickname.
They were adorable as tots. 
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (166868)
• United States
17 Dec
@JudyEv Very true... Just like my nickname of DaddyEvil isn't really complementary but I still like it. 
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (128948)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Dec
They are common here. That's how I got my name. My dad was Everett and the guys he worked with just called him Ev. So mom and dad added the A sound to the end.
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@wolfgirl569 (128948)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Dec
@JudyEv Both my boys went be a short version of their names. Its easier to say
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@noni1959 (12377)
• United States
17 Dec
Besides shortened names, some have nick names. For instance, my ex is called Bear at times because he is very hairy. My first husband was called Brushstomper since he would stomp brush to bring out critters during hunting season. A coworker called me Sis since he said I was like his sister. My dad went by Tommy to coworkers, bowling league and business people. It was short for our last name of Thomas.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (370673)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec
@noni1959 I've known a few who throughout their life thought they were 'X' but then had to get a birth certificate and found 'X' wasn't their name at all. Or the spelling was different. Both these things can cause all sorts of difficulties in later life.
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@LeaPea2417 (39410)
• Toccoa, Georgia
17 Dec
My son when he was learning to talk as a toddler couldn't pronounce my sister's name, Stephanie. He would say "Ci Ci" and it was that way for many years , Aunt Ci Ci.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (93731)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Dec
Such adorable children, Love that photo. Yes, quite often people go by nicknames,
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@1creekgirl (44418)
• United States
19 Dec
What a sweet photo!
Nicknames are very common here in the southern US. Our family has bug names: red bug, lady bug, tater bug, doodle bug.
2 people like this
Those are cute nicknames too.
@Marilynda1225 (88435)
• United States
17 Dec
Your brother and sister are so cute.
Nicknames are common here too. My son has been called doodlebug from a young age and now that he's grown he's still my doodlebug. The nieces and nephews all call him uncle doodlebug even though his given name is Jon.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (27861)
• Singapore
17 Dec
What a lovely picture and more so of twins!
There are some that are used often like busybody, nosy.
I like ngeow commonly heard in Singapore - finding fault in everything and also for being stingy.
Some can be hurtful and borders on body shaming that is taboo nowadays.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (17994)
• Raurkela, India
17 Dec
I do have a nickname at home by which my family and relatives call me.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (17994)
• Raurkela, India
18 Dec
@JudyEv The nickname should of course be easy to pronounce.
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@LindaOHio (212695)
• United States
17 Dec
What a cute picture.
I've been called Scoop because of my writing. Hubby and others have called me Lin. Cousin #2 calls me Linda Lou Hoo. I signed a postcard Lin to my parents when I went to Bermuda. My father was livid because I didn't sign it Linda.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (212695)
• United States
18 Dec
@JudyEv That's definitely head scratching that she would name you Judith.
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@AmbiePam (111866)
• United States
17 Dec
What a great photo!
I was a sad kid, and it was very noticeable. Several men in our church would call me, Smiley. I was always respectful, but it annoyed the heck out of me.
My family tends to call me Ambie. And, of course, my dad, Dennis, is often called by his friends, Dennis the Menace. I assume that character made it to Australia?
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (202338)
• United States
17 Dec
They are common here. My dad goes by his nickname, at least with family.
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@BACONSTRIPSXXX (16927)
• Torrington, Connecticut
17 Dec
Awwww that's a cute pic and yes we even nickname our pets lol
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@brokenbee (11925)
• Philippines
27 Dec
Here in the Philippines, it is quite common that they give nicknames to people. We often repeat some letters of their names to create their nickname like An-an... Bong Bong.. Lenlen... Jaja.. Jojo...
Or shorten their names like Sam for Samantha... Vicky for Victoria.. Alex for Alexander... Joe for Joseph and so on...
Sometimes for older women, they add -ing or -ng to create their nicknames like
Loring for Loreto... Sofing for Josefina... Caring for Caridad...
And lastly, it was an old custom where elders create another nickname for a child who is sickly. They thought that spirits who cause the child's sickness will be misled if they are already called by another name, so they can no longer harm that child.
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