Throughout most of my life, people with whom I get newly acquainted automatically address me by my name’s diminutive while family (immediate and extended) and some acquaintances address me by my official name. Come on, even my school pictures, my certificates, mail, signatures, work’s name tag, as well as Facebook have my official name!
My grandfather was one of eight boys in his family, and my great-grandparents made a point of giving all of them names that couldn’t be nicknamed: Forrest, Scott, Lacy, Ralph….
Every single one of them, except oldest boy Forrest, still managed to acquire a nickname by the time he left home. They had neglected in Grandpa’s case to apply the same rule to his middle name James, so everybody called him Jim.
My family nickname was a horror to me. When I turned 13 I asked for ONLY ONE present: Please start calling me by my actual name. My parents made the change pretty well. My sibs saved my nickname for times when they wanted to get my goat. And my older other relatives never quite figured out why I cared… though my grandma accepted, eventually, that I really meant it. I was about 20 at the time…
I wanted to be called Napoleon after the Man from Uncle. My dad said that was fine but the other kids would call me Nappy for short so I changed my mind. (for our American friends a Nappy in the UK is a Diaper).
Very odd, my waking up dream this morning was that my dad (dead 22 years) told me I could rename myself, but it had to be two first names, so I picked Fred Rick. No clue what that was about.
Nanny (maternal great-grandmother) was the only one that could call my brothers “Bobby” and “Johnny”. They hated those names, but honored Nanny by never saying anything. We all called them Bob and John.
I’ve hated my first name all my life . Tried to use my middle name for a while, but nobody wanted to cooperate with that. Why can’t people choose their own names when they’re old enough?
My dad’s parents used his middle name all the time he was growing up. When he went into the service in WWII, he was addressed by his given name, and was using it when he met my mom. He went by his given name for the rest of his life, except for his parents and sister’s family. I never did understand why they didn’t just reverse the names on his birth certificate if they wanted to use the second name so badly.
I gave my daughter a name that had skads of nicknames, but insisted that others call her by her full first name. The idea being that when she got older, she could pick whatever nickname she wanted. She stuck with the full first name. I am glad she did. There are people, of course, who will call you by a nickname even if you don’t want them to. I didn’t think my first name could be shortened into a nickname. In high school, however, I found out it could be shortened. Sigh. I am not fond of it, but over the last 45 years I have gotten used to it.
We have to believe that, in tomorrow’s panel, Grandpa will inspire Nelson with the story of his namesake, the great Chicago White Sox second baseman Nelson “Nellie” Fox. After all, what are we grandpas for if not education and inspiration? OK – maybe some entertainment too.
Was Nelson named after someone? If so, he could be a Junior, a Dewey, a Trey, or an Ivy.
My husband is a Trey but he was never called that. The men in his family all inherited two unusual names (first and middle) and a fairly common last name. His dad was a Junior. But my husband got called him Champ – the middle name, shortened. (I just couldn’t. When I met him, he was already using a variation of his first name.)
When our son was born, I called a halt to the family tradition. “The kid is going to have his own name,” I said. We narrowed it to two choices. My preferred name became our son’s first name. My husband’s preferred name became his second. Of course, by the time number one son was in high school, he’d chosen his own nickname.
Dirty Dragon almost 5 years ago
Whoa, Nellie!
KA7DRE Premium Member almost 5 years ago
That certainly didn’t sit to well.
Templo S.U.D. almost 5 years ago
Throughout most of my life, people with whom I get newly acquainted automatically address me by my name’s diminutive while family (immediate and extended) and some acquaintances address me by my official name. Come on, even my school pictures, my certificates, mail, signatures, work’s name tag, as well as Facebook have my official name!
sirbadger almost 5 years ago
Nelson could use Nick, except that his best friend is already using Nick, so that’s out.
dadoctah almost 5 years ago
My grandfather was one of eight boys in his family, and my great-grandparents made a point of giving all of them names that couldn’t be nicknamed: Forrest, Scott, Lacy, Ralph….
Every single one of them, except oldest boy Forrest, still managed to acquire a nickname by the time he left home. They had neglected in Grandpa’s case to apply the same rule to his middle name James, so everybody called him Jim.
Little Caesar almost 5 years ago
Skeezix!
Concretionist almost 5 years ago
My family nickname was a horror to me. When I turned 13 I asked for ONLY ONE present: Please start calling me by my actual name. My parents made the change pretty well. My sibs saved my nickname for times when they wanted to get my goat. And my older other relatives never quite figured out why I cared… though my grandma accepted, eventually, that I really meant it. I was about 20 at the time…
Baba27 almost 5 years ago
Nels? Nello? Neck?
robertolopezuk almost 5 years ago
I wanted to be called Napoleon after the Man from Uncle. My dad said that was fine but the other kids would call me Nappy for short so I changed my mind. (for our American friends a Nappy in the UK is a Diaper).
jpsomebody almost 5 years ago
We could call you son.
Bob. almost 5 years ago
Nellie Fox. Chicago White Sox.
Snolep almost 5 years ago
It was good enough for Nellie Fox.
jpayne4040 almost 5 years ago
Nelson changed his mind real quickly!
iggyman almost 5 years ago
Every one I worked with had nicknames, I had a few myself!
iggyman almost 5 years ago
Did Nelson Eddy ever have a nickname?
walstib Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Very odd, my waking up dream this morning was that my dad (dead 22 years) told me I could rename myself, but it had to be two first names, so I picked Fred Rick. No clue what that was about.
cubswin2016 almost 5 years ago
It is never a good idea to talk to Earl.
Breadboard almost 5 years ago
Well Nelson your name starts with an “N” and ends with an “N” how about …. N-Son …. Now you have rank in the navy ! ;-)
jagedlo almost 5 years ago
former coach Don Nelson might disagree with you, there, Nelson!
miztrniceguy almost 5 years ago
Where is Nelson’s parents, anyway? Never see them.
Fiammata almost 5 years ago
Sonny
Spacetech almost 5 years ago
Sonny…
Steverino Premium Member almost 5 years ago
The best nickname for anyone, is, of course, Nick.
6foot6 almost 5 years ago
Noslen.
I'll fly away almost 5 years ago
Nanny (maternal great-grandmother) was the only one that could call my brothers “Bobby” and “Johnny”. They hated those names, but honored Nanny by never saying anything. We all called them Bob and John.
e.groves almost 5 years ago
Willie.
wse945 almost 5 years ago
I’ve hated my first name all my life . Tried to use my middle name for a while, but nobody wanted to cooperate with that. Why can’t people choose their own names when they’re old enough?
belgarathmth almost 5 years ago
You could go with the last part of the name and start calling him Sonny. That one works with any male name ending in -son.
iwontgiveit almost 5 years ago
so the wrinkles in his shirt continue to the couch?
sparkle 13 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
LOVE that Earl !!! lol
Russell Bedford almost 5 years ago
l’il Nel works for me
anomalous4 almost 5 years ago
There’s good precedent for calling a guy “Nellie”: Nellie King was a pitcher, then an announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellie_King
caring55 almost 5 years ago
I don’t know what his last name is but southerners love initials. just call him N?
ForrestOverin almost 5 years ago
Bubba, Slim, Whitey, Shorty…
ms-ss almost 5 years ago
I had a good friend named Leslie. He preferred Bill. I believe he would be unhappy that they put Leslie on his tombstone.
ArtisticArtemis almost 5 years ago
Nellie was my first thought even before I read the next panel. =^________^=
Whoah, Nellie!
WCraft Premium Member almost 5 years ago
What, no middle name? We gave both of our boys “Normal” middle names in case they didn’t like their first names.
Jan C almost 5 years ago
My dad’s parents used his middle name all the time he was growing up. When he went into the service in WWII, he was addressed by his given name, and was using it when he met my mom. He went by his given name for the rest of his life, except for his parents and sister’s family. I never did understand why they didn’t just reverse the names on his birth certificate if they wanted to use the second name so badly.
Snolep almost 5 years ago
My great uncle Nelson went by Nels.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace almost 5 years ago
Be careful what you wish for, (Nellie, Nell, Ensign).
gorgolo_chick almost 5 years ago
Sonny?
The Old Wolf almost 5 years ago
The supervisor of the University of Utah bowling alley in 1969 was called Nellie for that very reason. It suited him.
contralto2b almost 5 years ago
I gave my daughter a name that had skads of nicknames, but insisted that others call her by her full first name. The idea being that when she got older, she could pick whatever nickname she wanted. She stuck with the full first name. I am glad she did. There are people, of course, who will call you by a nickname even if you don’t want them to. I didn’t think my first name could be shortened into a nickname. In high school, however, I found out it could be shortened. Sigh. I am not fond of it, but over the last 45 years I have gotten used to it.
coffeeturtle almost 5 years ago
He can run the mercantile at Walnut Grove
Phanakapan almost 5 years ago
How about Horatio, after the famous Nelson?
fix-n-fly almost 5 years ago
Take the first letter of your first and middle name and have that be your nickname.
chinadad99 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
We have to believe that, in tomorrow’s panel, Grandpa will inspire Nelson with the story of his namesake, the great Chicago White Sox second baseman Nelson “Nellie” Fox. After all, what are we grandpas for if not education and inspiration? OK – maybe some entertainment too.
zeexenon almost 5 years ago
How about Horatio, Nelson?
ninstar almost 5 years ago
Nel?
Lycka almost 5 years ago
Bubba
ellisaana Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Was Nelson named after someone? If so, he could be a Junior, a Dewey, a Trey, or an Ivy.
My husband is a Trey but he was never called that. The men in his family all inherited two unusual names (first and middle) and a fairly common last name. His dad was a Junior. But my husband got called him Champ – the middle name, shortened. (I just couldn’t. When I met him, he was already using a variation of his first name.)
When our son was born, I called a halt to the family tradition. “The kid is going to have his own name,” I said. We narrowed it to two choices. My preferred name became our son’s first name. My husband’s preferred name became his second. Of course, by the time number one son was in high school, he’d chosen his own nickname.
sergioandrade Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Portuguese pronunciation of Sergio, Sar-Zjo, nickname Sarzg.
gautoo almost 5 years ago
My dad’s name was Nelson and his nickname was Ned.
Frankie5466 almost 5 years ago
Nicknames are funny things sometimes. Reminds me of this guy I know named William Richard _________. Everyone calls him Bill-Dick
CalLadyQED almost 5 years ago
I like Nels for his school friends and Sonny for his family.