Medium Challenge
What Shall We Call You?
How many nicknames have you been called? Here are my ten — I think!
Have you ever wondered why we call nicknames, “nicknames” — like why not “natnames?”
Too corny?! Trying too hard?
— Sorry, I’m pretty much brain-dead today. I am sleep deprived — yet I’m determined to do this challenge before I hit the sack tonight!
Plus, Denise Kendig will stop challenging me as it looks as though I’m ignoring these challenges — but I promise I’m not! I appreciate the thought and nudge when writers challenge us to these fun prompts. So here goes nothing!
A Little History First
I just learned this — so I’m sharing it with anyone else who is as curious as I am.
The word nickname is derived from the Middle English ekename, literally meaning “also-name,” via nekename. Nicknames differ from pseudonyms, which are usually used to conceal one’s identity.¹
My Nicknames
My first and most commonly used nickname “Nat” began in elementary school. Mom would often complain, “I can’t believe so many butcher your beautiful name!”
I would smile — truth is, hardly anyone, but she, calls me Natalie.
In high school, I enjoyed short-lived stardom on the softball field and was nicknamed, “Nat the Bat!” LOVED it — you know that cool, slowly shift your left leg in as the ball comes into that sweet hitting spot and you swing the bat with all your might, and let the bat roll off with your left arm in perfect style as the ball lifted far above left field…yeah — that.
Let’s say — I had a few of those and brought a few teammates “home.” Those cool teammates whom I’m still in touch with, do bring it up from time to time!
On an odd sidenote — I was once falsely referred to in my freshman high school year, as “Patricia.” And in typical high-school-boy humor, Isilio and his classmates thought it so funny — they opted to call me “Patricia” for two years. It amused me!
Later in college — I was called Natusha by a few friends, but mostly Nat.
Now that I’m in Mexico, I’m often referred to as “Nati”…sounds better in Spanish.
The English pronunciation, “Natty” — my loving Aunty Celina and a co-worker often loved to call me this years ago.
But my fun-loving big Trini cousins — all mostly call me, “Natz” one of my favorites — which is what 🌬️Mitch calls me, and it’s quite endearing to me. (Guess where he’s from?)
The King of Nicknames
I’m married to the king of nicknames — myGuy! He and his high school buddies took pride in giving their classmates unique nicknames. And if you know Nigerians — they can be incredibly creative and funny!
I just have to share the evolution of his own:
MyGuy lived briefly in Hamburg, Germany while in middle school before returning to Nigeria at the start of high school when his classmates began to call him, “Hamburg.” Here’s how that name evolved:
Hamburger
Burger
Pa-burger
Pa-bu-guey!! — pronounced with great style, Nigerian accent — and humor! And keep in mind, it is chanted with loving cheer and enthusiasm. A lot of fun to watch!
When I first visited Nigeria in 1999, I watched as his buddies played and joked saying the word, “Pa-bu-guey,” over and over. Later I asked, “What is the meaning of that Nigerian word they keep repeating?”
He had no idea what I was referring to — until finally we put 2 and 2 together and he busted laughing realizing — it was his nickname!
Too cute.
My high school classmates had the funniest nicknames for my classmates as well — always initiated by the boys!
My Crown-Jewel Nickname
When myGuy and I started dating in 1996, right before the advent of emails — we wrote each other letters (as we were in a long-distance relationship).
He would address each crafted letter with a different name each time: “Dazzling Damsel” or “McBride McBaby” (I had been accepted in the master’s program, and the math building was called “McBride” — LOL — I mean seriously, how can you not fall in love with him?!)
One of those drafted greetings was — Bella Bombshell! (For those of you who don’t know Spanish, “bella,” means beautiful)
Okay, don’t gag — I personally almost skipped telling you all this, but hey — many of you need the reminder: falling madly in love is not just for books and movies!
So — from that moment onward until present-day, myGuy calls me Bombshell. (blush) Smiling — I love that he thinks that I am a bombshell.
I forget its meaning 99% of the time as he lovingly refers to me by that name for close to 25 years. When the kids jokingly refer to me as his bombshell — that cracks me up!
If you ever wonder how you call your loved ones and whether it can have the power to keep a flame burning — remember this story I told you today.
Medium fam, you can call me anything you want! I answer to many names, even the occasional “Natalie” — that I hear, once in a blue moon! 😉
Thank you, Denise Kendig and Wire Editor Newman for creating this fun challenge. I’d love to challenge anyone who finds great fun and humor and nostalgia thinking back on your nicknames! Tell us about it! Here are Denise’s and Wire’s — fun reads!
📚Thank you all for reading!📚