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HelpUnrelated nicknames
What do you guys think about people named a name (or several names), but going by a completly different nickname, either decided by parents or self-named.
Examples that I know;
'Parent-named':
Gerardus Johannes, nn Cody
Gertrude Elizabeth, nn Samantha
Self-named;
A lot of Asian people that choose a more 'English' nn.
Elisa Maria. nn Karen.
So wdyt? Personally I think the parent-named nns are a little weird. Why not just name your kid a name you like?
Any other examples?
Examples that I know;
'Parent-named':
Gerardus Johannes, nn Cody
Gertrude Elizabeth, nn Samantha
Self-named;
A lot of Asian people that choose a more 'English' nn.
Elisa Maria. nn Karen.
So wdyt? Personally I think the parent-named nns are a little weird. Why not just name your kid a name you like?
Any other examples?
This message was edited 6/8/2011, 6:20 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I have a parent named nn.
Elizabeth Ann = Tracy
I hate Elizabeth and while my story is a bit more complicated you have not provided any possible reasons for the nns?
My summary you never know why a person has a nick name and that could be personal, or a great story. I was a adopted and they wanted to give me my own identity
Elizabeth Ann = Tracy
I hate Elizabeth and while my story is a bit more complicated you have not provided any possible reasons for the nns?
My summary you never know why a person has a nick name and that could be personal, or a great story. I was a adopted and they wanted to give me my own identity
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Personally I understand people that choose names that fit better in the country/language they (now) live in. Also sometimes people really dislike their names, for whatever reason.
My interest is mostly in people that have a name (or names) on their official documents, but go by something different. Why would you name your kid something and then never use it?
I don't know anything about the adoption process, do children often have a name that is given to them by their birthparents? Any which way, its interesting how people view names and their impact on identity.
My interest is mostly in people that have a name (or names) on their official documents, but go by something different. Why would you name your kid something and then never use it?
I don't know anything about the adoption process, do children often have a name that is given to them by their birthparents? Any which way, its interesting how people view names and their impact on identity.
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The parent named ones don't make a lot of sense. Especially Samantha, because that's a perfectly acceptable name which they could've used (Cody is more nicknamey).
I understand why foreigners use a completely unrelated English name to make it easier, but Elisa Maria would be easy enough in English countries.
My friend is Russian and his Mum is called Yevgeniya but she goes by Jenny over here. If it was me I would choose Eve or Eva because it is more similar to her real name.
I understand why foreigners use a completely unrelated English name to make it easier, but Elisa Maria would be easy enough in English countries.
My friend is Russian and his Mum is called Yevgeniya but she goes by Jenny over here. If it was me I would choose Eve or Eva because it is more similar to her real name.
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Once I taught a Taiwanese girl whose English teacher in Taipei had 'named' the whole class with English names. She got Susannah, and hated it with a passion; someone advised her to try Ashley and she loved it. I had some explaining to do when she found out what 'ash' is, but the real etymology calmed her down nicely.
I don't know if it's the teachers or the newly-named, but very mainstream names seem popular. I was once in a room full of Taiwanese government officials, all answering to names like James and David. And I taught a boy who had Chou among his Chinese names, and opted for Joe, which I thought was clever. His brother wanted an F name, looked through the dictionary and found Fen. I was deeply relieved that his quest for a single-syllable F name hadn't taken him any further. He was a remarkably handsome bloke who could smoulder if he liked, and the aura of Heathcliff-brooding-on-the-moor which hangs over Fen really suited him.
Relatives of DH include a little girl named Caroline and known as Minnie. She's the younger sister of an Andrew who is known as Pinnie (because he used to have skinny legs. Sad, but true) and either the parents or the grandparents chose a rhyming nn for her. In the family, all references to them in their absence are met with a moment of disapproving silence!
I don't know if it's the teachers or the newly-named, but very mainstream names seem popular. I was once in a room full of Taiwanese government officials, all answering to names like James and David. And I taught a boy who had Chou among his Chinese names, and opted for Joe, which I thought was clever. His brother wanted an F name, looked through the dictionary and found Fen. I was deeply relieved that his quest for a single-syllable F name hadn't taken him any further. He was a remarkably handsome bloke who could smoulder if he liked, and the aura of Heathcliff-brooding-on-the-moor which hangs over Fen really suited him.
Relatives of DH include a little girl named Caroline and known as Minnie. She's the younger sister of an Andrew who is known as Pinnie (because he used to have skinny legs. Sad, but true) and either the parents or the grandparents chose a rhyming nn for her. In the family, all references to them in their absence are met with a moment of disapproving silence!
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I think it depends on why the NN is used. In the case of people born in a foreign country trying to adjust to their new country, I have no problem with it (though Elisa Maria to Karen doesn't really count to me). Most of the time it makes things easier on everyone. However; The example of Gertrude to Samantha make NO sense whatsoever. Why not just name her Samantha? In that case things become inconvieniant. As for examples, I know a Michaela who goes by Patricia with close friends, but that is because Patricia was her name before she was adopted. Only those of us who know her well ever call her that, and she would never introduce herself as Patricia. I also used to have a professor named Nailah, only to find out her birth name was Audrey and she changed it to get "back to her African roots". Though she never made the change legally, but that one makes sense to me as well. Can't really think of anything else. I guess I just need a valid reason for the name.
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My son's nick name is Papi.... that has nothing to do with his name....
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