Topic: Nicknames!
Nicknames are a funny thing to think about. When I was little, I used to hang around with this kid names Rick. In the 6th grade, Rick spilled mustard on his pants one time, and by the time we got to college he was still known as Mustard Balls. If one thing happens, or someone says the right thing at the right time a nickname is born. Sometimes they fade, sometimes they last. I worked construction in a family business right through grad school. One time while working on a roof, before I could even drive, my cousin who was a few years older than me asked the crew if anyone wanted some sunscreen. I guess sunscreen was beneath our workmates because everyone turned him down. From that moment on, he was known as Lotion Boy. When I declared my major (Philosophy) the same crew nicknamed me Eye-Sock-La-Please. Here are 5 other things you might not want to know about nicknames.
- The word ‘nickname’ comes from The Middle English word ekename. Eken meaning also or additional, and Name meaning name. A nickname is usually distinct from both a pseudonym and stage name. The best way to understand a nickname is that it is usually a substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing. An example sentence using nicknames for a person, place and thing might go as follows…I just saw Lotion Boy eating a wiener in The Big Apple.
- Demonyms are used to designate all people of a particular place, regardless of ethnic, linguistic, religious, or other cultural differences that may exist within the population of that place. People from Michigan are called Michiganders. Ganders from Michigan are called Michigander ganders. If you want to look at ganders from Michigan, you might take a gander at Michigander ganders. Gander and gander are homonyms, Michigander is a Demonym, and generally speaking neither are nicknames although they could be. If I ever meet a bird watcher named Mitch from Michigan, I have the perfect idea for a nickname. Nothing would be grander!
- You would think that it would be very easy to find nicknames of pro-climbers. As it turns out, it’s not that easy. Either many of them lack nicknames, or they do a good job of keeping them from the public. Here is what I found.
- Alex “No Big Deal” Honnold
- When I was in high school, we played a stupid game where you would find your stripper name by identifying your first car, and the street you grew up on. I’m not sure I could ever make it in the industry, but if I ever gave it a shot you could find me strutting my stuff by the name of Tacoma Smith!
- Okay, so it was tough to find climber’s nicknames, and due to the awesome games people play in high school, we now have a means by which to develop nicknames for climbers and offer folks a way to know the name of their inner climber. I Like the use of a car, that works, but instead of using your first car, why don’t we choose a car that starts with the first letter of your name. For example, Carrot = Corolla. For the last name, I’ve developed a chart by which your birth month will coincide with a climbing hold, as follows.
| January | Sloper |
| February | Crimp |
| March | Jug |
| April | Pinch |
| May | Crack |
| June | Hueco |
| July | Undercling |
| August | Flake |
| September | |
| October | Mono |
| November | Jam |
| December | Edge |
In putting this altogether, let’s say we have someone named Stacy, who was born in November, their climbing name could be Skylark Jam. Not bad! Alex “No Big Deal” Honnold who was born in August could be Aston Martin Flake. Again, not bad! One more for good measure…Pro climber Janja Garnbret who was born in March could be known as Jaguar Jug. And that is another winner! Feel free to use this method to discover your own climbing nickname!
5 Points 1 Topic!
thedihedral.com 
Good name prediction
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Thank you!
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By #3 I’m Morris McKenna. I think that works better than Tacoma Smith. Saab Sloper ain’t bad, either.
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You could build a career on Morris McKenna or Saab Sloper! I have nickname envy!
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Based on your chart, I’d be Hueco something. That’s a nickname – particularly since in hails from Texas – that seems better suited to an Old West desperado. But who says climbers can’t be desperadoes? [Note that this is not the same as desperately searching for a hold as your foot starts to slip…] Anyway, how about: Old Hueco Bill redpointed that 5.12, then robbed the bank, and rode off into the sunset. Yeeee! Hawww!
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I love this idea…rob a bank, lead a chase into a canyon, dyno off your horse, and free solo your way to freedom. I’d watch that for sure!
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Yep, that would be the sequel to Vertical Limits, but with cowboy boots. 😉
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Oh, that would be wild. Get some Vibram Rubber on the bottom of the boots, and send everything!
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Using my first car “Valiant pocket” I’ll keep it instead of Mercedes pocket. Fun post.
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Thank you Sunyamar, that is a spectacular name!
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Maserati Sloper here. 🙂
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That is such a great name! I’d take a climbing class from Maserati Sloper based on name alone!
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Brilliant! This really made me chuckle. ‘Eye-sock-la-please’! 😅
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My climber name: Valiant Jug. My stripper name: Comet Oakwood. Thanks for the fun post!
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WOW…those are both amazing! Comet Oakwood might be the best possible combination of all!
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Highlander Hueco – wow, I love it! What a fun read.
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Highlander Hueco, just when I thought it couldn’t get any better! You should just go ahead and make a legal name change!
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I’m Neon Jug, thanks!
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Neon Jug…WHAT That is another highlight for sure!
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Fifty-two years ago I gripped my keys and walked through a gauntlet of 8th graders to reach my classroom. It was the beginning of my thirty-six year teaching career and I was scared spitless — as well I should have been. One kid, sitting high on some steps, shouted, “Here comes Waldo.” The play on my name stuck. Some of my first climbing partners were colleagues, so the name followed me into our sport. My route finding skills didn’t help either. Partners would jibe, “Where’s Waldo?” “Don’t ask him. He doesn’t know.”
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That is such a great origin story!!! You are set for good with a nickname like Waldo! Thank you for sharing!
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