Sweetie, buddy, honey...squirrel?

By Amy M.

Nicknames are a funny thing. Sometimes it’s obvious where they came from, but often not. For example, anyone who does not know my “maiden” name (I have to put “maiden” in quotes because I think the terminology is sexist) would be surprised to hear my husband call me “Millie.” I actually think it’s sort of cute, especially because we’re not the type to use terms of endearment.

When I was pregnant, and before we knew we were having a boy, we referred to the baby as “Bean” (shortened from “Jelly Bean”). Later in my pregnancy, we started calling him Alex. When he was first born, we used all the typical affectionate terms showered on babies. And as we became loopier due to lack of sleep, we started calling him sillier names, like “Al Pal” (because he had an alligator whose tag said “My Pal Al”) and “Alex Capalex” (I don’t know where that came from).

The most, uh, unique (some may call it strange) nickname is the one that stuck, and now even my parents use it. When Alex was about 2 ½, we were talking about his favorite flavors of ice cream, and Brian mentioned peanut butter swirl. All Alex got out of that was the “peanut” and the “swirl,” although he thought Brian had said “squirrel.” All of a sudden he started calling himself “peanut squirrelly.”

And the name stuck. Now he’s our little “Peanut Squirrel,” often shortened to one or the other. “Peanut” is a relatively common term of endearment for a child, but I’ve certainly never heard anyone else refer to her child as “Squirrel.” It seems fitting for Alex because he can be a little, well, squirrelly—acting a bit secretive, as if he’s hiding something (although he’s never hiding nuts). Unlike the squirrels, however, he always has a little gleam in his eye and we know he’s just playing around. For a 4-year-old, he’s awfully good at teasing.

Fortunately squirrels have always had a soft spot in my heart, not because of my love of rodents, but because they are sort of an unofficial mascot for my university. When people return to campus they are always happy to see (and sometimes feed) the squirrels.

So there you have it. I have admitted to referring to my son as a bushy-tailed, beady-eyed rodent—but always with affection. What nicknames do you have for your children?

Amy M. lives in Pennsylvania with her son and her husband. She works full time as a writer/editor for a large university.

Comments

[Christina]

Somewhere in those first, distant, hazy weeks of her life, I called my daughter Cordy-bear. The name stuck, and we still call her Cordy-bear or just Bear now and then.

[Pink]

We are nickname people--in fact, Mr P assumes that I'm mad at him if I call him by name. Miss P has a million names: Boo, Moo, Monkey, Princess Potato Head, Princess Popsicle Stick, Chunky Monkey, Freakasaurus, Bunny, Scoo, Noochie-noo. Basically, if it has rhyming potential and sounds funny, it can be her name for a day.

[Heather]

Before our first son was born he was nicknamed "Hector". No explanation why! His nickname is now Mr. Magoo. Son number 2 is Scooby-do.

[Jess]

My daughters name is Rebecca and she also has lots of nicknames.
Becca of course!
Beccaboo
Stink-stone My hubby called her stinkarella one day and she thought for a minute and called him a stink-stone so that name has stuck.

Funny how so many of us have the word stink in our childs nicknames:)
Jess

[Kathy]

I think you outed yourself about your university. Any alum would know because of the squirrels. I actually had one jump up on my lap while I was waiting for a class to let out. There's tame and then there's demanding. I'm sure Alex is much cuter.

[Darci McGrath]

Daughter #1 - Given name is Charlotte, but she is called Shorty or Girlfriend from Short Girlfriend which is what her fav auntie has called her since day one. Everyone that is "in" with her calls her Shorty - All 5'6" of her. It is on all of her soccer bags. She can also be called Bear from Charlie Bear.

Daughter #2 - Given name Kathryn "Katie" but she is called Orange for her orange/red hair. She is not a lover of nicknames.

[heidi]

I call my baby Mollybird. I started when I first felt her kicking and it was like a little hummingbird in my belly. She's also Boue (pronounced Boo.) I call everyone I love "Boo," but they all have different spellings. My husband is Bu. I'm Bew, and I'm a lunatic:)

[Janet]

I have so many nicknames for my daughter Lily. Before she was born she was 'Cletus the Fetus'. When we found out she was a girl, she was Lady. Now she's Princess Stinkfoot...You can guess why. We also call her Pidgeon, Chicken, Nug(short for Nugget), Cloppy, Schnoodle, Stinks, Lovebug, Lov-ah, Sister Sledge, Sissy, LaLa, Loover...gosh, I can go on forever!

[Janet]

I have so many nicknames for my daughter Lily. Before she was born she was 'Cletus the Fetus'. When we found out she was a girl, she was Lady. Now she's Princess Stinkfoot...You can guess why. We also call her Pidgeon, Chicken, Nug(short for Nugget), Cloppy, Schnoodle, Stinks, Lovebug, Lov-ah, Sister Sledge, Sissy, LaLa, Loover...gosh, I can go on forever!

[Marijean]

Poor Allison gets everything from Albert to Aloysius, Alka Seltzer to Alcohol (hope that doesn't stick). Our son is Monkey Boy.

[Chandra]

Oh, I forgot that most important nicknane of my second daughter - Bug-a-boo. Instead of playing peek-a-boo, we play bug-a-boo.

[Chandra]

My first daughter is our little Firefly. She lights up our life.

and our second child has two - skeeter, something my husband started called her and then Stinky (I pronounce it more like Shtinky) Pete. My husband and I both used this when she had a poopy diaper and now it stuck.

[Robin P]

I don't know if there is enough time to tell you all the nicknames we have for Lillianna but I'll try because you asked.

After seeing my ultra sound when I was 6 months pregnant,we thought her face looked like a moon so we called her Moon Pie. That name stuck until she was born and for some reason,I began calling her Poozle or Poozle Woozle. I don't even know what it means or where I might've heard it. Rich started using that name too.

Over the years,we have gone through phases of other nicknames: Pumpkin,Pumpkin Wumpkin (rhyming names are always fun!),Rosebud,Rosie Posie (Her middle name is Rose),Lilly-Pie,Lilly-Bud and Lillsey.

In the past year,I have taken to calling her Noodle and occasionally Poodle. I did notice that Amy calls her daughter Lauren,Noodle,in Judging Amy and Karen calls Jack,Poodle,in Will and Grace. I don't think I consciously took these names for my daughter but I just thought I'd mention it.

Most of the time I call her Lillianna or Lillianna Rose,since that is actually her name. I only call her Lilly when I am upset about something and need her to pick up her toys.