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Help[Opinions] "snooty" nicknames
I met a little boy at a bbq thing named Jonty, short for Jonathan. He had a brother Kit (Christopher). Their sister was Abigail, which I didn't think fit at all but whatever. These were all Americans, and apparently at the kids' daycare there's a Jem (James-- a Truly Outrageous nickname!), and a Betty (Elizabeth, although not that weird). At least among this set, Shakespearean-type nicknames seem to be all the rage.
Is this the new trend for rich, educated types or is it just a New England thing?
I used to like some of those names, but for some reason actually hearing them made me think otherwise (I think there was a thread about this last week). What do you think?
Is this the new trend for rich, educated types or is it just a New England thing?
I used to like some of those names, but for some reason actually hearing them made me think otherwise (I think there was a thread about this last week). What do you think?
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I have come across several grown men called Jonty, and they were all super-annoying twits. I think it's built into the name. Maybe it's the resemblance to Jaunty; it's like a big cheesy fake grin.
I like Kit and Jem and Betty though, and don't think they're weird or snobby, though YCMV. I know several Jems, but I think they're all short for Jeremy.
I like Kit and Jem and Betty though, and don't think they're weird or snobby, though YCMV. I know several Jems, but I think they're all short for Jeremy.
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off topic
The prevailing nick-names in my area are profoundly non-snooty.
Most used ones are Ti-Something, short for "petit".Ti-Jacques, Ti-Marc. These are adult men. My son's father-in-law calls him Ti-Joe.
Also "Pit", just by itself. Also derived from petit, I suppose. Sometimes you'll see a death announcement in the church bulletin..."Leo (Pit) Lastname." Being as no-one knew the guy as anything but Pit.
All male names, I see. Women's names are less often nick-named. If Chantal-Nichole is what someone is named, she'll be called that.
The prevailing nick-names in my area are profoundly non-snooty.
Most used ones are Ti-Something, short for "petit".Ti-Jacques, Ti-Marc. These are adult men. My son's father-in-law calls him Ti-Joe.
Also "Pit", just by itself. Also derived from petit, I suppose. Sometimes you'll see a death announcement in the church bulletin..."Leo (Pit) Lastname." Being as no-one knew the guy as anything but Pit.
All male names, I see. Women's names are less often nick-named. If Chantal-Nichole is what someone is named, she'll be called that.
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Well, I guess you should count me among the "snooty" nickname fans, and I am not rich or from New England.
I like Kit and Jem and Betty. Betty is actually my car's name. I don't like Jonty, though. I tend to like nicknames that aren't the standard/traditional.
I like Kit and Jem and Betty. Betty is actually my car's name. I don't like Jonty, though. I tend to like nicknames that aren't the standard/traditional.
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I agree, many of them seem to be trying way too hard. The literary-ish ones in particular. It just seems artificial, if you can figure that there exist nicknames that would be more familiar to the parents - so they must have read them somewhere and decided, consciously, to be different, even while choosing a safe "standard" full name.
I had a Kit in my elementary school, and I'm pretty sure that was his full name. I always thought it was sort of "country" because of Kit Carson. But I can see how it could be hipster, on a rich little New England boy, haha.
Some that would induce a groan in me if I saw them on little kids:
Bess
Chaz
Dot
Patsy
Pip
Posy
Flick
Noll
Wally
Ike
Jep
Flossie
This reminds me, I was checked out at the store today by a man whose nametag said "Augie." I wanted to ask if he was Augusto or what. But I didn't.
I had a Kit in my elementary school, and I'm pretty sure that was his full name. I always thought it was sort of "country" because of Kit Carson. But I can see how it could be hipster, on a rich little New England boy, haha.
Some that would induce a groan in me if I saw them on little kids:
Bess
Chaz
Dot
Patsy
Pip
Posy
Flick
Noll
Wally
Ike
Jep
Flossie
This reminds me, I was checked out at the store today by a man whose nametag said "Augie." I wanted to ask if he was Augusto or what. But I didn't.
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oh god Pip. I met a Pip once and he was just as awful and snobby as the name!
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I would cringe like crazy at Noll and Posy. Especially Noll.
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Aw, Wally is trying too hard? I love that one, as a nn for Wallace...
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Ike, really?
I like Ike (LOL). My nephew, Isaac, went by Ikey as a toddler. I was so disappointed when he chose to use Isaac instead of Ike as his 'grown-up' name.
I like Ike (LOL). My nephew, Isaac, went by Ikey as a toddler. I was so disappointed when he chose to use Isaac instead of Ike as his 'grown-up' name.
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I love Ike! Some friends just had a baby named Isaac, but they call him Zack. It's awful! Why ruin such an awesome name?
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Jonty?
That is too much. Kit is pushing it, Betty is just odd to me. I think it's a hipster thing, really.
Jem, though, I love. I'm another Anne of Green Gables fan. Her first son was James Matthew, named after two of my favorite characters. He was Jem.
That is too much. Kit is pushing it, Betty is just odd to me. I think it's a hipster thing, really.
Jem, though, I love. I'm another Anne of Green Gables fan. Her first son was James Matthew, named after two of my favorite characters. He was Jem.
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I know what you mean about Jonty. It does seem rather snooty. But I find Jem very down to earth and friendly. It's almost country in its lack of pretentiousness.
Kit as a nn for Christopher is medieval / Elizabethan to me. I suppose some could find that snooty, but I don't. Betty is snooty? In what universe is Betty Boop a snob? I'm sorry but this one truly escapes me. I must be missing something / cultural reference.
I tend to like a lot of names that most people would find snooty. To me they enhabit the delightfully off-beat, comic world of P.G. Wodehouse. (Think: Jeeves and Wooster.) The more outragious the funnier I find them. So Im' probably not the best person to ask. That said, Jonty seems snooty even to me.
Kit as a nn for Christopher is medieval / Elizabethan to me. I suppose some could find that snooty, but I don't. Betty is snooty? In what universe is Betty Boop a snob? I'm sorry but this one truly escapes me. I must be missing something / cultural reference.
I tend to like a lot of names that most people would find snooty. To me they enhabit the delightfully off-beat, comic world of P.G. Wodehouse. (Think: Jeeves and Wooster.) The more outragious the funnier I find them. So Im' probably not the best person to ask. That said, Jonty seems snooty even to me.
This message was edited 7/7/2011, 4:43 PM
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Betty being "snooty" is such a funny concept! But I suppose your're right - Betty is the new cool.
I'm not sure if it's the trend for rich, educated types to use more old-fashioned and obscure nicknames... I think it's popular among hipsters too. And I'm fond of the idea while I'm neither rich nor a hipster. I think it's the natural cycle of fashion - old is new again!
I'm not sure if it's the trend for rich, educated types to use more old-fashioned and obscure nicknames... I think it's popular among hipsters too. And I'm fond of the idea while I'm neither rich nor a hipster. I think it's the natural cycle of fashion - old is new again!
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And I'm fond of the idea while I'm neither rich nor a hipster.
Hahaha! Me too. :)
Hahaha! Me too. :)
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Jem
That's what I'd call my son James if I had one, and that's probably our #1 choice if we did have another boy. I guess I can see how it could be kind of snooty. But I love that it's a medieval nickname, and I love that it's something different.
I think a lot of people who use those sort of nicknames are just looking for a more unique nickname for a common first name. I haven't seen or heard anyone use any of those nicknames around here, though.
That's what I'd call my son James if I had one, and that's probably our #1 choice if we did have another boy. I guess I can see how it could be kind of snooty. But I love that it's a medieval nickname, and I love that it's something different.
I think a lot of people who use those sort of nicknames are just looking for a more unique nickname for a common first name. I haven't seen or heard anyone use any of those nicknames around here, though.
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I totally agree! That character is the first thing I think of; his full name was James Matthew. Not that unusual for James.
ETA: There were such great names in that series. I actually saw a toddler Una in a magazine and thought of the books. Remember she was friends with Anne's kids?
ETA: There were such great names in that series. I actually saw a toddler Una in a magazine and thought of the books. Remember she was friends with Anne's kids?
This message was edited 7/7/2011, 10:56 AM
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I'm old
I was thinking of the cartoon Jem in the 80s whose tagline was "Truly Outrageous!" Yeah, I'm an old fart.
I was thinking of the cartoon Jem in the 80s whose tagline was "Truly Outrageous!" Yeah, I'm an old fart.
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Thanks a lot, Norah, you just labeled me "old" too. ;)
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Haha I think Jem from To Kill a Mockingbird
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Okay, I'll admit I've only seen the movies of Anne of Green Gables (and LOVED them when I was a kid, watched them all the time with my Mom). I really need to get my hands on the books! I don't remember there being a Jem in the movies, so he must just be in the book. What sort of character is he? I hope he's good because that's just more fuel for me using it!
In one of my favorite book series there's a character named Jem, but in his case it's short of Jeremiah.
In one of my favorite book series there's a character named Jem, but in his case it's short of Jeremiah.
This message was edited 7/7/2011, 2:43 PM
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He is Anne's oldest son and is a good character.
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Ohh...
I never watched the third/last movie. My mom has it, but for some reason I haven't seen it, but I know that covers when she finally marries Gilbert. Finally.
Yay though, good to know! Must read books...
I never watched the third/last movie. My mom has it, but for some reason I haven't seen it, but I know that covers when she finally marries Gilbert. Finally.
Yay though, good to know! Must read books...
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FYI, the third/last movie is not based on the books at all. I love the books, but I pretty much hated the third movie.
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I'm 34, and after you mentioned Jem, I remembered her. I must not have watched it that much.
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woo-hoo another old timer! I swear I'm the oldest person on here by like 20 years (I'm 38).
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I just turned 47. :-)
I'm so old I never heard of that cartoon character. I didn't get the snooty reference at all in your original post.
I'm so old I never heard of that cartoon character. I didn't get the snooty reference at all in your original post.
This message was edited 7/7/2011, 4:38 PM
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I don't like Jonty, but I do like Kit for Christopher (though Christy is my favorite nickname for Christopher). Betty isn't bad and I love Jem because of To Kill a Mockingbird, though using it for James is a bit of a stretch.
I wouldn't call them snooty at all, except for maybe Jonty, I suppose.
I wouldn't call them snooty at all, except for maybe Jonty, I suppose.
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Jonty is pretty snooty. I also used to go to school with a Jonathan nn Jono. A friend of mine has a brother named Kristopher nn Kit, which I like. Jem isn't that bad of a nickname, but Betty seems odd for someone so young. I have no idea what you mean by Shakesperian nicknames.
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With Betty White's popularity and people going back to their ggrandparents for inspiration, I'm not surprised to find an Elizabeth with that nn. The boys' nns, on the other hand, do sound like upper class, British names imo.
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Directly I saw your header, before opening the post, I thought "Jonty"! I think it's terribly twee.
I like Kit, though - it goes back to Elizabethan times in England.
I like Kit, though - it goes back to Elizabethan times in England.
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