Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby ZephyrStar » Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:33 am

1. Who named you? Why did they pick that name? Does it mean anything special? Do you like your name? (If not, what would you want to be?)

Mom named me. My grandparents on my dad's side had some influence (they were catholics), so Christopher it was. Middle name Steven, which was after my great-great grandfather (I think it was his middle name too). My brother's name is Mark Samuel, again biblical name + a great grandparent. I like my name just fine. I have a fairly uncommon nickname in the US at least, Bobko. George informs me the name is Ukranian in origin, which makes sense considering my great grandparents on my dad's side were from there. We don't know much about them though, they got the hell outta there in the 20's and immigrated into New Jersey. I have always liked my last name, despite people constantly getting it wrong or mocking it in some fashion. And considering my choice of artistic expression, "A Chris Bobko Film" just sounds badass.

2. What about nicknames? What do people call you? Do you have any interesting nicknames for anyone else?

Growing up I was called Kit, Kitopher, and Kit Bobcat by my grandmother. I don't think my mom really ever had a nickname for me, but my dad calls me cheif a lot to this day. My brother got the strange nickname of Boolie which was later shortened to Boo by my mom. Have no clue why. In college I adopted Kit instead of Chris, since in our circle of friends there were like 4 Chris's. This lasted awhile, but everyone just ended up calling me Bobko. That seems to be the common use, people outside of family tend to just use my last name, which I don't mind. The funny thing is, my brother has the same thing happen, and when he later went through the same college program and people were calling him Bobko too, everyone got confused because they thought people were referring to me. I generally don't have nicknames for people, dunno why. I do have this weird thing where unless I get to know somebody, I don't like to say people's names in front of them for fear of getting them wrong maybe? I have no clue, but it's weird.

3. What about your username(s)? Does anyone call you by a username in "real life"?

My general nickname is ZephyrStar. It's one I've gone by since 1994 or so, when I first built a computer and got internets. It came from a story/comic I was working on at the time. I had a character who attained godlike powers to fight off a whole bunch of meaty aliens, and according to prophecy/legends, the title he was given in the lore was The Zephyr Star. I scrapped that project, but the nick stuck. For some reason, people generally think I'm female because of the nick. Online most people refer to me as ZS. I've also gone as hoshinokaze, which is the Japanese. Koop helped me coin the nick hoshinolamenobody, which was funny. Kionon sometimes calls me Zephykins. I think I'm responsible for calling Kitsuner "Kittles" and maybe in part "Kitler," but that was a group effort one year at AWA. When people first met me at cons, there was a lot of ZS.

<edit>
ARG WHY DO I ALWAYS FORGET CHAISE. Ileia calls me Chaise and I call her Iweia. Kristyrat I call Kart and he calls me Chairs.
<edit>
Last edited by ZephyrStar on Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby Ileia » Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:44 am

You forgot about Chaise! /me faints
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby ngsilver » Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:53 am

1.
I don't think any one parent decided on my name, it was basically a joint effort. They picked the name Nathaniel because it came from the Bible and it meant "Gift of God" based on the Hebrew translation/meaning. My family is very religious so the choice doesn't surprise me. Though I do remember my mom saying that she picked my name because it sounds important in a business setting but can be shortened for personal dealings, which is why around home I'm known as Nathan. Since my parents wanted to also have a piece of themselves in the names of me and my siblings (it's kind of a tradition I guess) I got my father's middle name, Gene, my sister got my mother's middle name, Lynn, and my brother got my dad's first name as his middle name, Randell.

When I was younger I hated my name and wanted to legally shorten it but now I respect it for what it is and what it was meant to be. I still don't enjoy being called it, mostly because I associate someone using my real name as meaning I'm in trouble since that's what my parents would call me when they were mad at me. The extent to which they would use my full name (1st name, 1st + middle, full name) determined how pissed they were, but beyond that I don't mind it too much.

2.
As far as nicknames go I generally have 2 that get used, Nate and Nathan. I didn't really start answering to Nate and using it until I moved back to Michigan and introduced myself as Nathan to a few people who later dubbed me Nate. In HS my nickname was my last name.

I don't really have any real interesting names for other people. I don't tend to refer to others by their name in person so I often also don't really learn someone's name for a while either. I call my fiance Ruu but she's the one who told me about that since her name's Ruth and she goes by Ruu-chan online. Though, due to the sheer number of Chris's I know me and my friends have nick names to distinguish between them (asian chris, squirley chris, tech chris, other chris, female chris, chris with boobs, ect.)

3.
As I've said many times my username is a mixture of my real name. It started out as a pen name, N. G. Silver, but for online use I shortened it to just ngsilver or NGSilver. Generally people will shorten it to just NG but from time to time people use Silver when talking to me, though the use of Silver confuses me because I think they're talking to other people. A few people have called me engy or engie too, since that's kind of how you'd write out NG if you were pronouncing it. IRL I do sometimes get people calling me NG but rarely ngsilver. Though mostly people only call me that if they've never met me in person and heard me refer to myself as Nate.
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby Kitsuner » Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:39 pm

godix wrote:I also remember calling someone Two Tabs for reasons that I'm sure made sense at the time.

Pressing D and then tab twice used to bring dj_ultima's name up in the IRC.
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby Kosmit » Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:54 pm

dj_ultima_the_great wrote:1. Who named you? Why did they pick that name? Does it mean anything special? Do you like your name? (If not, what would you want to be?)

My name is Grzegorz Brzeczyszczykiewicz.
Seriously though, my parents named me Jan (pronounced Yan for all you english speakers), which is a polish equivalent of John. As to why I was called that, well, there's actually a story behind it. My older sister is called Małgorzata (Margaret) and my parents thought it would be cute and/or funny to call me Jan. This probably doesn't make any sense to any of you so let me explain. "Jas i Malgosia" (that's one of the many ways you can call me and my sister) is the polish title of the famous fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel...

2. What about nicknames? What do people call you? Do you have any interesting nicknames for anyone else?

I never had any nicknames. The main reason for that is probably the fact that I hardly needed any - throughout my whole life I've never met anyone my age with the same name, so there was no possibility of confusing me with someone else. The name is getting popular again nowadays, but for some reason it wasn't often used in my generation. As to what people call me - usually it's Jasiek or Jachu. The second one sounds particularly funny to english speakers since it sounds very similar to yahoo.

3. What about your username(s)? Does anyone call you by a username in "real life"?

I started using the nickname Kosmit quite recently, courtesy of my brother-in-law. He was writing an article on his blog and said something about aliens there. He posted my pic with the text 'Kosmit?' (bastardised version of the word 'kosmita' meaning extraterrestial) on it along with the article. For some reason I liked it and it stuck. Oh, and that very photo is now my profile pic/ Nobody really calls me by my nickname except for the polish AMV community.
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby Moonlight Soldier » Mon Sep 13, 2010 11:52 pm

1. Who named you? Why did they pick that name? Does it mean anything special? Do you like your name? (If not, what would you want to be?)

I'm pretty sure my mom picked out my name. I'm the fifth generation of 'Ellen', though not strictly as a first name. My mom and grandmother both had Ellen as a middle name. I like it, never really had a reason not too, and it's fairly uncommon, so I never had a problem with multiple Ellens in a class or anything. I do remember as a kid though being sad that places never seemed to have my name on custom souvenirs/magnets/mugs etc. But I've since got over that :P If I ever have a daughter I don't really plan on naming her after me, but if the guy in the equation doesn't mind, maybe as a middle name hehe.
My name means "light bearer" and is often traced to Helen of Troy as a reference. (I really don't see any resemblance >_>)

Apparently my mom wanted my middle name to be Michiko, a name she learnt from one of her closest friends, but as far as I know my dad was like... ummm no. lol. Kinda funny given my interests. I ended up with two names from her other best friend though, and I'm happy to have them because that friend has been such a big part of my life and I've always considered her family.

2. What about nicknames? What do people call you? Do you have any interesting nicknames for anyone else?

The only nicknames I had growing up were what my brother called me. He calls me "The Kid" and even refers to me as such in letters and cards :P Another nickname he gave me was Cheesypoof. That came from watching a movie called Gargantuan, where the kid fed the monster cheesypoofs. He enjoys naming me after things that large monsters want to eat :P Actually I'm pretty sure he wrote Cheesypoof on the tags for my christmas present last year and his now wife was like WTF?

On a similar note, he still calls my best friend Erin Sharkbait. Heh.

Some people still call me Elle and I'll turn my head if it's used, but mostly I'm just Ellen.

My boss at work usually calls me "Keebs" or "Spliff" :| The latter is because he knows I'm mostly a straight-edge so calling me Spliff apparently amuses the hell out of him.

Most of the org types call me Moonie (from Grace) or Mewn (I think Brad was the first to call me that IIRC), which are probably my first real nicknames. I've embraced it :up:

Oh yea, Scoot calls me Ehllen. (And consequently I call him Scoot. I used to call him waffle, but I like Scoot better :P) And Ileia calls me Erren sometimes. Other than that I don't think I've ever given someone a nickname, though I do sometimes have my own terms of endearment for people, I call AquaSky Aquakins for example, and I call Kinsey Keeks and Haunter103 Ghostie.

3. What about your username(s)? Does anyone call you by a username in "real life"?

Well, Moonie and Mewn obvs. I don't think anyone's ever called me Moonlight Soldier or Moonlight Firefly and frankly, I'd probably look at them funny if they did :P

My one big thing with nicknames is I don't like people adopting them if they were never part of how it originated. Like, if my family ever started calling me Moonie I'd be like WTF. Same if anybody other than Ileia calls me Erren or someone other than Scott calls me Ehllen.
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby godix » Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:28 am

Dr. Faux Pas wrote:
godix wrote:I also remember calling someone Two Tabs for reasons that I'm sure made sense at the time.

Pressing D and then tab twice used to bring dj_ultima's name up in the IRC.

Pressing D and hitting tab once used to bring up dj_izumi's name in IRC. IIRC, Ultima actively encouraged me to use Two Tabs instead of mistakenly calling her Izumi like I'd often do.
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby GloryQuestor » Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:48 am

1. My name came from being my father's name, the 2nd direct descendant to carry it. I also have a Catholic confirmation name, Matthew, after both my brother and the Christian Biblical saint of the same name (he chose the name "John" for the same reasons). I don't really mind my name -- it's as generic as they come.

2. My nickname was created when I used to assist people with their Quest for Glory games on the older networks. The name pretty much stuck with me for all this time.

3. Everyone around the community calls me "GQ". Around where I live, however, no one really cares about my user nickname.
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby BurningLeaves » Wed Sep 15, 2010 10:09 pm

Prodigi wrote:... and the second son could be Callan, fully intending to never have a third child/second son. Hello? (this story irks me since I've always hated my name and I was so close to avoiding it)



I really think that's a great name. It's uncommon yet not weird (at least where I'm from) and has a really great sound to it. Yes.. I have been sitting here repeating your name over and over, listening to how it sounds... Creeper much? It's a shame you don't like it, I think it's great... But this is coming from the guy who thinks Deaf Jester was a cooler name than Prodigi =p
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby Prodigi » Wed Sep 15, 2010 10:51 pm

BurningLeaves wrote:
Prodigi wrote:... and the second son could be Callan, fully intending to never have a third child/second son. Hello? (this story irks me since I've always hated my name and I was so close to avoiding it)



I really think that's a great name. It's uncommon yet not weird (at least where I'm from) and has a really great sound to it. Yes.. I have been sitting here repeating your name over and over, listening to how it sounds... Creeper much? It's a shame you don't like it, I think it's great... But this is coming from the guy who thinks Deaf Jester was a cooler name than Prodigi =p

>.>

My main irk with it is Callum is the most common. So I'm constantly, constantly having to spell my name to people. Even people I've known for years -_- I had it changed at work from "Callan" to "Cal" because people were contacting me on Office Communicator and mispelling it even though the name was right in front of them.

Also, I have no problems with creeping :up: I'm a creeper at heart.
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby BurningLeaves » Thu Sep 16, 2010 12:20 am

Prodigi wrote:My main irk with it is Callum is the most common. So I'm constantly, constantly having to spell my name to people. Even people I've known for years -_- I had it changed at work from "Callan" to "Cal" because people were contacting me on Office Communicator and mispelling it even though the name was right in front of them.


If these are pronounced in the way I would imagine, yours being Callan sounding like calendar minus for the -dar part, and that one being Call-umm. I think you definitley lucked out in that one even if people do misspell it. Small price to pay for an infinitely more beautiful sounding name imo.
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby Nessephanie » Thu Sep 16, 2010 12:56 am

I agree BL, I've always like his name too.
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby Prodigi » Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:05 am

BurningLeaves wrote:
Prodigi wrote:My main irk with it is Callum is the most common. So I'm constantly, constantly having to spell my name to people. Even people I've known for years -_- I had it changed at work from "Callan" to "Cal" because people were contacting me on Office Communicator and mispelling it even though the name was right in front of them.


If these are pronounced in the way I would imagine, yours being Callan sounding like calendar minus for the -dar part, and that one being Call-umm. I think you definitley lucked out in that one even if people do misspell it. Small price to pay for an infinitely more beautiful sounding name imo.

Yep, you've got the right idea. and thank you :)
Nessephanie wrote:I agree BL, I've always like his name too.

Only so you can call me callywal :p
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby Ileia » Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:46 am

I agree. Having a cool name totally makes up for having to correct spelling or repeat pronunciation. *nodnod*
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Re: Names, Nicknames, and Their Origins

Postby kireblue » Thu Sep 16, 2010 2:35 am

My Dad always wanted his name to be Eric instead of Nixon. My Mom's name is Kersandra and is pronounced for the most part like Cassandra. So to keep the trend of having a "k" in your name instead of a "c", I was named Erik. I actually really like my name.

In high school, I set all of my user names to be "Cerberus", and made it my avatar for most things. Up until Otakon, Cerberus was also the name of both my DS and my DSi. Oh and, someday I plan on having a fully functional secret base called C3 (Cerberus Command Center).

Today, I use the name "kireblue" a lot more. It is simply "Erik" spelled backwards + my favorite color "blue". IRL people only call me kireblue when they are trying to be funny, but I don't mind.
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