What's in a nickname?

[kellinator]

I've been reading everyone's "If you know me as" memes with great interest... and not a little twinge of envy. You see, I've never been one of those people that collects nicknames from everyone they know. I'm just Kelly. Even to my family. In middle school my then-best friend and I tried to give each other nicknames, but they never stuck. Probably because you can't just "give" someone a nickname. It has to be organic. Which was probably part of the reason for this exchange a few years ago:

Me: Why don't you give me a pet name?
Then-boyfriend: Like what? "Bitch"?

Part of the reason I picked "kellinator" as my LJ username was because my old roommates dubbed me that and I was so pleased to have finally been given a nickname. Then again, it's still pretty obvious what my real name is. I mean, the first three times I met wandergirl I had to keep asking her "Wandergirl, what's your real name again?" and the first time jonnyx and I hung out in person, I actually asked him ahead of time what he wanted me to call him.

So... yeah. Um. Oh darn, this is going to be one of those entries that just peters out with no real point or conclusion...

Well, scarcrest does call me Snarkums.

Comments

[10dimensions.livejournal.com]

I call you Kel!

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

I don't really have an exciting nickname, either. Mostly, it's either Anne or Annie. With one friend in high school, though, our secret code names were Sparky(her, because she was diabetically peppy) and Wiz(Me, because for some reason, she though I was so darn smart).

[deza.livejournal.com]

Wait a minute, I distinctly remember arkhamrefugee giving you a title this past summer--something to do with the boobage, IIRC. ;)

[rocketmelee.livejournal.com]

I have always wanted a nickname, but never got one... well, Andrew did once take to calling me "Cajun Tornado", but I don't count that as it is revolting. Apparently the new boyfriend's mom calls me "Rocket", though.

[podling]

Weirds me out when people call me "podling" or variations on that them. Really. I've been contemplating doing the meme myself... Oh, but one of my friends also wanted a cool nickname, and had a hard time with it for the same reason as you. But really, his name is simple and works (Josh) and he's the only one many of us are friends with. Then he got all pissy with me for calling him "yoshi" from the mario games (which I then changed to "yoshi-kins" because he's obviously not a dinosaur, but who knows, he could be related). Some people. :p

[gmslegion.livejournal.com]

A friend in college named Amy once whined that she wanted a nickname.

"All right. You're Bicycle," I said.

"Bicycle! Absolutely not! No! Why would you call me that?"

Our friend Joe deadpanned "Because you have a padded seat and you're into oil and chains."

The name stuck.

[daraflower.livejournal.com]

i feel ya, i've almost always been just-dara.


my best girlfriend like 6 years ago called me daraflower. not like, a lot.... but one time she said you're like a little and blue... dara.... flower! and i kinda dug it even though we never developed the kind of relationship conducive to calling me daraflower frequently.

someday....

[football-swan.livejournal.com]

I thought about Glitter since you have an affection for glittery make-up, but then it reminded me of Mariah Carey, and NO ONE deserves that....

Re: Nicknames

[wolfieboy.livejournal.com]

I sometimes think of you fondly as "A N" for Adorably Neurotic. Personally, I do think the parts of your personality that you let shine through here -are- adorable while at the same time giving suggestions of the second part of your name.

Kell also works. I just already have six people named Kelley (or Kelly) locally, so it gets very confusing.