From the time that each of our children were born, I’ve given them a nickname. Especially in the younger years, I’d often use their nicknames more than their real names when speaking to them.
This past week, our foster daughter asked me, “I think I need a nickname. So what nickname are you going to give me?”
Maybe I do it because our parents gave us all nicknames growing up. But regardless, I’ve grown to enjoy it, and have found that it’s had its positive benefits for our family.
Here are 3 reasons why I’d encourage you to consider giving a nickname to each of your kids:
1. It’s FUN
The nicknames you choose don’t have to have great significance or any at all other than that they’re names that will become near and dear to your heart over time.
Even more, it’s fun for your kids to have a specialized name all their own. There’s something intangibly enjoyable and even humorous about having a nickname.
2. It’s PERSONAL
Why don’t many people primarily call their spouse by their first name, but rather by a nickname? Simply because a nickname is more personal. It’s a term of endearment.
When I call my wife by her nickname, “Babe”, I’m the only one who can call her that. Everyone else in the world gets to call her “Charity”. But when I exclusively call her “Babe”, it implies each time I say it that she’s uniquely special to me more than anyone else in the world. This is the same reason why I love it when she calls me by something other than my name as well.
The same is true with our children. A nickname gives them a greater sense of priority and exclusivity in your eyes. Everyone else in their life gets to call them by their name, but you have your own unique name for them because of your unique relationship with them.
Having a nickname between you and your child is like having a front row seat in the stadium of their heart.
I loved being able to say to my boys when they were little, “You’re my only Slick!” or “You’re daddy’s only little Squirt!” And their smiles confirm that they love me saying it too. It would remind them that they mean something special to me that no one else in the world means to me.
3. It’s MEMORABLE
I have three sisters, and even though all four of us are grown now, when we get together, we still sometimes unconsciously use each others nicknames when we recall stories of our childhood.
In addition to the nicknames given to us by our Dad, our Grandpa had given each of us his own nicknames as well that each started with ‘Sugar’ (“Sugar Foot”, “Sugar Plum”, “Sugar Peach” etc). It’s still fun to recall and relish in those childhood memories.
While I don’t think there’s anything imperative about the need to give nicknames to your kids, in our family, we’ve only ever seen it as being a positive thing.
Does your family do nicknames? If so, why? Also, what do your kids think about having nicknames?
