I sometimes find it amusing that we, as humans, often call each other things other than our given names. Beyond the shortening of Timothy to Tim or those more 'usual' nick names, we seem to have an bottomless well of creativity in coming up with names for each other.
Sometimes these names can be nasty. Growing up I was called Grody Jody far more than I'd like to remember. But there were other, well-meaning names given me that also got under my skin. For some reason, Jode just gives me the heebie-jeebies. Yet, it's what people often end up calling me. Friends seem to catch on to my extreme discomfort to Jode and will switch to Jo, which I actually quite like. Someone, and you know who you are, suddenly started calling me Jodes...and I remain rather ambivalent towards it. The 's' somehow changes the sound to me...but is it enough? I suppose he'll have to keep using it until I decide.
Of course there are also nick-names that have little to do with our given names. Most often used in relationships as 'pet' names: honey, sweetie and the like. My friend calls her husband 'hunners' which I adore and want to steal but it would seem not to mean as much as a stolen pet name. You can often tell a lot about a relationship based on the names used. Early in a relationship quite some time ago, my love and I started calling each other booger and snot. I can't remember exactly how it all started....but it was a term of endearment. Somehow. I like these unique pet-names. Ones that only have meaning to the individual involved. They seem more special. More important.
What is it about us that we must give names to each other? What names have you used or been called?
Comments (33)
I don't mind being called pet names, but I usually prefer to say their name instead. I think it's wonderful already
You know, I was just thinking about this, this morning. There are some pet names that don't work. I tried to call a friend of mine by a shortened version of his first name, once; it felt really odd, since we always referred to each other by our last names. So, that didn't stick.
It's funny, though, how a certain person can change a term of endearment--that, said by a certain person, it can change how we feel about it. Like the example you gave above.
Good post, my dear.
@Roadlesstaken - For me, I think it depends partly on who the person is, too. Some people just don't lend themselves to pet names, you know?
@Blue__Summer - Thanks! I guess great minds think alike. :D And I think you are very right about the meaning changing depending on who it is saying it.
my boyfriend called me his drunken loser the other day :( haha. we had got into a huge fight b/c i got pretty wasted and said some horrible things to him. i still feel horrible.... but idk what else to say except im sorry. AT least we are now on speaking terms
Gah! I have so many nicknames from different people. I guess I dole out a lot of nicknames for others myself. Usually if I really care about a person, they get a nickname.
There was never a short version to Brian. So I just got stuck with that. lol
But ya, I've always imagined that pet names would have to be made as the relationship goes along, you cant just steal others or always use the generic ones.
Well I My dogs name is todd.ANd I often call dan danny(and I even have it spelled danni..like a girl) but he yells at me..but i still do it..and he is in my phone that way...hehehe
@Mandiful2007 - that doesn't really count. I don't think. I should hope not anyway!
@TheCheshireGrins - I think a lot of my nick names come from laziness. The more I think about this post the more I'm coming to that conclusion. My friend Debby? Deb. One syllable sure, but laziness is an art.
@The_second_x - but hunners is so cool. I totally want to steal it.
@MisFishie - hehee. I can see Dan being a bit upset about that. Next time we IM maybe I'll let it'll slip. "Hey Danni, how's it going?" lol.
i make up names for people when i'm bored
@npr32486 - I make up names for people, too, I just don't always use them. :D
Nickname/pet name giving seems like a right of passage. Once you know someone well enough you are allowed to dole them out. I really like a nickname I've been given by my friends since I've been in college: Aubbles (my name is Aubrey). It sounds like bubbles so it sounds so cute to me, I really like it when they call me it. Good post.
@repressedwriter - Lol he knows I have him in my phone as that..i think he is gving up
@TheRiverIsEverywhere - I agree that a pet name has more meaning after you've known a person. That is a really cool nick-name! I'm jealous!
this is a really interesting post! i've been called a lot, and i've called people a lot lol but what I like are the ones i've never heard before, or i've heard ones. or the ones where they change my name around or do something creative with it (:
@Blue__Summer - I completely agree with you! (: I thought only I thought that lol
My boyfriend calls me chicken wing, but I can't think of an equally good name for him :(
Wifey and I have been calling one another pet names for a while now. There are just so many, but my favorites are mama, papa, bella, and bello. ;)
Don't think I've ever used an abbreviated name unless the person in question went by that name anyway...but I do call my fiance "angeltooth" sometimes. The story behind it is probably too long and confusing to anyone who is not he or me though.
My online name, Reeser, gets abbreviated and made "more adorable" by half the people I meet...I get called Reesey, Reeses, etc...and it kind of gets on my nerves, but I gave up trying to get my friends to kick the habit about changing my already changed name.
My last ex used to call me Pookie. I always had to repress the urge to hit him.
For whatever reason, my husband and his friends call me Banana. I don't know why or how they came up with it. What's even stranger is that I don't mind it, either.
I think that something really crucial in deciding whether you love or hate a pet name is the meaning behind it. My boyfriend calls me cookie and I call him penguino, it's not something we call each other all the time or in public. Pet names are a way to be intimate or show that you care. Your parents choose your name according to their liking, it shows that you belong to them and you have a special bond which is why they got the privilege to name you. This rule also applies with your SO and friends.
I made up new nicknames for my last girlfriend almost every other day. She got a kick out of them although sometimes she rolled her eyes too. She would do something or tell me something about what she did one time before I knew her and I'd make up a nickname pertaining to that particular aspect of her, past or present. I think what made the nicknames different was that they weren't generic nicknames but rather nicknames custom made to fit a reality of her life.
I've been called a few things mainly shortened versions of Christopher - Chris mainly or CJ which is my initials which I don't mind so much. As well as other names that partners have called me.
@iloveyoubabydoll_728 - Yeah, I tend to like the pet names that change your name...I just don't think my name lends to that.
@AnamcharaConcepts - aw, those are cute.
@ReeserTheShadow - yeah, that's sort of like the whole booger and snot names...it's a long story. :D but I think that makes them even better in a way- unique to just the couple, you know?
@the_rocking_of_socks - lol. Banana? Well, if you don't mind then that's all that matters!
@Blissfully_xyz - I think that is an important point. A pet name shows the special bond between you and someone else.
@TheSutraDude - I think those are the best-custom made for the person!
@no1charmerlondon - Christopher is one of those names that tends to get shortened.
Lol pet names make me laugh. But no haven't really been called anything. Most just call me Marn or Marnie. my name is too short to shorten haha.