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A nickname is sometimes considered desirable, symbolising a form of acceptance, but can often be a form of ridicule.
Many artists and actors have nicknames, which in years past were called a Stage Name . A person's online nickname may also be known as his ''' Handle ''', especially within Hacker culture.

.

In Viking societies, many people had nicknames ''heiti'', ''viðrnefni'' or ''uppnefi'' which were used in addition to, or instead of their family names. In some circumstances the giving of a nickname had a special status in Viking society in that it created a relationship between the name maker and the recipient of the nickname, to the extent that the creation of a nickname also often entailed a formal ceremony and an exchange of gifts.


NICKNAMES FOR PEOPLE

Types of personal nickname:
Also known as pet name, shortened name, truncated name, alternate name, name derivative, associated name, hypocoristic form of a name, diminutized name, or diminuted name. Sometimes related to "alias."

Relating to given names

1. A nickname may be a Hypocoristic form of a person's first name. This is often a simple abbreviation of the name. For most English names the shortened form is taken from the first syllable e.g. Walt for Walter. However in many other languages it is much more common to use the last syllable of the whole name e.g. Italian Nino for Giovanni (via Giovannino, which is a Diminutive form of Giovanni). Some abbreviations can use the middle of a word e.g. Liz for Elizabeth. There are a few names for which an archaic pronunciation of the full name is preserved in the short name e.g. Rick for Richard indicates that the -ch- was originally pronounced as -ck-. Some other nicknames were created by rhyming the shortened form of the full name, such as Ted or Ned for Edward (Ed), Bill for William (Will), and Bob or Nob for Robert (Rob). For those abbreviations that do not begin with the same letter as the full name, see List Of Short Name Forms .
Examples:

  • Ally, Allie, Ali ''for'' Alexandra, Allison, Alison or Alice

  • Al, Alex, Agg, Andi, Lex, Xander, Sasha ''for'' Alexander or Alexandra

  • Ann, Anna, Anne, Annie, Bella ''for'' Annabelle

  • Andie ''for'' Andrea

  • Andy, Drew ''for'' Andrew

  • Ant, Tony, Toni, Tone ''for'' Sukhbir Brar,Anthony

  • Barb, Barbie, Babs ''for'' Barbara

  • Ben, Benny, Lanky, Benji ''for'' Benjamin

  • Bert, Bertie ''for'' Albert, Herbert, Bertram

  • Betta ''for'' Elisabetta

  • Billy Bob ''for'' William Robert

  • Chuck, Chaz, Charlie, Charley, Carson ''for'' Charles

  • Chris, Chrissy, Tina ''for'' Christina

  • Chris, Chrissy, Chrissie ''for'' Christine

  • Chris ''for'' Christopher, Christian

  • Di, Dicey, Didi ''for'' Diane, Diana

  • Donna ''for'' Donnatella

  • Dan, Danny ''for'' Daniel

  • Dave, Davey ''for'' David

  • Den, Denny, Dino, Dean ''for'' Dennis

  • Dot, Dotty ''for'' Dorothy or Dorothea

  • Ella, Ellie, Elle, Nell, Nellie ''for'' Eleanor

  • Beth, Bess, Bessie, Betsy, Betty, Bette, Ellie, Eliza, Lisa, Liza, Liz ''for'' Elizabeth

  • Eli, Lige ''for'' Elijah

  • Eli, Lish, Leesh ''for'' Elisha

  • Em, Ems, Emmy ''for'' Emily and Emma

  • Rikki, Rikkie, Ricky for Erica

  • Frank, Frankie, Franky ''for'' Francis and Franklin

  • Greg and Gegi ''for'' Gregory

  • Geoff ''for'' Geoffrey

  • Grey Goose ''for'' Gary

  • Gerry ''for'' Gerald or Gerard

  • Gina, Gena ''for'' Georgina

  • Harry, Hal, Hank ''for'' Henry, Hazel and Harold

  • Isa, Bella, Belle, Bell ''for'' Isabel, Isabelle, Isabella

  • Jack, Johnny ''for'' John

  • Jackie, Jaquie ''for'' Jacqueline

  • Jake ''for'' Jacob

  • Jay, Jayce ''for'' Jason

  • Jeff ''for'' Jefferson or Jeffrey (originally for Jefferson but now more often Jeffrey, a new form of Geoffrey)

  • Jerry ''for'' Jerome

  • Jess, Jessie ''for'' Jessica

  • Jez ''for'' Jeremy

  • Jim, Jimmy, Jamie, Jock ''for'' James

  • Joe, Joey ''for'' Joseph

  • Jojo, Josey ''for'' Josiah

  • Jon ''for'' Jonathan

  • Jo, Josie ''for'' Josephine

  • Josh ''for'' Joshua

  • Judy ''for'' Judith

  • Jules ''for'' Julie or Julia

  • Kat, Kate, Katie, Kathy ''for'' Katrina, Kathleen or Katherine or Kaitlyn

  • Kels ''for'' Kelsey, Kelsie

  • Ken, Kenny ''for'' Kenneth or Kendra

  • Kev, Crank ''for'' Kevin

  • Kim, Kimmy, Kimmie, Kimber, or Lee ''for'' Kimberly or Kimberley


  • Larry, Lar, Laurie ''for'' Lawrence or Laurence (male only)

  • Laur, Lauri, Laurie, Lozza (australian) ''for'' Laurence, Laura or Lauren (female)

  • Leo, Leona, Len, Lenny ''for'' Leonard or Leopold

  • Liv, Livi ''for'' Olivia

  • Lucy, Ceil, Ceall, Cille ''for'' Lucille

  • Mandy, Mandi, Manda ''for'' Amanda

  • Maddie, Maddy ''for'' Madeline, Madison

  • Marge, Marg, Maggie, Mags, Meg, Megan, Peggy, Greta ''for'' Margaret

  • Marty ''for'' Martin

  • Marty, Martie, Mattie ''for'' Martha

  • Mally, Maidie, Mamie, Mare ''for'' Mary

  • Matt, Mattie ''for'' Matthew

  • Maur, Mo ''for'' Maureen

  • Max for Maxwell, or Maximilian

  • Meg, Mog, Gog ''for'' Megan

  • Merv ''for'' Mervin

  • Mo ''for'' Mohammed

  • Moll, Molly Dolly, Good Golly Miss Molly ''for'' Molly

  • Nate, Nat ''for'' Nathan, Nathaniel, Natalie

  • Ned, Ted ''for'' Edward

  • Nick ''for'' Nicholas

  • Nicky, Cole, Coley ''for'' Nicole

  • Pat, Patsy, Patty, Patti, Trish, Tricia ''for'' Patricia

  • Pat, Paddy, Pa, Patriche ''for'' Patrick

  • Pete ''for'' Peter

  • Rach, Rachie ''for'' Rachel

  • Dick, Dickie, Dicky, Rich, Richie, Richy, Rick, Ricky ''for'' Richard

  • Bob, Rob, Robby, Robbie, Robi , Bobby, Rab, Bert , Bertie , Butch , Bobbers , Bobert , Bobadito, Robban (in Sweden) ''for'' Robert

  • Ron, Ronnie ''for'' Ronald

  • Rosie, Rose ''for'' Rosemary

  • Rube ''for'' Reuben

  • Rusty ''for'' Russell

  • Ry ''for'' Ryan

  • Sally, Sallie, Sadie ''for'' Sarah

  • Sam, Sammy, Sammie ''for'' Samuel, Samantha, Samson

  • Sandy, Al, Alex ''for'' Alexander

  • Sandra, Sandy, Al, Alex ''for'' Alexandra

  • Shari, Shazza ''for'' Sharron

  • Sophie, Sophia ''for'' Sophronia

  • Steph, Stephie ''for'' Stephanie

  • Steve ''for'' Stephen (or Steven)

  • Stewie, Stew, Stu ''for'' Stewart, Stuart

  • Sue, Susie, Suzie ''for'' Susan/Suzanne (most often Sue or Susie for Susan and Suzie for Suzanne)

  • Ted, Teddy, Theo, Tad ''for'' Edward, Theodore

  • Teddie, Thea, Theo ''for'' Theodora

  • Tom, Thom, Tommy ''for'' Thomas

  • Topher "for" Christopher

  • Terrie ''for'' Teresa

  • Ty ''for'' Tyler, Tyann, Tyrone

  • Vicky, Vicki, Vickie, Tori ''for'' Victoria

  • Vince, Vin, Vinnie ''for'' Vincent

  • Vivi, Viv ''for'' Vivian

  • Wen, Wendel ''for'' Wendy

  • Wesley, Westley, West, Big W, Will, Wils, Willy, Willie, Bill, Billy, Liam ''for'' William

  • Zach, Zack, Zac ''for'' Zachary



Many of these names are also registered as formal birth names.

2. A nickname may relate directly to a person's surname. Examples:

  • Fletch'' for someone with the surname'' Fletcher

  • Mitch'' for someone with the surname'' Mitchell

  • Murph'' for someone with the surname'' Murphy

  • Sully ''for someone with the surname'' Sullivan
  • Smitty'' for someone with the surname'' Smith

  • Arch'' for someone with the surname'' Archer

  • Churchy ''for'' Winston Churchill


3. It may also relate indirectly to a surname. Examples:

  • Chalky ''for someone with the surname'' White

  • Sandy ''for someone with the surname'' Brown

  • Doggy ''for someone with the surname'' Barker
  • Dicky ''for someone with the surname'' Bird

  • Dinger ''for someone with the surname'' Bell

  • Chook ''for someone with the surname'' Fowler (only in Australia, where 'chook' is slang for chicken)



4. A nickname may be based on a person's suffix, as to distinguish them from their namesake, as in:
  • Junior, J.R. ''for someone who is'' a junior (Jr.)

  • Deuce ''for someone who is'' the second (II)

  • Trey, Tré, Trip ''for someone who is'' the third (III)

  • Ivy, Ivey, I.V. ''for someone who is'' the fourth (IV)


5. A nickname may reflect a national or cultural style. In the United States, for instance, rhyming contractions or plays on a person's name are common, as in:

Calling a person by their initials is also common.

6. Nicknames, whatever their original basis, may become cultural norms. 'Sis', (slang for 'sister') for example, is often picked up and used by all the members of a family, their friends and society at large. Similarly, 'Chip' (off the old block) and 'Junior' can be used for any youngster and the nickname may follow the person into adulthood.


Relating to culture/nationality

7. It may relate (offensively or otherwise) to a person's nationality or place of origin.
See Also: Offensive terms per nationality


Examples:


Relating to personal characteristics

8. A nickname may relate to the person's occupation. Examples:
  • MacGyver ''for'' someone who is good at fixing things

  • Chips ''for a'' Carpenter

  • Sparky or Sparks ''for an'' Electrician or Radio Operator

  • Chief ''for a'' boss

  • Skipper ''or'' Skip ''for a'' captain or boss

    • 9. It may reference a person's physical characteristics. Examples:

  • Baldy or Curly (ironic) ''for a'' Bald person

  • Tubby or Chubby ''for a'' fat person

  • Lofty, Lanksta or Stretch ''for a'' tall person

  • Four-eyes ''for a'' person with glasses (offensive)

  • Specs ''for a'' person who wears glasses

  • Wheels ''for a'' person who uses a wheelchair (generally considered offensive)

  • Carrot,herring, bloodnut, Carrot Top, Red, Rusty or Firecrotch ''for a'' person with Red Hair

  • Blondie ''for a'' person with Blond Hair

  • Grey ''for a'' person who has a very Light Blue Eye Color , also called the Grey Eye Color .

    • It may be a sarcastic, or simply ironic, reference, e.g., Curly ''for'' someone with straight hair (or No Hair at all) - this form was typical in Australian English in the mid 20th_Century but less so in current Parlance , e.g:

  • Bluey ''for a'' person with red hair

  • Tiny ''for a'' very large person

  • Dulz ''for a'' cross eyed person (offensive)

  • Shorty ''for a'' very tall person

  • Slick ''for a'' clumsy, awkward or shy person

  • Slim ''for a'' fat person

    • 10. It may relate to a person's character, imagined or real. Examples:



12. It may compare the person with a famous or fictional character. Examples:
  • Napoleon ''or'' Hitler ''for'' someone with a dictatorial manner

    • 13. It may be related to their place of origin or place of residence. Examples:

  • Gloucester, Paul from Gloucester or PFG for someone named Paul who comes from a town called Gloucester .

  • Robin Hood (Robin ''of Hood''), a famous fictional character.


14. It may reference a person's political affiliation. Examples:


Others

15. A famous person's nickname may be unique to them:
  • Tippecanoe ''for'' William Henry Harrison

  • Dubya ''for'' George W. Bush . Dubya is from the Texan pronunciation of 'w', Bush's middle initial.

  • Jack The Dripper ''for'' painter Jackson Pollock who created many of his works by dripping paint over horizontal canvas

    • 16. A person's nickname may have no traceable origin. For example, a person named "Harold" may be nicknamed "Fred" for no apparent reason, or a man who was named after a relative may ask his friends to call him "Chip" to avoid confusion.



NICKNAMES OF GEOGRAPHICAL PLACES


Cities

See also: List Of City Nicknames for a more comprehensive list.


Countries

  • The Great White North - Canada

  • The Land Down Under, Oz - Australia

  • The Land of the Long White Cloud - New Zealand

  • L'hexagone (The Hexagon) - France

  • The Fine Country - Singapore - Often in a sarcastic or satirical manner, as to playfully describe the law enforcement of Singapore as corruption-free and highly efficient; however, the island nation is also widely accepted has been imposing high fines to minor offences such as littering with such high effiency that granted such nickname to the nation.

  • The Land of the Rising Sun - Japan

  • The Pearl of the Orient Seas - Philippines

  • Da Lu (mainland - lit. 'Big Land') - Mainland China

  • The States, America, Uncle Sam, Jesusland - United States (Jesusland is mostly the United States {Link without Title} )

  • The Emerald Isle - Ireland

  • Blighty - Great Britain

  • The Lucky Country - Australia

  • The Country With no Nickname - Sweden

  • The Boot - Italy



Regions

  • The Wet Coast - British Columbia, Canada ; a play on "The West Coast" because that area of the country rains a lot

  • Red States - states that strongly supported George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections

  • Blue States - states that strongly supported Al Gore and John Kerry in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, respectively

  • The Deep South , Bible Belt - Southern U.S.

  • The Dirty South (usually the South Eastern States but not limited to the whole Old South)

  • The Left Coast - Washington, Oregon, and California, United States; due to their location in the country and general support of "the left" ( Liberal political ideology).

  • Bridge of the World, Heart of the Universe (Spanish: Puente del Mundo, Corazón del Universo) - Republic of Panama; due to the convergence of the principal trade routes through its Panama Canal



NICKNAMES FOR POLITICAL TERMS

  • Red - a Communist , but can also mean a rebel who is against the government; inclining towards the left wing politically, as in a "Red Tory" in Canada, that is, a moderate conservative; also, ironically, a member or supporter of the United States Republican Party

  • Blue - a member or supporter of the United States Democratic Party ; a supporter of the Conservatives in Canada -- and a "Blue Tory" is a right wing conservative

  • Pinko - a borderline Communist

  • Hawk - a person who supports and pursues aggressive foreign policies, such as going to war in order to achieve his/her goals

  • Dove - a person who supports and pursues peaceful means to conduct foreign policy, as opposed to war

  • Skinhead - a Neo-Nazi or a white supremacist

  • Tory - a person belonging to the British or Canadian Conservative Party.

  • Grit - a person belonging to the Liberal Party in Canada

  • The Little Red Book - the book that contains Quotations From Chairman Mao Zedong , often called that because the book itself has a red cover and small enough to fit into a pocket



NICKNAMES FOR SOME COMMON ITEMS



NICKNAMES FOR PROFESSIONS



NICKNAMES FOR COMPANIES

  • "Big Blue" - IBM , computer hardware/software manufacturer

  • "The Big Eye" - CBS , broadcasting network

  • "Bloblaws" or "Blah-Blahs" - Loblaws , Canadian supermarket chain

  • "BK Lounge" - Burger King , global fast-food chain

  • "Crapple" - Apple Computers , a good computer and software manufacturer

  • "Gold Mansacks" - Goldman Sachs , investment banking firm

  • "Great Yellow Father" - Eastman Kodak

  • "Ho-Jo" - Howard Johnson

  • "Jacques Penné" - JCPenney clothing stores

  • "K-Fry" or "K-Fried" - KFC , American fried chicken restaurant chain

  • "The Little Thief" - Little Chef , UK roadside restaurant

  • "Lose-It" - Loomis , Canadian courier company

  • "Ma Bell" - AT&T , American telephone company

  • "Marks & Sparks" - Marks & Spencer , British department store chain

  • "Mickey D's", "McDeath", "Rotten Ronnie's", "McDogchow", "McDick's", "McConvicts", "MacDo" mainly in France , though former usage common in Australia in addition to Australian "Macca's" - McDonald's , global fast-food chain

  • "Monkey Ward" - Montgomery Wards Department Store chain

  • "M$," "Micro," "Micro" or "The Borg " - Microsoft , American software company

  • "Mothercorp" - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation , Canadian national broadcaster

  • "OOPS" - UPS , American courier service

  • "Pizza Slut", "Pizza Smut" - Pizza Hut , Global pizza chain

  • "Scan dick", "Scandalic" - Scandic

  • "Skandial" - Skandia

  • "Snot Gothic" - Hot Topic

  • "Sooner-or-Later" - Purolator , Canadian courier company

  • "Tar-Get" ("Get" pronounced "zhay")- Target retail store chain.

  • "Timmy's," "Tim's" or "Timmy Ho's" - Tim Hortons , Canadian coffee and doughnut chain

  • "Taco Hell", "Toxic Hell", "Baco Tell", "Taco Smell", "Toxic Bell", "Taco Beelzebub" - Taco Bell fast-food restaurant chain

  • "Wally World" or "Mall-Wart" - Wal-Mart , global chain of retail stores.

  • "Weggies" - Wegmans Food Market inc.

  • "Office Despot" - Office Depot, chain of office supply stores.



NICKNAMES FOR UNIVERSITIES



MILITARY NICKNAMES




SPORTS CLUBS AND THEIR NICKNAMES

Sport ing Club s are often given nicknames. These may or may not be incorporated into official names or be used by the club. The names of animals or colours are popular. Examples:

Football (soccer)



Australian Rules Football

See also List Of Nicknames Used In Australian Rules





Rugby Union



Baseball



NBA Basketball



International Basketball



Cricket

See Also: List of nicknames used in cricket




American Football



Canadian Football



Hockey (Ice)



SPORTS STADIA AND THEIR NICKNAMES


Australia



South America



Britain



United States



SEE ALSO



EXTERNAL LINKS