Nicknames

Looking at my last post, N8 is Nate, if you hadn't figured it out. B3 (more on her later) also calls him Neighbor, Nate-Bear, Bear. So today the topic is nicknames.

First, what is the source of the word "nickname?" Middle English, about 1400 or so, "an ekename" became misdivided in speech to "a nekename" or "a nickname." Eke is to stretch out, as in eke out a living. An ekename was an additional name, but can also be thought of as economizing as we so often shorten the name.

First: my name and nicknames. Dad bestowed the Julie = Hoolie = Hooligan moniker. When people ask, "were you really a hooligan," my stock answer is, "Well, I'm not the one who put cars in ditches!" Another nickname is Jewels, most fondly coming from my Aunt Char.

Brother Bill is William, Billy, JR. The cousins still call him Billy. In high school, a neighbor dubbed him JR because he was too old to be a Billy any more, and of course he was a junior, so two Bill's in one house was two-too confusing.

Lordy, so what do I do but name my first son Bill! In family referencing, when someone needed to distinguish him, he became "Little Bill." Still Bill to me, definitely not little at 32 years old and about six feet tall! And with three kids start with the letter "B," my shorthand for Bill is B1 (not to be confused with thiamin!).

Brother Michael has always been just Michael. Not Mike. A couple of cousins used to enjoy going back to school after the holidays, when they could say, "I had dinner with Michael Jackson." Oh, and add to the confusion that brother Michael is married to Julie Ann, and I'm married to a Mike!

Husband Mike is usually just Mike. Sometimes Mikey.

Son Benjamin is Ben. B2 (not to be confused with riboflavin). Like most kids, his in-trouble name was the long version. You know, to get attention, it's "BEN-ja-min." But the I'm-running-out-of-patience is "Ben-ja-MIN." Some of the fun versions are Benny, Benjer, Ben-german (he has more of the German look from his Grandpa George).

Daughter Brooke is mostly just Brooke, B3 (not to be confused with niacin). Brookie, the rookie of the family, the youngest. Lots of fun to have discovered the brand "Brookie's Cookies." N8 just calls her "B."

Scott has also been known as Scooter (Scott R). Dianne used Scotty once in a while.

Dianne sometimes gets lengthened to "Di-ann-ie." Brooke calls her monkey (I don't remember the origin, back in middle school I think).

Granddaughter "C" could have many short versions of her name, the long version is always used.

Grandson Ender is named after the hero in the book series "Ender's Game." That character's given name was Andrew. We'll see what nicknames develop over time -- he's only two months old.