Nicknames

 

Nicknames

Do you have a nickname? Do you love it or hate it?

For the humans, Gillian was Gillyillyillian and Gareth was Gareth-oh, or, from his siblings, Gaz.  Susannah was Sooozzz, or Cookes or SueSue, or her judo coach’s favourite, Susie. Bethan was always Bethan and cast a stern look if called Beth. To family she is known as The Bethelator, though Gillian calls her B.

My late sister’s name was Beryl, but my late brother-in-law called her Bee and it suited her so well because she was a very busy person.

Barry’s names were Cookie, (also used for Susannah) Baz and Punchy, because he was a boxer. We also call him ‘Sir’. I call him Cooke!

My name is Janice and I loathe it being shortened to Jan. People only ever try that once. My very best teenage friend, through whom I met Barry, used to call me Janissimo, which I rather liked.

Our animals have various names to which they respond. Gus was Gustopher, Bertie was Berts or Bertyberts, Roxy is Roxyloxy or Roxalls and Gilbert is Gillygillygilbert or Giblet. Jellicoe accepts Jelly and Jellicose, and Herschel is Hershey, Herschels or Herschy-baby. Bethan’s dog, Lolly, who often spends her holidays with us, is known by us as Lollipop, while Arthur, Susannah’s dog, is Art or Artie or Artiloid.

Why do we indulge in nicknames? Sometimes they arise naturally from a child’s attempt to pronounce a name. Callum, for example, used to call Susannah Sue-Anna, and Frankie called Barry ByeBye. To many small children I was known as Daniss.

I think they are often an expression of affection, of closeness, of belonging to a tribe, a group, a family. They are special names to be used only by those ‘in the know’.