Crazy Nicknames for Boys
Updated Thu Feb 01 2024
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Crazy nicknames for boys are not often found on the birth certificate. There are a couple you can make a strong case for — such as Bo, Buddy, and Ziggy — but some are so outdated, and yes, crazy, that we don’t see them making a comeback. Can you imagine meeting a baby called Dickie or Jocko today?
Along with Dickie and Jocko, some of the crazy nicknames for boys include Bubba, Cuddy, Handy, Jimbo, Loney, Newt, Oddie, and Sax. Crazy names make good names for fictional characters, though; Biff, Doogie, Moby, and Rambo are all connected to famous characters.
Crazy nicknames can be wearable — just ask celebrities like Buzz Aldrin, Chevy Chase, Ringo Starr, and Tiger Woods. Here, view our roster of the wackiest nicknames for boys, past and present, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Sonny
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son"Description:
Sonny is one of the generic boy nickname names making a surprise reappearance, and it was recently used by actor Jason Lee. Another surprise: It's been on the US Top 1000 list every year since 1927, and as of 2023, it entered the Top 400 for the first time. Laidback Sonny is also popular in the UK, New Zealand and Australia.
- Bear
Origin:
Animal nameMeaning:
"bear"Description:
Bear has suddenly lumbered onto the baby name landscape. Perhaps inspired by British adventurer Bear Grylls (born Edward Michael), first celebrity chef Jamie Oliver used it as the middle name for his boy Buddy, and more recently Alicia Silverstone called her son Bear Blu., followed by Kate Winslet's Bear Blaize. It's part of a current trend normalizing once aggressive animal names like Wolf and Fox. Bear is now Number 218 on Nameberry and in the Top 900 in England.
- Ziggy
Origin:
German, diminutive of Siegfried and SigmundMeaning:
"victorious peace; victorious protection; victory"Description:
Perhaps the ultimate nicknamey name, Ziggy manages to sound cool, cutesy, spiky, and energetic all at once. It brings to mind the glam-rock of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the cool vibes of reggae musician Ziggy Marley, along with the contemporary-but-vintage appeal of Teddy, Mack, and Albie.
- Bo
Origin:
Norse nicknameMeaning:
"to live"Description:
A popular name in Denmark, in this country Bo has some cowboy swagger and a lot of substance in its minimal two letters. In Mandarin Chinese, Bo means "wave".
- Jonty
Origin:
Diminutive of JonathanMeaning:
"gift of Jehovah"Description:
Jaunty, to say the least, Jonty might be an option if Johnny feels too old school. It has been noticed most often on the playing fields, as in U.K. rugby player Jonty Parkin (born Jonathan) and South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes (Jonathon).
- Duke
Origin:
English rank of nobilityDescription:
While John Wayne and Duke Ellington are worthy role models, the reason Duke is currently enjoying a revival and returned to the Top 1000 in 2013 as one of the year's fastest-rising boys’ names is more likely due to the name given to high-profile TV couple Giuliana and Bill Rancic. Christened Edward Duke, he has always been called by his middle name, just as Edward Duke Ellington was. Duke is just one of several aristocratic titles being increasingly used by ordinary citizens.
- Kip
Origin:
American diminution of ChristopherDescription:
Kip Thorne, nobel laureate and long-time colleague of Stephen Hawking, is just one of several Kips who don't have a longer name.
- Dick
Origin:
Diminutive of RichardMeaning:
"dominant ruler"Description:
Dick was a once-common short form of Richard; replaced by Rick or Richie, and finally by the full name itself. Rude meaning -- make that two rude meanings -- pretty much knocks this one out of consideration.
- Odie
Origin:
Diminutive of Odell, Otis; English, GermanMeaning:
"of the valley; wealthy"Description:
This old-timey nickname for Otis and Odell is strongly tied to Garfield’s canine companion in the Garfield comic, movie, and TV franchise.
- Butch
Origin:
Nickname nameDescription:
Old-school nickname ala Spike and Babe that's favored by some hipster parents.
- Fritz
Origin:
German, diminutive of Friedrich or FrederickMeaning:
"peaceful ruler"Description:
Since female cousins Mitzi and Fritzi have entered the realm of possibilities, there's a chance that Cousin Fritz could as well. Fritz is the name of several notables, from early German-born film director Lang to early footballer Fritz (born Frederick) Pollard, the first African-American to play in the Rose Bowl in 1916.
- Pip
Origin:
English, diminutive of PhilipMeaning:
"lover of horses"Description:
The original Pip was the main character in Great Expectations (full name Philip Pirrip). Cute for a tike, maybe too cute for an adult.
- Ozzie
Origin:
Diminutive of Osmond, Oswald, or OscarMeaning:
"divine; deer"Description:
Ozzy has been on the rise in recent years and currently sits in the Top 1000 in the UK and the US. The Ozzie spelling has yet to catch up, but has nevertheless gained more attention thanks to its popular counterpart. Given to 135 boys and to 50 girls in 2023, for every one Ozzie there are three Ozzys.
- Jeb
Origin:
Diminutive of Jebediah, HebrewMeaning:
"beloved friend"Description:
Both Jeb and Jed are very attractive Old Testament short forms with long and bright futures. Jeb's main current association is with the Bush brother and former governor of Florida, but the name was a mainstay on early TV westerns, and then went upscale as the nickname (his birth name being Josiah) of the President on "The West Wing."
- Buddy
Origin:
English, nickname nameDescription:
Until recently it was rarely used as a proper name; Buddy Holly, for example, was christened Charles, and Salinger's Buddy Glass was born Webb. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver did name his fourth child Buddy Bear Maurice--a fittingly named brother to Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela and Petal Blossom Rainbow, and singer Tom Fletcher has a double-nicknamed Buddy Bob.
- Baz
Origin:
Diminutive of Sebastian or Basil; KurdishMeaning:
"regal; falcon"Description:
As Bas, it's a popular name in The Netherlands, but Baz, as in director Luhrmann, has potential for independent life too.Curiously, Australian-born Moulin Rouge director Luhrmann was born neither Sebastian nor Basil, but had the name Mark Anthony on his birth certificate; his nickname arose from his supposed resemblance to a British TV fox puppet named Basil Brush.
- Bandit
Origin:
Word or occupational nameDescription:
We hesitate to call Bandit an occupational name, any more than Rogue or Vandal are occupational names, yet its use by one of the bandmembers of My Chemical Romance (for his daughter: we're not even going to go there) undoubtedly owes a debt to occupational cousins from Pilot to Parker. Recommended for use by rock stars with full-time nannies only.
- Iggy
Origin:
Latin, diminutive of IgnatiusMeaning:
"fiery"Description:
Iggy is the quintessential pop star name, though it's the nickname Cate Blanchett uses for son Ignatius. Iggy does bring any grander-sounding name down to earth.
- Ringo
Origin:
English nicknameDescription:
The most outlandish Beatles-inspired name, if Lennon or McCartney are too tame for you. Ringo Starr is the stage name of drummer Richard Starkey, taken from his nickname Ringo (because he wore lots of rings) and the first part of his surname. A bold rock-n-roll inspired choice!
- Puck
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
Puck was Shakespeare's mischievous pixie who'a had a few television incarnations in more recent years. A popular name in The Netherlands but nowhere else, from what we can tell.