Wetake our nicknames seriouslyin the South, and rightly so.
Sometimes formal names reveal themselves on special occasions, but often a nickname acts as permanent as yourbirth name.
These names can emerge as a deliberate choice or develop from a quirky personality trait.
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These names are commonplace in the South, and here are some of our favorites.
Ace
Typically, an Ace is a little too quick-witted for his good.
Or, it can refer to a devilishly handsome boy.
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Boo
Boo and Booboo are nicknames used for both boys and girls.
Buck
Buck meansyou guessed itmale deer.
Bud
Bud is short for Buddy or brother.
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Can’t remember someone’s name?
In the South, you’re able to call them Bud.
Saying, “Hey, how are you, Bud?”
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sounds casual and friendlyand unlikely to insult the person whose name you might’t recall.
Robert, William, or Donald also use it as a nickname.
), and you’ll have your very own Southern nickname.
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Often the Bugs combo name evolves simply to “Bugsy.”
Captain
No, he doesn’t need to be Captain of a vessel to earn this moniker.
Junior
We certainly didn’t invent the concept of a hand-me-down name.
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But where we depart from the usual convention is neglecting the inherited name altogether.
We’ll skip the confusion of father and son sharing the same moniker and call him Junior instead.
Is her name Grace?
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Just call her Gracie Lou.
Around here, nicknames don’t have to be shorter than someone’s given name.
Minnie
Mary and Amelia are familiar, given names associated with Minnie.
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It can also refer to a daughter who shares the same name as her mother.
Southern girls are all too familiar with, “Excuse me, Missy.
Now, where do you think you’re going at this hour?”
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It also makes for a classic grandmother name.
Sissy
Sissy traditionally refers to the oldest daughter in the family.
It’s also a nickname for Cecilia.
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It’s a Southern original.
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