Nickname is a term that refers to the nickname that is given to an individual according to some physical characteristic or circumstance. There are nicknames that are loving manifestations, while others seek to ridicule or mock the person.
According to DigoPaul, the most common nicknames are linked to bodily issues: Fat, Skinny, Black, etc. Its use can be simply appellative, but also discriminatory or aggressive. The subject who receives the nickname, on the other hand, can take it positively, indifferently or angrily.
Often the way the nickname is considered depends on the context. If a friend says to another “Hello, Gordo, how are you doing?” , the expression is not likely to be offensive. On the other hand, if he yells at him, “Come on, Gordo, hurry up, you’re always late!” , the nickname probably does not feel at ease.
Offensive nicknames can have serious psychological consequences, especially during the most delicate stages of our development, such as childhood and adolescence. In an ideal world, no one would call another person a term denoting some physical defect or mental disability; but the reality is that these are the most common nickname types.
It should be noted that not all people react the same way to the same offense; in fact, the possibilities are endless, and depend on a large number of factors related to each person ‘s personality and experiences. Two extreme examples are an individual who is sinking and emotionally blocked by not enduring the humiliation of his nickname, compared to another who does his best to overcome himself and become invulnerable to attacks.
There are nicknames that, for multiple reasons, allude to animals. Argentine footballer Lionel Messi is often called the Flea Messi, to cite one case. El Toro Acuña, Tigre Falcao and Pitbull Medel are other footballers with animal nicknames.
Also in the field of music nicknames are often used. Bruce Springsteen is known as the Chief (The Boss), while Elvis Presley was called the Rey (The King).
According to the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), nicknames are written with an initial capital letter. The article used before the nickname, on the other hand, begins with a small letter: “Argentina won with a goal by the Messi Flea”, “Tomorrow the Chief will sing at the National Stadium”.
Since the arrival of the Internet in our lives, it has become extremely common to adopt one or more nicknames to communicate with other people, or even to identify ourselves in front of the various companies with which we establish links. From the chat to the account of our bank, through the inevitable email box and profiles on social networks, this era is characterized by the widespread use of the nickname to move through cyber space.
Just as an avatar allows us to show ourselves with the body, age and sex we want to have, the nickname gives us the opportunity to present ourselves in the best possible way, according to our needs and tastes. In some cases it is used to refer to our favorite hobbies or artists, for example, while in others it can also be used to promote a professional activity.
Someone whose nickname is “singer81” can save a good chunk of their chat presentation, or direct the conversation to the field where they feel most confident from the start. On the other hand, «elNintendero» will surely make its way among fans of Sony and Microsoft to find their fellow tastes without the need for bad drinks. In the professional field, it is very common to find users with nicknames that clearly indicate their specialty.
