Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
nickname, sobriquet, alias, aka, moniker, hypocorism
I’ve never seen hypocorsim, sobriquet, or moniker being used, but I’ve seen alias, aka, and nickname very often. We all have nicknames and I just love people’s nicknames more than their formal names. For example, American Indian warriors always have wonderful nicknames like Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, Lone Horn. Let me think what I want to be called, probably Talking Goat. It is said Thai people love nicknames. And a person often creates a nickname for himself or herself. Then after several years, he or she can change it to a new one and the circle of friends and relatives will use the new one. What a wonderful tradition. If I want to nickname myself Talking Goat, can I force my circle of friends to call me that?
- hypocorism: a pet name, an affectionate name
- sobriquet: nickname
- alias: nickname
- aka: to indicate another name of a person.
- moniker: name
- nickname: a more familiar and affectionate name
pseudonym, acronym, synonym, antonym
- pseudonym: Many authors have pseudonym–an invented name. For example, George Eliot.
- acronym: Use the first letter of each word in a name to form a shortened name. For example NASA, IMAX, RAM
- synonym: words having similar meanings.
- antonym: words have opposite meanings.
eponym, eponymous
- eponym: a person who lends his or her name to something. For example, a disease can bear the name of the person who discovers it. Alzheimer’s disease is one, Down syndrome is another.
- eponymous: lending one’s name to something. For example, Thomas Edison is the eponymous hero of the Edison Township of New Jersey.
title, entitle, entitlement:
- title is the name of a painting, a book, or a paper.
- entitle is the verb form of title and it can also mean to give rights to somebody.
- entitlement: it is a special word now and used in special places. When the rich Wall Street firms failed and the government helped them with billions of dollars, it is called bailout or business as usual. When a poor single mother claims welfare, it is called entitlement.
anonymous, incognito
- I’ve never figured out how to distinguish between the two. They have similar meanings: name unknown. However they are used in different circumstances. You can’t say an incognito author; you have to say an anonymous author or an anonymous source. Also one has to say the famous actor travels incognito or the famous actor has to be incognito when he travels. One can’t use anonymous in this context.
byline, byword
- byline: the name of the author
- byword: It means a buzz word or a most outstanding example of something. For example, locally in Edison Township, Nordstrom is the byword for luxury goods.
misnomer: a wrong name
nomenclature: name a group of things systematically, like in a scientific field.
onomatophobia and other phobias
- onomatophobia: An unreasonable fear of certain names or certain words.
- Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: It means fear of long words.
Interesting! Before I read your post, I’d never heard of “sobriquet, moniker or hypocorism”, either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me neither. I mean there are so many words. So many in English. It is overwhelming. Also I don’t know if people are still using these.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Names are fascinating. Have you heard of “nominative determinism”? It’s the theory that people choose occupations etc that fit their names – eg John Frost might become a meteorologist. There are a lot of funny (but real) examples if you do a search. Also one associates certain names with certain traits – possibly just because they’re class or age signifiers, but I sometimes wonder if there’s more to it than that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually I totally agree. The world will be a much better place if parents give their little ones peaceful enjoyable names. Those ambitious names can be very troubling and often results in disappointment or something even worse.
LikeLike
Another great list! Thank you so much: a learn a lot from your posts💙🙏💙🙏💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Luisa. I am glad you like it. And I enjoy your posts too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, nicknames are everything in Thailand. Can confirm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, now you pique my interest. I start to imagine what kind of nickname you got when you were teaching in Thailand. Well, don’t tell me and let me guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The unfortunate hint I can tell you is that my nickname was not really interesting, haha.
Usually, though, Thais make up their own nickname.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am thinking of something related with guru or kru. Hope that is not too predictable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did get called that, but that is more of a title.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thailand fascinates me. Always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here
LikeLike
That last word lives up to its definition. Haha! How would you even say it? I don’t have a nickname and am glad. They usually are too silly, embarrassing, or completely opposite to one’s real name. Thanks for sharing these words, Haoyan. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
So true. Nickname is relegated to the realm of informality and sometimes even infamy nowadays. Well at least on TV. LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Talking Goat, I use “moniker,” read and understand “sobriquet,” but never heard of “hypocorism.” Are you sure you are not making up some of these words?!😎
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha, actually the Talking Goat have thought about the same thing. I’ve often wondered if all these mountains of English words are just a fiction of imagination and nobody actually really uses them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post. I can’t believe the name for the fear of long words. That is nuts. Sending big hugs. ❤️🤗🦋
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. And all the love and hugs for you. I have to say nobody ever uses it. It must be a nutty person who created it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is quite funny as the person with this phobia would be afraid of this word: Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. Great post I always enjoy these so much. 🤗❤️🦋 sending more love and hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Joni for your sweet encouragement. Always. Love your feedback. I wonder who would use this word and how anybody can come up with it. English is a quirky language. That’s what I am going to say. A lot of love and hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right my friend. We are always coming up with new words. I love reading your posts about our language. There are always words I don’t know about anymore. You have gotten so sophisticated with your post. Teaching us new words I love it. Great job. Thank you my kind friend. ❤️🤗🦋🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, what a beautiful comment. Thank you so much. A lot of love and hugs for all your support.
LikeLike