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A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or thing's real name, (for example, Nick is short for Nicholas). As a concept, it is distinct from both pseudonym and stage name, although there may be overlap in these concepts. Etymology:In Middle English the word was ekename (from the verb to eke, "enlarge"; compare Swedish öknamn). Later, an ekename developed into a nickname.
In Viking societies, many people had nicknames heiti, virnefni 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.
1 People and their Nicknames
Types of personal nickname:
1. A nickname may relate directly to a person's first name. Examples:
- Ally, Allie for Allison or Alice
- Andy and Andie for Andrew and Andrea
- Bill, Billy, Will, Willy for William
- Bob, Rob for Robert
- Chuck, Chaz, Charlie for Charles
- Donna for Donnatella
- Daisy for Marguerite, another name for the flower
- Jack for John
- Jeff for Jeffrey
- Kate, Katie, Kathy for Katherine
- Leo, Len, Lenny for Leonard or Leopold
- Mandy, Mandi, Manda for Amanda
- Maddie, Maddy for Madeline
- Matt, Mattie for Matthew
- Moll, Molly Dolly, Good Golly Miss Molly for Molly and Mollie
- Nate, Nat for Nathan, Nathaniel, Natalie
- Nell, Ellie, Elle for Eleanor
- Peggy, Maggie, Meg, Marg for Margaret or Megan
- Ron, Ronnie for Ronald
- Ricky, Dick, Rich, Rick for Richard
- Sam for Samuel or Samantha
- Steph or Stephie for Stephanie
- Steve for Stephen or Steven
- Sue, Susie, Suzie for Susan/Susanne/Suzanne
- Ted, Ned, Ed, Eddie for Edward
- Ted, Teddy, Teddie for Theodore, Theodora and Edward
- Tom, Tommy for Thomas
- Trish, Tricia for Patricia
- Wenny, Wendel for Wendy
Many of these names are also registered as formal birth names.
2. A nickname may relate directly to a person's surname. Examples:
- Mitch for someone with the surname Mitchell
- Sully for someone with the surname Sullivan
3. It may also relate indirectly to a surname. Examples:
- Chalky for someone with the surname White
- Sandy for someone with the surname Brown
- Dicky for someone with the surname Bird
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. A nickname may relate to the person's calling. Examples:
7. It may relate (offensively or otherwise) to a person's nationality or place of origin. Examples:
- Aussie for an Australian
- Kiwi for a New ZealanderFor alternative meanings, see New Zealand (disambiguation). New Zealand is a country formed of two major islands and a number of smaller islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. A common Mori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa popularly translated as Land
- LimeyThere are many alternative ways to describe United Kingdom nationals. The usual terms are the adjective British and noun Briton (see also demonym). The latter is sometimes abbreviated to Brit although this is to be avoided in formal contexts. Some other t for an EnglishEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England person (U.S. usage); Pom or Pommy (Australian usage)
- Mac or Jock for a ScottishScotland or in Scottish Gaelic, Alba is a country and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four nations comprising the United Kingdom. Scotland occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland took part in a p person
- Scouse for a person from LiverpoolFor alternate uses of "Liverpool" see Liverpool (disambiguation Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside in north west England, on the north side of the Mersey estuary. Liverpool is governed by Liverpool City Council, one of five council
- TaffThe River Taff is a river in South Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons the Taff Fechan Little Taff and the Taff Mawr Big Taff , before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil. At Abercynon, it is joined by the Cynon river, and at for a WelshFor alternate meanings, see Wales (disambiguation Wales ( Welsh: Cymru pronounced /"k@mrI/ SAMPA, km IPA, 'Kumree' approximate pronunciation) is one of the four nations comprising the United Kingdom (the other three being England, Scotland and Northern Ir person
- Tex for a person from TexasTexas joined the United States of America as its 28th member state in 1845. It has the postal abbreviation TX . The state name derives from a word in a Caddoan language of the Hasinai, tejas meaning friends or allies Spanish explorers mistakenly applied t
- Wack for a person from LiverpoolFor alternate uses of "Liverpool" see Liverpool (disambiguation Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside in north west England, on the north side of the Mersey estuary. Liverpool is governed by Liverpool City Council, one of five council (obselete)
See also: List of British regional nicknames
8. It may relate to a person's physical characteristics. Examples:
- Tubby for a fat person
- Lofty for a tall person
- Four-eyes for a person with glasses
Conversely, it may be used ironically for someone with the opposite characteristic, e.g. Curly for someone with straight hair - this form is very typical in Australian English, e.g:
- Blue for a person with red hair
- Shorty for a very tall person
- Slim for a fat person
9. It may relate to a person's character, imagined or real. Examples:
10. It may relate to a specific incident or action. Example: Capability Brown was so called because he used the word "capability" instead of "possibility". Other examples include: Chemical Ali, Comical Ali.
Many fictional characters have nicknames relating to events: Examples include the Red Comet, White Tiger , Desert Tiger and Hawk of Endymion.
11. It may compare the person with a famous or fictional character. Examples:
12. A famous person's nickname may be unique to them:
13. 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.
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