Nicknames — Where Do They Come From?

And why do some stick more than others?

I became very curious about the origin of nicknames when I heard someone being referred to as Shagger by his ‘mates’.

Was this because the guy liked to get down a lot?

Was it an ironic nickname because he never did?

Was it merely because his birth name was Timothy Shagwell?

I didn't get the answer to these questions. And probably never will. What I was pretty certain of was his christened name was probably not Shagger. I couldn't see Shagger Jones or Shagger Smith sticking. Unless he had really cruel parents.

I didn’t have the cajones to ask a stranger, why all his mates were shouting Shagger at him. They did it with ease and no one was even flinching or finding it funny.

Did Shagger like his name, or was he now simply immune to it? So many unanswered questions.

From my own personal experience of nicknames, you do get used to them. Nicknames are like arseholes. We all have one. Some are worse than others.

Hopefully, your nickname isn’t actually ‘arsehole’. Although, thinking about it, some of my friends growing up would have probably preferred to be called arsehole.

Origins of Dick

One of my good friends growing up was named Richard. He was soon known as Dick, as Dick is short for Richard (and I later learned why).

This was just so common that you would forget and sometimes find yourself shouting “I love you Dick” after he had said something funny. The older working-class men in the dodgy pub we used to frequent looked on in outrage.

I remember talking to a Korean friend about my friend Dick and he found it the funniest thing ever. I guess I probably did too the first time I heard it. But now it is as normal as calling my friend Steven, Steve.

I later learned the Dick origin. The name Richard was a common name during the Middle Ages. As everything was written by hand, our lazy ancestors started to shorten them. So Richard became Rich and Rick. And then it became common to rhyme these shortened names. So Rick became Dick.

And then Dick, began to stick.

The Dick debacle has a logical meaning. The name was derived from rhyming slang.

But what about nicknames like Shagger? Was Shagger always destined to be Shagger? Was he defined by one incident or shaped by someone’s vision or ability to sell a story?

Just from looking at Dick and Shagger, we can see the creation of nicknames is not a one-sized-dick-fits-all phenomenon. Not all dicknames are created equally.

Here are 4 of the main ways nicknames are created:

Types of Nicknames

1. Names that define the physical appearance

Captain Hook was defined by a past accident. Probably why he was so angry all the time. Thinking to himself, why don't people take me seriously? I’m in a position of power and have a lot of pressure on my shoulders and people are making snide comments behind my back.

El Chapo, was another man of authority. But people defined him by his height, calling him Shorty.

The Fat Lady who often frequented theatres was defined by her weight, strong singing voice, and innate ability to foresee when a concert had dragged on too long.

Cleveland Evans, a professor of psychology at Bellevue University, in Nebraska believed most nicknames are born out of affection.

“They’re given as a way for people to show a personal connection to somebody.”

You can understand this with names like Ol’ Blue Eyes. But names like Sweaty Betty & Big Fat Susan, don’t seem that affectionate to me.

2. Names that sound a bit like your actual name

I had a mate at university called Declan. We called him David. We found it hilarious. He didn’t. I have another friend called Greg. He is now Craig. We again found it hilarious. He again didn’t.

There is always that joker when a new circle of people comes together who sees an opportunity. They will swoop in and hilariously say they thought that someone’s name was something else. Then people laugh and call them that from then on.

I have seen this in every new group I have ever been in. This one somehow has immense power to stick. I may sound bitter. That’s probably because I was called Carl for about a year by a new group of people. They found it hilarious. I didn’t.

3. Modified version of the actual name

This is probably the most common type you will come across and probably the most natural. Usually adding a ‘y’ to the end of your name or surname.

Can also involve shortening the name. Some people call me Cal within 10 minutes of meeting me. I have never referred to myself as Cal, but have been called worse so take it on the chin.

If you think having a short name saves you from having a shorter nickname, you may be right. But humans are adaptable creatures and will then just long your name out instead.

Take the name Sam for example. No one will call you Sa. But they will be following up with different variations. Mixing it with Samuel, Samwise, Samsung. Working angles of DJ Sammy, Sammy G, Sammunzo into the conversation until one lands, which is then adopted by the masses.

You may not want a nickname and would prefer to be called your full name. But no one is safe.

4. Names that have zero meaning, but have somehow stuck

I remember there was a guy at school a few years older than me called Skids. I never found out why. You may assume his name was close to this. Was he called Sid or even Briggs? Nope, his name was James.

So did he leave Skidmarks in the toilet bowl? When I asked around, apparently not. He always made sure he looked back and cleaned the bowl out of respect for the next user. Sounds like there may have been a hit and run involved and he was set up. Left to clean up and navigate a messy few years of high school.

I also had a friend called Boner. He didn't noticeably have more erections than anyone else. I learned that one of my friends just found it funny to call him that and other people agreed. Maybe this is what happened with Shagger — I’m hoping anyway.

How can you deal with a nickname like this that you don’t like?

Sometimes you can’t hide from it and might as well embrace it — Just like Shagger did.

Why do some nicknames stick and some don't?

According to David Wilton, author of “Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends, some nicknames tend to stick better than others.

When we look at the highest probability of sticking:

“The nickname must reflect some perceived quality of that person,”

With this in mind, I think although the occasional nickname may be generated out of nowhere (like Boner), the odds are your nickname has some real meaning behind it.

In conclusion, Shagger must be a serious shagger. And Dick must be a bit of a dick.