What Should You Nickname Your Kids?

“Hey, Turkey Leg! Eat your dinner! Goose, quit throwing yours on the floor!”

By “Turkey Leg,” I obviously mean my four-year-old son, Benjamin. “Goose” is, of course, my one-year-old daughter, Margot.

Ah, nicknames. Sometimes they are the most random thing that pops out of your mouth. Other times, they are classic and simple. I am sure that before I had children, I assumed my kids’ nicknames would be super cute and adorable. Instead, this is what spilled out of my brain:

nicknameBENJAMIN:

  • There are the standards: Ben, Benny, Benny Boo.
  • Benny Boo led to Boo, Boo-Boo, and Booper.
  • There are the classics: Bubba, Bub, Bubbie.
  • There are the ones based on his personality: Goofy Gus (often shortened to Gus)
  • Then the random one: Turkey Leg.

MARGOT:

  • With a “Benny Boo” we needed a Margot Moo, which is usually abbreviated to Moo.
  • Moo became Moo-Moo, Moosher, and Clarabelle.
  • Clarabelle became Belly.
  • She’s also Mags, Margie, Margee, and Marg.
  • Don’t forget Go-Go, Gotsie, and Gotsie-Go!
  • Then she became Girly Goose, which is usually shortened to Goose.

The nicknames my parents gave me (Marie) growing up were: Ree-Ree, Marini Skawini, Marie Angelle Poopuh Shell, Josephina, and Josie. My husband, Jeff’s nicknames were Doonsey and Sprinkles. As the years go on, who knows what other nicknames our kids will get? All I know is that they will be given with a lot of love and just as much playfulness.

Have you given your kids unexpected nicknames? What were your nicknames growing up?

Marie
Marie is the owner of Little Hometown, a company specializing in locally themed baby swaddles and apparel. Prior to opening her business, Marie was a professional event planner turned stay-at-home mom. She spent nearly a decade living in New York City, where she met her husband, Jeff (a New England native). Early in their relationship, Marie told Jeff that New Orleans is the only place where she would want to raise her children. As soon as she got pregnant, they started shopping for houses. They moved back in December of 2012, welcomed their son in 2013 and their daughter in 2015. Marie now spends her days entertaining her kids with silly songs, desperately attempting to stay organized, and balance her life as a work-at-home mom.

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