Origin of the word nicknames

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«Short name» redirects here. For the term as it applies to legislation, see Short title.

A nickname or short name is a substitute for the proper name of a person, place or thing. It is commonly used to express affection, amusement, a character trait or defamation of character. It is distinct from a pseudonym, stage name or title, although the concepts can overlap.

Etymology[edit]

The compound word ekename, literally meaning «additional name», was attested as early as 1303.^[1] This word was derived from the Old English phrase eac «also»,^[2] related to eacian «to increase».^[3] By the 15th century, the misdivision of the syllables of the phrase «an ekename» led to its rephrasing as «a nekename».^[4] Though the spelling has changed, the pronunciation and meaning of the word have remained relatively stable ever since.

Various language conventions[edit]

English nicknames are generally represented in quotes between the bearer’s first and last names (e.g., Dwight David «Ike» Eisenhower and Daniel Lamont «Bubba» Franks). It is also common for the nickname to be identified after a comma following the full real name or later in the body of the text, such as in an obituary (e.g., Frankie Frisch, «The Fordham Flash»). Any middle name is generally omitted, especially in speech. Like English, German uses (German-style) quotation marks between the first and last names (e.g., Andreas Nikolaus „Niki“ Lauda). Other languages may use other conventions; for example, Italian writes the nickname after the full name followed by detto «called» (e.g., Salvatore Schillaci detto Totò), in Spanish the nickname is written in formal contexts at the end in quotes following alias (e.g. Alfonso Tostado, alias «el Abulense»), in Portuguese the nickname is written after the full name followed by vulgo or between parenthesis (e.g. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, vulgo Pelé / Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé)) and Slovenian represents nicknames after a dash or hyphen (e.g., Franc Rozman – Stane). The latter may cause confusion because it resembles an English convention sometimes used for married and maiden names.

Various societal uses[edit]

In Viking societies, many people had heiti, viðrnefni, or kenningarnöfn (Old Norse terms for nicknames)^[5] which were used in addition to, or instead of, the first name. 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 known in Old Norse as nafnfestr (‘fastening a name’).

In Bengali society, for example, people will often have two names: a daknam (pet name) which is the name used by family and friends and a bhalonam which is their formal name.^[6][7]

In England, some nicknames are traditionally associated with a person’s surname. A man with the surname ‘Clark’ will be nicknamed ‘Nobby’: the surname ‘Miller’ will have the nickname ‘Dusty’ (alluding to the flour dust of a miller at work): the surname ‘Adams’ has the nickname ‘Nabby’. There are several other nicknames linked traditionally with a person’s surname, including Chalky White, Bunny Warren, Tug Wilson, and Spud Baker. Other English nicknames allude to a person’s origins. A Scotsman may be nicknamed ‘Jock’, an Irishman ‘Paddy’ (alluding to Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland) or ‘Mick’ (alluding to the preponderance of Roman Catholicism in Ireland), and a Welshman may be nicknamed ‘Taffy’ (from Welsh Dafydd, David). Some nicknames referred ironically to a person’s physical characteristics, such as ‘Lofty’ for a short person, or ‘Curly’ for a bald man.

In Chinese culture, nicknames are frequently used within a community among relatives, friends, and neighbours. A typical southern Chinese nickname often begins with a «阿» followed by another character, usually the last character of the person’s given name.^[8] For example, Taiwanese politician Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) is sometimes referred as «阿扁» (A-Bian). In many Chinese communities of Southeast Asia, nicknames may also connote one’s occupation or status. For example, the landlord might be known simply as Towkay (simplified Chinese: 头家; traditional Chinese: 頭家; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: thâu-ke) Hokkien for «boss») to his tenants or workers while a bread seller would be called «Mianbao Shu» 面包叔 (literally, Uncle Bread).

Computing[edit]

In the context of information technology, a nickname is a common synonym for the screen name or handle of a user. In computer networks it has become a common practice for every person to also have one or more nicknames for pseudonymity, to avoid ambiguity, or simply because the natural name or technical address would be too long to type or take too much space on the screen.

People[edit]

Nicknames are usually applied to a person and they are not always chosen by the recipient themselves. Some nicknames are derogatory name calls.

Abbreviation or modification[edit]

A nickname can be a shortened or modified variation on a person’s real name.

• Contractions of longer names: Margaret to Greta.
• Initials: using the first letters of a person’s first, middle and/or last name, e.g. «DJ» for Daniel James.
• Dropping letters: with many nicknames, one or more letters, often R, are dropped: Fanny from Frances, Walt from Walter.
• Phonetic spelling: sometimes a nickname is created through the phonetic spelling of a name: Len from Leonard.
• Letter swapping: during the middle ages, the letter R would often be swapped for either L or D: Hal from Harry (which in turn comes from Henry); Molly from Mary; Sadie from Sarah; Hob, Dob, Rob, Bob, and Nob from Robert; Rick, Dick, and Hick from Richard; Bill from Will (which in turn comes from William); and Peg and Meg from Margaret. In 19th-century frontier United States, Mary and Molly were often given the nickname Polly.

Name portions[edit]

• Front of a name. Sometimes a nickname can come from the beginning of a given name: Chris from Christopher/Christina; Ed from Edward, Edmond, Edgar or Edwin, Iz or Izzy from Isaac, Isaiah, Isidore, Isabel, or Isabella; Joe or Jo from Joseph, Josephine, or Joanna.
• End of name: Drew from Andrew; Xander from Alexander; Enzo or Renzo from Lorenzo; Beth from Elizabeth; Bel, Bell, Bella or Belle from Isabelle/Isabella.
• Middle of name: Liz from Elizabeth; Tori from Victoria; Del or Della from Adelaide.
• Addition of diminutives: before the 17th century, most nicknames had the diminutive ending «-in» or «-kin», where the ending was attached to the first syllable: Watkin for Walter via Wat-kin; Hobkin from Robert via Hob-kin; or Thompkin from Thomas via Thom-Kin. While most of these have died away, a few remain, such as Robin (Rob-in, from Robert), Hank (Hen-Kin from Henry), Jack (Jan-kin from John), and Colin (Col-in from Nicolas).
• Many nicknames drop the final one or two letters and add ether ie/ee/y as a diminutive ending: Davy from David, Charlie from Charles, Mikey from Michael, Jimmy from James, and Marty from Martin.
• Initialization, which forms a nickname from a person’s initials: A.C. Slater from Albert Clifford Slater, or Dubya for George W. Bush, a Texan pronunciation of the name of the letter ‘W’, President Bush’s middle initial. Brazilian striker Ronaldo was given the nickname R9 (initial and shirt number).^[9]
• Nicknames are sometimes based on a person’s last name («Tommo» for Bill Thompson, «Campo» for David Campese) or a combination of first and last name such as «A-Rod» for Alex Rodriguez).
• Loose ties to a person’s name with an attached suffix: Gazza for English footballer Paul Gascoigne (though used more widely in Australia for Gary) and similar «zza» forms (Hezza, Prezza, etc.) for other prominent personalities whose activities are frequently reported in the British press (see also Oxford «-er» for a similar but wider phenomenon).
• Use of the second name.
• Use of the generational suffix, like «Junior,» or nicknames associated with a particular generational suffix, like Trey or Tripp for III.
• Combination of the first and middle name, or variations of a person’s first and middle name. For example, a person may have the name Mary Elizabeth but has the nickname «Maz» or «Miz» by combining Mary and Liz.
• Doubling of part of a first name. For example, forming «NatNat» from Nathan/Natasha or «JamJam» from James.

Relationship[edit]

A nickname may refer to the relationship with the person. This is a term of endearment.

• In Japanese culture, Japanese honorifics are designed so that a term of endearment conveys the exact status of the relationship between two people. Recipients are allowed to restrict use to a certain person.

Geography[edit]

Placenames[edit]

Many geographical places have titles, or alternative names, which have positive implications. Paris, for example, is the «City of Light», Rome is the «Eternal City», Venice is «La Serenissima», and New Jersey is the «Garden State». These alternative names are often used to boost the status of such places, contrary to the usual role of a nickname.
Many places or communities, particularly in the US, adopt titles because they can help in establishing a civic identity, help outsiders recognize a community or attract people to a community, promote civic pride, and build community unity.^[10] Titles and slogans that successfully create a new community «ideology or myth»^[11] are also believed to have economic value.^[10] Their economic value is difficult to measure,^[10] but there are anecdotal reports of cities that have achieved substantial economic benefits by «branding» themselves by adopting new slogans.^[11]

By contrast, older city nicknames may be critical: London is still occasionally referred to as «The Smoke» in memory of its notorious «pea-souper» smogs (smoke-filled fogs) of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and Edinburgh was «Auld Reekie» for the same reason, as countless coal fires polluted its atmosphere.

Residents[edit]

Besides or replacing the demonym, some places have collective nicknames for their inhabitants. Many examples of this practice are found in Wallonia and in Belgium in general, where such a nickname is referred to in French as «blason populaire».

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Asked by: Karen Sipes

Score: 4.5/5
(60 votes)

In this case, the Middle English word eke, meaning “also” or “in addition,” was joined with name to form ekename—literally, “also-name,” used for a secondary or unofficial name in the late Middle Ages. Over time, an ekename became a nickname presumably because eke had become less familiar as a word.

Where does the word nickname originate?

Etymology. The compound word ekename, literally meaning «additional name», was attested as early as 1303. This word was derived from the Old English phrase eac «also», related to eacian «to increase». By the 15th century, the misdivision of the syllables of the phrase «an ekename» led to its rephrasing as «a nekename».

Why do you call it nickname?

Over time, people referring to «an eke name» was eventually morphed into «a nekename,» which is where we get the word nickname. In Chaucer’s Middle English, «eke» is usually translated as «also», so it would’ve been an «also name». eg.

What does the nick in nickname stand for?

(Wikipedia) Nick is also the short for Nicholas, (Saint Nicholas in this case) but it is not clear if «Saint Nick» is related to the «Old Nick», and probably it is not: masc. proper name, familiar form of Nicholas.

Is Nick short for nickname?

Nick is a masculine given name. It is also often encountered as a short form (hypocorism) of the given names Nicholas, Nicola, Nicolas, Nikola, Nicolai or Nicodemus.

28 related questions found

Carla T. asks: When someone has an alternate name than their legal one that they go by, why is it called a “nick”name?

A form of nickname has been around since the early 14th century- eke name, literally meaning “an additional name.”

Eke is an even older word, dating back to about 1200 meaning “to increase.” (Eke also meant “to lengthen,” and it was this meaning that eventually became the meaning of to eke out or make just enough.)

The first documented instance of “eke name” comes from the 1303 Middle English devotional Handlyng Synne, by Robert Manning of Brunne.  In it, he states on line 1531 to 1534, “As moche þan he ys to blame Þat ȝeueþ a man a vyle ekename Ȝyf hys ryȝt name be withdrawe Gostlychë…”

So how did we get “nickname” from “ekename”?  This is one of the numerous examples of metanalysis or rebracketing. In this case, “an ekename” became “a nekename” and ultimately, today, “a nickname.”

We can see this transformation starting in the 1440 work Promptorium Parvulorum (“Storehouse for Children,” the first English to Latin dictionary) by Geoffrey the Grammarian of England, where it states “Neke name, or eke name, agnomen.” Similarly, the 1483 English to Latin dictionary Catholicon Anglicum has an entry: “An Ekname, agnomen.”

We see another incarnation of this in Sir Thomas More’s Confutation of Tyndale’s Answer published in 1532:

I shoulde here call Tindall by another name:‥it were no nyck name at all and yet would there some then say that it were not honest so to do; and this will some such folk say as in the villainous words of his spoken by this blessed sacrament will find no fault at all.  But meseemeth surely that at the first hearing of such a shameful word spoken by the mouth of such a shameless heretic by this holy sacrament of Christ, the whole Christian company present should not be able to contain themselves from calling him “knave” all with one voice at once.

Fast-forwarding a bit to the 17th century, we find several instances of the more modern “nick-” spelling, such as in the 1617 Itinerary by Fynes Moryson, where it states, “James Fitz-thomas‥was by a nicke-name called the Suggon Earle…”

Within a century of this, “nick-name,” “nick name,” and “nickname” became relatively commonly used in place of older variants and the original “eke name,” with the latter being phased out completely.

A similar example of this type of rebracketing can be seen in how we got “another” (and, sometimes “nother” in such phrases as “a whole nother”) from “an other.” Or going the other way, how we got “apron” from the original “napron” (“a napron” being rebracketed to “an apron”) and “umpire” from “noumpere” (“a noumpere” being rebracketed to “an oumpere”).

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Bonus Facts:

• Moniker, first appeared in print in 1849, and was “said to be originally a hobo term” of uncertain origins. Some trace the word’s beginnings to the habit of English tramps to refer to themselves as part of the “monkery,” that is, monks who routinely took new names when they took their vows.
• It will come as no surprise that sobriquet was originally French, where it had the same spelling since the 1400s. While in English it has been a synonym for nickname since about 1640, in Middle French it meant “a jest” and also “a chuck under the chin.”
• Likewise, nom de guerre, also meaning a second name, (but literally “war name”) is also of French origin, and has been used in English since the 1670s. However, the more common English phrase nom de plume, literally meaning “pen name,” isn’t French at all, but was adopted by British authors in the 19th century who thought that the “war” part of nom de guerre might be confusing. Some credit Emerson Bennett and his obscure 1850 novel Oliver Goldfinch for the phrase, although others have it appearing in English as early as 1823.
• Interesting side note, the famous British poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) had at least two noms de plume (Cuddy and Gnome), as well as an actual nom de guerre (Silas Tomkyn Comberbache) from his time in the Fifteenth Light Dragoons.
• Meaning “otherwise called,” alias has been in English use since the mid-1400s, and as an “assumed name,” since about 1600. It comes from the Latin word of the same spelling that meant “another way.”

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