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A Light Hearted Look at Nicknames

(106 Posts)
Magenta8 Sat 30-May-26 10:09:16

Of course we all adopt pseudonyms on GN.

Nicknames among the rich and famous seem quite popular. I found that Major Edward Dudley Metcalfe, close friend of the late Duke of Windsor was known as 'Fruity.' (I wonder why) Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning's nickname was 'Boy'. His wife, Daphne du Maurier called him 'Moper'.

Nancy Mitford called her sisters Unity, Jessica and Deborah; 'Nit', 'Sick' and 'Bore' among other things, in a family awash with nicknames.

I have found that pets and objects seem to attract nicknames, as well as people. For instance, I had a cat called George who was always known as 'Spud.' My kitchen tongs are know as 'the grabbers.'

What nicknames do you know of? Do you have any family nicknames you don't mind sharing?

Fallingstar Sat 30-May-26 14:53:37

Yes we nicknames for neighbours -
The forensic man - he wears a white suit from head to toe when painting the front of his house.
The Kissingers - the man looks just like Henry Kissinger
Mop and bucket - the hubby is over six foot and his wife is tiny.
Rabbit family - they own several pet rabbits.
Not sure what they call us, perhaps is best not to know.

Magenta8 Sat 30-May-26 15:05:05

There was a horrible boy in my class who was permanently angry and always shouting at Elaine, his girl friend. We used to call her 'For (expletive deleted) sake Elaine.'

I found out that my neighbours called me 'Catwoman' as I had five of the little darlings at one time. It could have been a lot worse.

Luckygirl3 Sat 30-May-26 15:14:22

My children call me Moth after a failed attempt by my OH to pipe the word mother on a mother's day cake. He did not leave enough space! I receive letters addressed to Moth!

They also call me Moomin, after Moomin Mama.

At school I was known as Hairy Armpit ... it was a play on my name. Also as Mishap ... another play on my initials, as in Miss HAP.

One DD was called Scuttlebut because of her strange gait when running.

And I have a robot lawn mower called Dave.

Tizliz Sat 30-May-26 15:41:10

MT62

Tizliz

At school I was called Nell Gwyn but I don't know why. Something to do with oranges.

Could it have been your boobs?

NO!! Unless the boys were very desperate 🤣

Scribbles Sat 30-May-26 15:52:28

Throughout school I was known as Fryingpan - derived from my surname. My aunt's husband always called me George and did so until he died when I was well into middle age. I never discovered why!
My cat, whose name is Luna, is more often called either Buggerlugs or Tinkerbell. One of her predecessors, a rather fat moggie called Annie, was generally known as Ipso Fatso Catso.
And as for the neighbours! None of the current ones have nicknames but at various times I've lived near

Old Peculier
Bee (from his car registration)
Four Dogs
Mrs Busy
Mr Hedges
The Belgians (English but mostly worked in Brussels)
Tabby Cats
The Eyelash

JamesandJon33 Sat 30-May-26 17:25:01

We had a girl in our class who was a bit of a one for the boys.
When we learnt about reproduction in Science, the fruit fly was used as an example.
Said girl was, forever after known as ‘Fruit’. Her surname rhymed with fly.

Witzend Sat 30-May-26 17:31:13

We have a neighbour forever known as Mr Fussy, since he (still is!) constantly tending his front lawn, not quite cutting it with nail scissors and measuring the blades with a ruler, like the Mr Men character, but not far off.

And he once threw stones at a kitten of ours who dared to step on his grass. 🤬

Georgesgran Sat 30-May-26 18:08:22

The nightmare family living next door to me - 8 adults, 8 cars and 2 dogs were referred to as The F*ckwits. They moved last year and our little development heaved a collective sigh of relief. The new owners are lovely.

BoggledMind Sat 30-May-26 18:13:00

I used to go to school with a lad called Hector. He lived a few minutes away, so one day I called round, asking for 'Hector'. His mother looked puzzled until he came down the stairs. I said "Hector", and pointed to him.

Turns out, that was his nickname (never found out why).

ViceVersa Sat 30-May-26 18:15:48

We used to have a drug addict living quite near us who was known as the bandit - because he only had one arm (having had to get the other one amputated because of his drug use).

Ladyleftfieldlover Sat 30-May-26 18:23:53

We had a neighbour who we nicknamed the Bank Robber. He wasn’t!

I’m afraid I nicknamed one of my daughter’s friends The Spotted Boy. Cruel, I know.

We call the TV remote The Black Thing.

Pittcity Sat 30-May-26 18:37:54

I worked with a guy whose nickname was Kit Kat. He was always taking a break!

Casdon Sat 30-May-26 18:39:38

I’m in my sixties, and my 96 year old dad still calls me Bean.
My dog’s nickname is Diddlyboo at the moment, which bears no relationship to his actual name, but it keeps morphing (the name, not my dog!).
We also have judymadeits for all the babies born into our family, crocheted pram blankets, and have been called that by all the family since as toddlers, my sister and I christened them after Aunt Judy, who made ours. She died over 50 years ago, but I think she’d be pleased that she lives on in all the new baby blankets.

Lynette55 Sat 30-May-26 18:39:56

My friend and I had ponies when young. She was always slow at grooming hers and I’d get frustrated wait8ng to go for a ride with her. In the end I’d help her to get done quickly. She’d brush her boy and I’d get the water to wash his eyes, nose, mouth and personal places! Her much older brother in law called us “brushing Sue and Water Lou” the Lou bit stuck and he called me that until the day he died!

Whingey Sat 30-May-26 18:41:56

Someone called his cat harpic because he was clean round the bend!

Grandma70s Sat 30-May-26 19:11:30

When my sons were children they had nicknames for some of our neighbours. There was Mrs Clock, who always walked down the road at exactly 8 a.m They would know it was almost time to leave for school. There were also Howard and Hilda, never seen apart, whose name came from the similar couple in the Richard Briers comedy series Ever Decreasing Circles.

SpinDriftCoastal Sat 30-May-26 19:54:32

JaneJudge

never mind family members, my husband has nicknamed the whole street blush we ever have a neighbour nicknamed 'sperm donor'

I really enjoyed reading your post. We had a neighbour we called 'Mr Lover Lover Man'. He really was a right romeo.

REKA Sat 30-May-26 20:14:53

I've just remembered a neighbour. For some reason the children gave this poor woman the name, Mrs Prim Knickers. We never really knew why.

Sago Sat 30-May-26 20:54:00

JaneJudge

never mind family members, my husband has nicknamed the whole street blush we ever have a neighbour nicknamed 'sperm donor'

We are so naughty at naming neighbours.
In the past we have had, The Fat Controller, Gobbo, Mrs Pissed Again.
The Neat & Tidys, Dumb and Dumber, The Richer than Yous, Tropical Roy, I could go on.

We have a nickname for our middle child and our youngest was known as snugs until he was about 10.

Nannee49 Sat 30-May-26 21:15:10

In our family we call towelling bathrobes Kurt Debonairs (or just Kurts) inspired by some suave German gent swanning round the swimming pool on an Italian holiday in the 70s

HowVeryDareYou2 Sat 30-May-26 21:24:36

We had a neighbour we called Dreyfuss as he looked like Richard Dreyfuss. His brother was referred to as The Terrorist, because he was always in trouble with the police.

Marg75 Sat 30-May-26 22:12:16

I call the television remote the 'doofee', don't ask me why!!

butterandjam Sat 30-May-26 23:01:03

Bodach

'Bowfie' is an old Scots term, describing someone who is a bit fat/chubby - which (looking back at the old photos, I am forced to concede) I was as a baby. Hence, for (far too) many years, I was known within the family as Bowfie.

"Stick", short for Stickinsect.

I never properly appreciated being thin, until it was too late.

Witzend Sat 30-May-26 23:06:06

Many decades ago a small boy came to the door and asked my father whether my brother could come and play.
My DF didn’t know the boy from Adam, but he said he lived down the road.
And added, ‘I’m Bristlebonce’s bruvver!’

My father nearly wet himself laughing afterwards, and now and then all over again later, when he told the story.

Grammaretto Sun 31-May-26 00:28:05

I didn't realise that other people gave the neighbours nicknames + I thought it was just us 😂

There was the perfect couple and the imperfect couple, the girlfriend, the ménage (as in ménage a trois)
I dread to think who we were.

All our DC had nicknames, which survive to this day. In fact DS3 is known by everyone as his nickname. I am mumbo which isn't bad. My DD refers to me as mumbo to her DC .

At one school I was monkeyface