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Help[Opinions] Adults with "childish" nicknames
How do you feel about adults who continue use "childish" nicknames well into adulthood? (for example, an adult Joseph going by Joey instead of Joe)
How many adults do you know with "childish" nicknames?
How many adults do you know with "childish" nicknames?
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It doesn't really matter to me. I know people that use nicknames since childhood and those who changed to the full name when they were older. Both work for me and tbh most adults that go by nicknames/diminutives have normally only gone by their nicknames so it would be weird to change just because they're older.
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I don't have a problem with it.
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My name is Rebecca. I went by Becca until college at which point I started going by Rebecca as it sounded more mature to me. People who knew me the first 17 years of my life call me Becca and I find it endearing. A sign of our long relationship. Part of wishes I still went by Becca to everyone. It seems more care free. I no longer feel the need to have my name represent professionalism, as I don't find that to be as important as I once did. My daughter Lucille goes by Lulu. It's a nickname she assigned herself. She'll probably outgrow it someday, but I hope she doesn't. If she is comfortable enough in herself to still go by Lulu as an adult then I would see that as a sign of confidence and that she still prioritizes fun in her life. The adults I know who go by their childish nicknames are more laid back and care less what others think of them.
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Honestly, it depends on the person (which I realize isn't really fair) and it doesn't bother me at all (that I can think of) for women.
I know a Billy, Bobby, Jimmy...then loads of female names: Jenny, Christy, Debbie, Missy...
I know a Billy, Bobby, Jimmy...then loads of female names: Jenny, Christy, Debbie, Missy...
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A lot, probably. One of my cousins is called Chip (by everyone, as far as I'm aware), which sounds childish to me. He's 28, and his actual name is James.
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In some circumstances, it might be difficult for people to convince others not to use their nick name. The adults I know with childish nick names tend to introduce themselves to recent acquaintances by a more adult form of their name, but they don't bother to correct old friends and family members. I've met adults known as Nicky, Joey, Patty, Katie and Christy to their family and oldest friends but to everyone else they're Nick, Joe, Pat, Katherine and Chris.
It is probably a lot easier to divorce yourself from your childhood nick name if you leave your home town. There are a few people who dislike their nick name enough to demand that everyone use their full name, but if you spend your whole life being called by a nick name, it might not always register as odd or especially childish.
It is probably a lot easier to divorce yourself from your childhood nick name if you leave your home town. There are a few people who dislike their nick name enough to demand that everyone use their full name, but if you spend your whole life being called by a nick name, it might not always register as odd or especially childish.
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I've never really seen Nicky/Jimmy/Bobby/Johnny etc as childish nicknames. To me they're just nicknames, and I don't see a problem with an adult going by a nickname like these.
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I can't think of any men off the top of my head who I know that still use childish nicknames, at least in real life. I can think of a few famous people.
I know of some women who still use nicknames, but on them it doesn't feel childish to me (to be called Patty or Nikki or Maggie or whatever).
I think it's fine to still use a childhood nickname with family and friends, but I wouldn't introduce myself that way as an adult in other settings.
My husband was called Nicky when he was little heeheehee.
I know of some women who still use nicknames, but on them it doesn't feel childish to me (to be called Patty or Nikki or Maggie or whatever).
I think it's fine to still use a childhood nickname with family and friends, but I wouldn't introduce myself that way as an adult in other settings.
My husband was called Nicky when he was little heeheehee.
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I love that my nick-name is childish; it provides a break from unnecessary constraints of formality. I've been informed that folks think of me as a "serious person" & that my professional presence bears an intimidating intensity amongst or colleagues or peers; my childish nick-name, among other descriptions or classifications of my nick-name, eases this. As I've learned these descriptions of my personna, i.e. - how others ascertain me socially, I've done all I can to soften my demeanor. I like to think of my childish nickname as a curse which I've turned into a blessing.
Prick not your finger as you pluck it off, / Lest bleeding you do paint the white rose red, / And fall on my side so, against your will - Earl of Somerset / I Henry VI // II / iv / 52
Prick not your finger as you pluck it off, / Lest bleeding you do paint the white rose red, / And fall on my side so, against your will - Earl of Somerset / I Henry VI // II / iv / 52
This message was edited 5/27/2017, 3:57 AM
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Hi !!!
Here the most of NNS are simply the beginning of the name (Alessandro - Ale, Roberta - Robi) so there are more neutral. Obviously you can use them only if you are a friend/relative.
Brake of this 'rule' are names like Alex (boy) and Giusy (girl) that are ok as full names or for elderly people maybe (Gina, Pina, Gianni instead of full names because in villages nobody uses full names in the past).
Anyway..
There is not somenthing particulary childish in NNs.
If my friend would call me Roxy when I will in my 40s I would be still happy because it is a sign of friendship..
Here the most of NNS are simply the beginning of the name (Alessandro - Ale, Roberta - Robi) so there are more neutral. Obviously you can use them only if you are a friend/relative.
Brake of this 'rule' are names like Alex (boy) and Giusy (girl) that are ok as full names or for elderly people maybe (Gina, Pina, Gianni instead of full names because in villages nobody uses full names in the past).
Anyway..
There is not somenthing particulary childish in NNs.
If my friend would call me Roxy when I will in my 40s I would be still happy because it is a sign of friendship..
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I'm not bothered. I think most of the time they fade, but when they dont it's of little consequence. They may sound less presidential, but they're not uncommon and most who hang on to them seem to remain functional adults.
My poor cousin just turned 18. He's Dan to everyone new he meets, and most of his friends, but he is Danny to his family. We try to stop, but it isn't working.
I think Rox's example is a good one for when it's not really okay.
My poor cousin just turned 18. He's Dan to everyone new he meets, and most of his friends, but he is Danny to his family. We try to stop, but it isn't working.
I think Rox's example is a good one for when it's not really okay.
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A couple years ago there was a player on our local minor-league baseball team named Nicky Very Italian Last Name. Not only did Nicky sound girlish and babyish, the whole combo made him sound like a movie mobster.
When George Bush was president, there was some guy who was a friend/adviser/crony of his VP's named Lewis Libbey. His nickname was Scooter, and he was usually referred to in the media as Scooter Libbey.
I thought and still think that Scooter was the stupidest name for a grown, presumably educated and intelligent man to hang onto.
When George Bush was president, there was some guy who was a friend/adviser/crony of his VP's named Lewis Libbey. His nickname was Scooter, and he was usually referred to in the media as Scooter Libbey.
I thought and still think that Scooter was the stupidest name for a grown, presumably educated and intelligent man to hang onto.
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In general I think it's silly. I don't approve of grown men going by Billy or Bobby or Jimmy (Carter notwithstanding).
In my family, my brother was called Johnny as a child, but once an adult, he wanted to be called John. However, my sisters and I still call him Johnny because we can't think of him any other way. But at least everyone else calls him John.
OTOH, the name didn't seem an impediment to Johnny Carson and Johnny Cash.
And then sometimes leaving behind a childish nickname happens naturally. That's what happened with my sister Pamela. As a child, she was called Pammy. It just happened naturally that as she entered her teen years, we all started calling her Pam. I don't know why that didn't happen with Johnny also!
My sister Patricia was Patty as a child and has stayed Patty as an adult---never shortened to Pat. But for some reason, Patty doesn't seem childish the way Pammy does.
Wow this subject was more complicated than I thought it would be.
In my family, my brother was called Johnny as a child, but once an adult, he wanted to be called John. However, my sisters and I still call him Johnny because we can't think of him any other way. But at least everyone else calls him John.
OTOH, the name didn't seem an impediment to Johnny Carson and Johnny Cash.
And then sometimes leaving behind a childish nickname happens naturally. That's what happened with my sister Pamela. As a child, she was called Pammy. It just happened naturally that as she entered her teen years, we all started calling her Pam. I don't know why that didn't happen with Johnny also!
My sister Patricia was Patty as a child and has stayed Patty as an adult---never shortened to Pat. But for some reason, Patty doesn't seem childish the way Pammy does.
Wow this subject was more complicated than I thought it would be.
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Yes by what you've stated, you did not honor your brothers intent & continued to call him by your greater or more natural association--even familiarity--although this disagrees with your own idea. The "childish" portion i.e. "ie" or "y" soften the formal edge.
I remember you've stated that you are not a fan of your name, yet that you'd never change it due to respect. I hope you play with the idea of shortening your name to the first syllable--then adding an "ie" to the end, not necessarily legally, but just as a pet name among friends--perhaps introducing yourself with this new informality. This is not a choice that needs an immediate decision. Whether you do or not is only up to you, as it only concerns you; yet if it does not resolve the complications you reference in your last sentence, it may just add harmless enjoyment for someone who simply loves names.
I remember you've stated that you are not a fan of your name, yet that you'd never change it due to respect. I hope you play with the idea of shortening your name to the first syllable--then adding an "ie" to the end, not necessarily legally, but just as a pet name among friends--perhaps introducing yourself with this new informality. This is not a choice that needs an immediate decision. Whether you do or not is only up to you, as it only concerns you; yet if it does not resolve the complications you reference in your last sentence, it may just add harmless enjoyment for someone who simply loves names.
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I feel like, in the English-speaking world, it's slightly more acceptable for a woman to have a "childish" nickname than a man.
This message was edited 5/25/2017, 6:26 AM
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