By Tanner Lecumberry Posted February 19, 2014
A nickname is not easy to come by these days, and with all these celebrity labels it’s hard to appreciate a well-drafted nickname. You may be asking yourself, what makes a good nickname? How can I create my own? Never fear, fellow students, I’m here to aid you in your pursuit of the best nickname.
First, let’s clarify what a real nickname is. A-Rod is not a nickname. That would be just like saying Chris is a nickname for Christopher, it’s only an abbreviation. That goes for last names as well. If people call you by your last name, that just means your last name is more convenient and/or cooler than your first. Also, for those that have seen the infamous substitute teacher skit on “Key & Peele” I think it’s about time to lay A-A-Ron to rest. I know Aaron Nelson is over it at least.
The best nicknames aren’t intentionally given. Don’t ask your friends to give you a nickname, it just won’t work. The best nicknames in these halls, Blake “Corndog” Duncan, Jaecee “Juice” Munger, and Tytin “House” Johnson, weren’t simply thought up, they just stuck. Blake Duncan refused to give up the ambiguous nature of the origin of “Corndog”, but Tytin Johnson’s “House” was given by Mr. Corak. Jaecee has been called “Juice” for as long as she can remember, because of her young love for juice. That’s the point though, that none of these people asked for a nickname, or actively searched for one. If you’ve ever sat down and taken time to brainstorm a nickname for yourself, stop. You’re wrong.
Most people haven’t been blessed with a nickname so early in life. Don’t stress, most get their life-long nicknames in college. At that point, though, you’ll probably be ashamed of your wild college life and hope no one ever says your nickname in public. Just remember, you asked for it.
For those out there with great nicknames, kudos to you. For those without, however, there is still hope. Nicknames are like a good woman, hard to come by, but worth the wait, and if you can brave the storm of a mediocre name for long enough, you will more than likely stumble across something great.
