The history of household nicknames goes back hundreds and thousands of years. In ancient times, parents gave nicknames to children in order to protect them from evil spirits, somehow distinguish them among the rest of the children. Now home nicknames, or family names, create a special atmosphere of intimacy, emphasize the warmth of feelings that family members have towards each other. They can also emphasize the element of play in relationships, add a playful, friendly touch to them.
Instructions
Step 1
The origin of the home name may be associated with the resemblance of a family member to an animal, the hero of a movie, fairy tale or book, as well as with the peculiarities of his appearance (for example, a child with thick blond hair in the family may be called Dandelion, owners of red hair are often called Ryzhiks by their relatives). There are nicknames-comparisons with insects (a mobile baby is sometimes called Ant or Tarakashka, family members can affectionately call a woman who is keen on household chores), “culinary” nicknames (Bun, Pie, Sweetie).
Step 2
Often the basis of a nickname is a bright character trait, personal quality, a property of temperament, and demeanor. The role in the family, the way of building relationships with relatives - everything can become the basis for a family nickname. Home names given to babies often reflect the attitude of the parents towards them to a greater extent than any peculiarities of the child - they express love, tenderness, and affection (Masik, Hare). The nicknames given to each other by spouses (Zolottsa, Kitty, Baby) can also obey this principle.
Step 3
Household nicknames can be formed from the personal name of a family member - for example, nicknames often become nicknames of children pronounced by them at an early age in a funny or distorted form (for example, "Oyka" instead of "Olga"). Sometimes the nickname is based on the diminutive form of the name, a modified version of the surname or an ironic respectful address by name and patronymic, a word rhyming with a personal name ("Vovka-Morkovka").
Step 4
As a rule, household nicknames do not carry a negative connotation, their purpose is not to offend or humiliate the carrier, but to distinguish him from family members, to express the attitude of those close to him. A nickname can be ironic or playful, but while maintaining healthy relationships in the family, this irony remains soft, does not carry a tinge of disdain or ridicule.
Step 5
Family nicknames rarely go beyond the boundaries of the family, they are not intended for use in friendly companies or in a work team, and even more so among unfamiliar people.
Step 6
Home names are not static, they are not always given for life and often change as a child grows up or changes occurring with a mature person.
