Nickname for a 1950s character
October 5, 2009 1:56 PM Subscribe
Help me name a fictional character -- need nicknames for a college-aged man in the 1950s. Buzz, Scooter, Butch, Jughead, etc...
Imagine this male character walked out of the musical Grease, Ozzie and Harriet, Leave it to Beaver, etc. He's a good guy, so give him a cool one-word nickname like a 1950s character.
Buzz, Scooter, Butch, Jughead, etc...
Imagine this male character walked out of the musical Grease, Ozzie and Harriet, Leave it to Beaver, etc. He's a good guy, so give him a cool one-word nickname like a 1950s character.
Buzz, Scooter, Butch, Jughead, etc...
Bud. Sonny. Mac. Hot (that was a real 1950s nickname, but looks weird today). Zip. Legs. Cowboy.
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:59 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:59 PM on October 5, 2009
Wheels, babe, poke, hoke, hoss.
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:07 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:07 PM on October 5, 2009
Daddy.
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:08 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:08 PM on October 5, 2009
Hooch college aged, ok, I'll stop.
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:09 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:09 PM on October 5, 2009
My grandfather was Doc (because he was so smart), and his brother Richard was Pidge (because he was the opposite of pigeon toed, actually; he was splayfooted). Richard also had a nickname that related to his tendency to take corners on two-wheels (might have been "Two Wheels") but I'm not sure exactly what it was.
posted by ocherdraco at 2:10 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by ocherdraco at 2:10 PM on October 5, 2009
Moose. Lunk. Stretch. Slim.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 2:15 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by Admiral Haddock at 2:15 PM on October 5, 2009
Fonzie.
posted by box at 2:17 PM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 2:17 PM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I knew a man nicknamed Duke in college in the 50's that became a life long nickname.
posted by readery at 2:20 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by readery at 2:20 PM on October 5, 2009
Spike. Butch (my nickname from the 50's). Bubba.
posted by torquemaniac at 2:22 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by torquemaniac at 2:22 PM on October 5, 2009
Bud.
posted by chez shoes at 2:23 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by chez shoes at 2:23 PM on October 5, 2009
Good nicknames are difficult-- they need to sound good not only on their own, but also in conjunction with the last name. Plus, they need to have some relevance to the actual person. It would help to know a little more about the character. Is he brainy fellow with glasses? An athlete? Short? Tall? Irish? German? A ladies man? A heavy smoker? And what's his last name? We need to know whether names like "Specs" or "Flash" or "Peewee" or "Dutch" or "Red" or "Smokes" make sense, and whether they'll sound good with his last name.
posted by dersins at 2:28 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by dersins at 2:28 PM on October 5, 2009
Champ.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 2:29 PM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by JohnnyGunn at 2:29 PM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
Chip.
posted by jgirl at 2:37 PM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by jgirl at 2:37 PM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Rusty, Buck, Fats, Bones, Bug, Mac, Sonny, Hotrod, Stretch, Dog, Stucky, Biggie, Shorty, Fuzzy, Fox, Duke, Zippy, Skippy, Gooch, Geetch, Spot, Rocket, Jet, Snake*, Spike*, Wheels*, Bronco*
*Thanks, Degrassi!
posted by Sys Rq at 2:42 PM on October 5, 2009
*Thanks, Degrassi!
posted by Sys Rq at 2:42 PM on October 5, 2009
Response by poster: It would help to know a little more about the character.
Normal guy that works at a movie theater. Not a nerd, not a jock.
Best references are Ricky Nelson, Wally Cleaver, Richie Cunningham, "Bud" from Pleasantville (Tobey Maguire), etc.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:56 PM on October 5, 2009
Normal guy that works at a movie theater. Not a nerd, not a jock.
Best references are Ricky Nelson, Wally Cleaver, Richie Cunningham, "Bud" from Pleasantville (Tobey Maguire), etc.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:56 PM on October 5, 2009
Old Man
posted by parmanparman at 3:03 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by parmanparman at 3:03 PM on October 5, 2009
Normal guy that works at a movie theater.
Something related to that maybe? Like something his non-theater friends might have started calling him because of his job: Reels, Specs (guy who hands out 3d glasses), Lantern or Lamp (projectionist).
posted by quin at 3:04 PM on October 5, 2009
Something related to that maybe? Like something his non-theater friends might have started calling him because of his job: Reels, Specs (guy who hands out 3d glasses), Lantern or Lamp (projectionist).
posted by quin at 3:04 PM on October 5, 2009
If you're going with the projectionist thing, he could always be "Flick."
If he works outside his hometown, you can name him after that.
It's hard to nickname a nice normal dude -- it seems like nicknames usually are based on anomalies!
posted by zusty at 3:16 PM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
If he works outside his hometown, you can name him after that.
It's hard to nickname a nice normal dude -- it seems like nicknames usually are based on anomalies!
posted by zusty at 3:16 PM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Normal guy that works at a movie theater. Not a nerd, not a jock.
Flicks, Buddy, Ducks, Ducky, Pops (for "popcorn"), Slim
posted by dersins at 3:19 PM on October 5, 2009
Flicks, Buddy, Ducks, Ducky, Pops (for "popcorn"), Slim
posted by dersins at 3:19 PM on October 5, 2009
Also, if he works in the snackbar at the theater, "Snacks"
posted by dersins at 3:20 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by dersins at 3:20 PM on October 5, 2009
Hoss
Mo (or Moe)
Rip
Stretch (if he's tall)
Tiny (if he's burly)
Lee
Bub
Dote (an uncle's nickname)
Buck
posted by Ouisch at 4:27 PM on October 5, 2009
Mo (or Moe)
Rip
Stretch (if he's tall)
Tiny (if he's burly)
Lee
Bub
Dote (an uncle's nickname)
Buck
posted by Ouisch at 4:27 PM on October 5, 2009
Best answer: My parents had a friend named Lampshade. I asked them why, and neither they nor any of their friends could remember why he was called Lampshade, but it's the most awesome, 1950s-type nickname I've ever heard.
posted by xingcat at 4:49 PM on October 5, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by xingcat at 4:49 PM on October 5, 2009 [3 favorites]
I personally love Dickie because it's so dated, but you're probably looking for something a little weirder.
If he's liked movies all his life, Flick is appropriate.
Stay away from Biff, because that brings to mind Back to the Future immediately.
posted by radioamy at 5:26 PM on October 5, 2009
If he's liked movies all his life, Flick is appropriate.
Stay away from Biff, because that brings to mind Back to the Future immediately.
posted by radioamy at 5:26 PM on October 5, 2009
Curly.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:39 PM on October 5, 2009
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:39 PM on October 5, 2009
Best answer: Here are some nicknames from a 1954 high school yearbook I had on hand:
Frenchy, Skip, Hudge, Bake, Babe, Fake Fake, Brownie, Bets, Carver Babe, Jo, Kitty, Buddy, Gopher, Hall, Hatchet, Aggie, Jigger, Dolly, Nance, Marciano, Rusty, Bev, Lo, Bo Bo, Toddy, Powerhouse
posted by mikepop at 5:42 AM on October 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
Frenchy, Skip, Hudge, Bake, Babe, Fake Fake, Brownie, Bets, Carver Babe, Jo, Kitty, Buddy, Gopher, Hall, Hatchet, Aggie, Jigger, Dolly, Nance, Marciano, Rusty, Bev, Lo, Bo Bo, Toddy, Powerhouse
posted by mikepop at 5:42 AM on October 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Wow, and a day after this question, I saw one of the best '50s names ever: "Chip Wisdom."
posted by limeonaire at 11:35 AM on October 6, 2009
posted by limeonaire at 11:35 AM on October 6, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by spaltavian at 1:57 PM on October 5, 2009