Crazy Nicknames for Boys
- Jonesy
Origin:
Diminutive of Jones, English surname derived from JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
It's difficult to imagine anyone using the first name Jonesy -- and in fact, in the most recent US tally, there were nearly 100 babies named Jones but none named Jonesy. Still, this is a name that many people with Jones for a name, last or first, end up being known by, and as a nickname, it's sorta cute in a Skip, Chip, Bitsy kind of way.
- Tex
Origin:
Place-name, nickname for state of Texas residentDescription:
Despite its rakish western charm, still remains a cowboy costume without a real persona inside.
- Kitto
Origin:
Cornish, diminutive of Christopher, Greek and LatinMeaning:
"bearer of Christ"Description:
Kitto updates Dad Name Christopher with a trendy o-ending short form. Use it as an honor name or an original nickname.
- Buzz
Origin:
Modern nicknameDescription:
Brother for Biff and Bud. McFly rocker Tom Fletcher transformed this from midcentury short form to modern cool name when he used it for his newborn son.
- Coy
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"shy, taciturn"Description:
Though rarely heard now, Coy has been around for a century and was not an uncommon name a hundred years ago. There have been a couple of NFL players named Coy, Coy Bowles is in the Zac Brown band, and of course there was Coy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard. Due to the flirty connotations of the word "coy", McCoy is a more popular and recommended choice today.
- Treat
Origin:
English word and nicknameDescription:
One of the magical words of childhood (and beyond), and associated with actor Treat (born Richard) Williams, whose nickname came from ancestor Robert Treat Williams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- Polo
Origin:
TibetanMeaning:
"brave wanderer"Description:
If Portia can become Porsche, then Apollo can morph into Polo -- the imprint of designer Ralph Lauren.
- Tiger
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"animal name"Description:
Other wild animals like Fox, Wolf and Bear are catching on as baby names, and Tiger is a rarer option with several famous namesakes, including golf champ Tiger Woods, who was born Eldrick. Other famous Tigers include Indian actor Tiger Shroff, born Jai, and British actor Tyger Drew-Honey, who spells his name with a Y.
- Simba
Origin:
Swahili or ShonaMeaning:
"lion; strength"Description:
Traditional African name made cartoonish by the Disney character in The Lion King. In Shona it means "strength".
- Mitt
Origin:
Nickname for MiltonMeaning:
"settlement with a mill"Description:
If you'd like to name your baby after Gov. Romney, Mitt isn't it: his birth name is Willard. Mitt is an inherited nickname from Milton Romney, a favorite cousin of his father's who was a Chicago Bears quarterback in the 1920's.
- Jaz
Origin:
English, diminutive of Jasmine or JasperDescription:
Unisex variation of Jazz or Jasper that couldn't say it more plainly. Used for their daughter by tennis couple Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi.
- 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!
- Skipper
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"captain"Description:
Sure, and we hope he has a good time playing with Buster and Buddy.
- Bing
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"kettle-shaped hollow"Description:
When Kate Hudson named her second son Bingham and announced that she would be calling him Bing, it put this zingy nickname name out on the table. Before that, there was only one, further nicknamed Der Bingle -- and he was really Harry Lillis Crosby.
- Obie
- Dieter
Origin:
German, diminutive of DietrichDescription:
Dieter is a classic German name that got lots of satiric exposure via Mike Myers on "Saturday Night Live" a few years back. If mispronounced, it could conceivably be read as someone on a diet.
- Witt
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"a talent for banter or persiflage"Description:
In the old days, this might have been a short form for Dewitt, but today it's more likely to appear as a witty word name. We approve.
- Hap
Origin:
English diminutive of Henry or HaroldMeaning:
"estate ruler; army ruler"Description:
The old-school cool nickname Hap is a (mostly) bygone short form of classic H names for boys like Henry, Harold, and Harrison. Several notable Haps — including former New Jersey senator Hap Farley — were first nicknamed Happy, later shortened to Hap.
- Bubba
Origin:
American nicknameDescription:
The original southern Good Ol' Boy.
- Slim
Origin:
English word name or diminutive of Slimane, ArabicMeaning:
"man of peace"Description:
Slim may be too on-the-nose for the child of two beautiful models, but it's the name Nara Pellman and Lucky Blue Smith chose for their son, Slim Easy. Smith, who has daughters named Gravity Blue and Rumble Honey, is known for choosing outrageous word names. But Slim — when pronounced as "SLEEM" — can also be a short form of the Arabic name Slimane. This origin is shared with Pellman's middle name, Aziza.