Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nickname

CreativeRoboticsNicknameFilter

WilliamWallace — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:43:18 -0800

I need a creative robotics/mechanical/electrical (engineering) themed nickname for a shirt I'm making. Constraints and criteria below. Disclaimer: I realize this is particularly difficult question to answer, but I feel it's the exact thing AskMe is for, people collaborating towards a common solution.

It must be no more than 13 characters.

I'm very big into Star Wars (who isn't?) so huge bonus points to something Star Wars related.

Something with a rank or title is also encouraged.

I'm looking for something clever, but also something acceptably professional-sounding. I'll accept all suggestions, and judge for myself. It's just something to keep in mind.

Make my workplace smalltalk for me

idiopath — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:58:02 -0800

Some Spanish speaking guys at work have taken to calling me "Rambo". Give me some suggestions for good humorous rejoinders, especially in Spanish. I have never seen the movie and speak no Spanish. They started calling me "Rambo" because I wear a sweatband at work to keep sweat off my face when I am running around the warehouse throwing boxes. They do the same job, but only speak just enough English to get by. I want to be able to return the friendly gesture, and hopefully make them laugh. By the way, this is definitely friendly teasing, not mocking derision, so I would not want to reply with a putdown or something.

Thanks, Ankiel. Seriously.

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:54:58 -0800

I have a serious question about adopting a "tricky" nickname. Yes, that one. Hi, I'm Richard. I've been Richard my whole life but for a brief period in high school and college, when I went by Rich. I discovered that I don't like that nickname much at all and most people use my full name, which I strongly prefer to Rich.

I am contemplating using the nickname Dick and I would appreciate comments, advice, warnings and testimonials, primarily about this particular nickname but more generally about the challenge of using a new nickname for someone who's used his given name nearly his entire life.

I'd specifically appreciate learning of any visceral, strongly negative reactions that people might have, based on the fact that the word is also a nickname for a penis, the perception (which is, in my experience, accurate) that this nickname is seldom associated with men my age (I am in my mid-30s), the lingering tarnish of Richard Nixon, or any other negative connotation or drawback that might be associated with the nickname Dick.

How did this come about? I work with several older colleagues and clients and a few insist on calling me Dick, even after repeated introductions as Richard. Somewhat to my surprise, I've found that I like the sound of it. I'm not unhappy with being called Richard, just intrigued by the possibility of going by Dick. It's less formal than Richard and simply sounds better to me than any of the other nicknames for Richard out there.

Sports fans reading this question may already know that 30-year-old professional baseball player Rick Ankiel is also contemplating adopting the nickname Dick. I'm grateful for having read that article, because doing so prompted me to write this question.

I'd imagine that many people would continue to call me Richard, and that would be fine. I'd probably use the new nickname in a business context, at least initially, and see how it went before considering a change elsewhere.

If you'd prefer a throwaway e-mail to a reply in this thread I've set up shoulddickbemynickname@gmail.com.

Help me create a new secret identity

mostlymartha — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:42:20 -0800

What's a playful and interesting but still respectable online handle for an "official" identity I'm creating on the website I work for? I work for a website that deals mainly in TV, movie, celebrity and TV-related news, listings, and stuff of that sort. I'm working on building and generating interest in the community aspect of the site. I'm already active there, but need an identity for "official" communication to users: for example, when I write them a quick note telling them that they've been chosen as a featured user for the front page. Since this identity will represent the company in a more formal capacity, I don't want to use my real identity (I'm mostlymartha there as well).

Thus I need a name. My boss just said, "You know. . . pick a really good name," which was not super helpful. I'd like it to be funny or punny or memorable in some way. A name that references what the site is about (TV) in some kind of wordplay way might work, since the name of the site itself does a similar thing. Any ideas?

More like St. Smellmo

Miko — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 07:39:17 -0800

Do you know a derogatory nickname for a town or city? I'm interested in renaming as a form of unofficial culture, folk culture. Sometimes the new name carries a weight of opinion - one type of renaming is to give a locality an insulting version of its real name. I've seen this most prevalently in teenagers and in service personnel stationed somewhere away from home. For instance, my hometown of Red Bank was called "Dead Bank" by its disaffected teens. It's been studied a little bit by folklorists, but I'd love to assemble some more recent name versions. I understand that some of these ("Jew York") might not always be PC and certainly can accept that in this context as I hope others can.

This Onion piece was not my inspiration, but turned up in a search - you get the idea. So please share your town's insulting nickname!

List of names

MattS — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:44:10 -0800

Need a list of the top 1000 male and female names, with variants and misspellings. I'm trying to find a list of the 1000 most common male and female names, along with nicknames and spelling variants. This is for a website that needs to know, for instance, John and Jon are the same name with different spellings. I've been able to find many lists of names, but the variants and spelling variations seems to be non-existent.

You Were Killed by Fluffy Wumpkins

misha — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:35:25 -0800

My son is entering that awkward teen stage and wants to put aside childish things. To that end, he would like to change his rather "kiddish" gamertag to something more intimidating (and less likely to be berated by his older sibling). Obviously, he's not looking for something like "Fluffy Wumpkins." He asked me to help him with suggestions for cool, edgy, threatening names. So, Hive mind, any ideas? Bonus points if it sounds particularly impressive or humiliating to the enemy after, "you were killed by..."

Because I don't believe in seances

NoraCharles — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 07:19:31 -0800

Help me figure out what my Italian Nonna was calling me all those years. My Nonna, who passed away 4 years ago, used to call me and my brothers a name. Phonetically, it's pronounced "sput-cheem". I don't know any Italian and haven't had any luck with translation sites. It seemed like a term of endearment, but she usually used it when we were not on our best behavior.
Can anyone tell me what this word means?

A speaker by any other name?

Gucky — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 16:16:42 -0800

What's a nickname for the speakers on a stereo? I know old school headphones are sometimes called "cans" and there has to be similar nicknames for speakers, but being neither an audiophile or someone who's down with the slang, I'm at a loss.

I'm not looking for the most widely used nickname. In fact, outdated, quirky or uncommon slang would probably be cooler for what I'm writing.

Thanks much.

Help me pick a stage name!

jojopizza — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 10:36:30 -0800

Help me come up with a funny stage name. The name has to be in the following format:
Thomas "Franken" Stein
Julia "Natural Born" Stiller
Bethany "Where It's" Atkins
etc

The name we're working with here is Josh Hardy.
Josh "Party" Hardy -- Not original enough
Josh "Laurel and" Hardy -- One possibility

The stage name should be original, clean (sfw), and at least ostensibly clever.

MeFites, start your comedy engines!

Childhood Nicknames

o2b — Wed, 30 Jun 2004 10:40:36 -0800

Did you have a nickname as a child? Was it embarrassing? My parents called me Bunky.