Nickname for a 1950s character

October 5, 2009 1:56 PM

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...

posted by Cool Papa Bell to grab bag (42 comments total)

Skip
posted by spaltavian at 1:57 PM on October 5

Ace.
posted by adipocere at 1:57 PM on October 5

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

Chet.
posted by Asparagirl at 1:59 PM on October 5

Biff
Buster
Buddy
posted by artychoke at 2:00 PM on October 5

Slick
Bud
posted by stormpooper at 2:01 PM on October 5

Dutch, Ace, Bud, Duke, or maybe Slick
posted by quin at 2:04 PM on October 5

My grandpa was always called Red, and Tooter
posted by ukdanae at 2:06 PM on October 5

Wheels, babe, poke, hoke, hoss.
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:07 PM on October 5

Daddy.
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:08 PM on October 5

Hooch college aged, ok, I'll stop.
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:09 PM on October 5

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

Flip.
Smooth.
posted by ignignokt at 2:11 PM on October 5

Moose. Lunk. Stretch. Slim.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 2:15 PM on October 5

Fonzie.
posted by box at 2:17 PM on October 5 [1 favorite]

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

Spike. Butch (my nickname from the 50's). Bubba.
posted by torquemaniac at 2:22 PM on October 5

Bud.
posted by chez shoes at 2:23 PM on October 5

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

Champ.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 2:29 PM on October 5 [1 favorite]

Stack.
posted by pracowity at 2:37 PM on October 5

Chip.
posted by jgirl at 2:37 PM on October 5 [1 favorite]

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

(See also this and this)
posted by Sys Rq at 2:47 PM on October 5

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

Sounds like a Dickie.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:03 PM on October 5

Old Man
posted by parmanparman at 3:03 PM on October 5

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

Skitch.
posted by niles at 3:09 PM on October 5

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 [1 favorite]

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

Also, if he works in the snackbar at the theater, "Snacks"
posted by dersins at 3:20 PM on October 5

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

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 [2 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

Curly.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:39 PM on October 5

Red.
posted by x46 at 6:09 PM on October 5

Splice.
posted by brujita at 10:27 PM on October 5

Nickel.
posted by Shecky at 10:42 PM on October 5

Dusty.
posted by maloon at 4:58 AM on October 6

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 [1 favorite]

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