Your name says a lot about you. I know you don't get to pick your name, but somewhere along the line, it becomes part of who you are, and you become part of it. So, I've been thinking about my name and different nicknames I have accumulated over the years. Here are my thoughts on a few...
Kristi: the name most people I know call me. In fact, some people don't even know my for-real name is Kristina. I like my name. Cute. Short. Happy-sounding.
My mom calls me Kristi Beth sometimes. First name shortened. middle name shortened. I love it. I feel like a little girl again just hanging out with mommy when she uses it.
To some people I'm known as Miss Kristi. This is one of my favorite nicknames, probably because of the people who use this term: kids at my church when I'm teaching a class or just hanging out with them and kids I babysit. Something about a sweet child being so excited to see me and calling out "Miss Kristi!!" just makes my heart smile.
Kristina: I have mixed emotions about being called Kristina because two types of people call me that. 1) People who don't know me worth beans and have only seen my email signature or the name plate on my desk. (Me no likey.) 2) People who know me well, know that I usually go by Kristi, but call me Kristina anyway knowing that not many people do. (Me likey.)
Finch, Finchy, Finchworthy (or any other variation of my last name): I also like these nicknames. I think what I like about these is just that when they are used, people want to call me something other than my first name but don't want to get too crazy. I see this as them using a term of endearment. I like that.
Another not-so-expected nick name I have is Pookie. That's right, Pookie (or the ever-popular variation, Pooks). A couple of my close friends share this nickname. Just typing it out makes it sound silly and funny, but in real life, it feels totally normal, and I probably use this just as much as (if not more than) my friend's real name.
I love nicknames because what someone calls me is a bit telling about my relationship with them. If you have a special name for me, then I feel like I am special to you. Not in a ushy-gushy-lovey-dovey way, but in a I'm-glad-you're-my-friend way. There's something fun about having a name that just for you or that just used by one special person in your life. In fact, I fully intend to name my future children in such a way that is conducive to having a great nickname.
Do you have any special nicknames in your life? What's your favorite? Why do you like it?
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This is a fun post, Kristi. When I was little, my parents used to call me "Lindsay Lou" (my middle name is actually Sarah, but I guess they just liked that nickname). Well, because my last name starts with a B, my dad started saying L.L.B. which morphed into L.L. Bean. Haha! Today, all of my close friends just say "Linds." And I have one friend who says "Lindsaaaaay" (with a long "a" sound), because he thinks it's funny that I have an "a" instead of an "e" in Lindsay. I like them all! Nicknames are definitely endearing. :)
ReplyDeletePooks!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI can remember the first time I ever called you "Kristi Beth" like it was yesterday... You were only a day or so old, and I was all alone with you in the upstairs bedroom in our Lipa City house. I was teaching you your name, and realized I could shorten both....wow, that was long ago and far away. Only God knew where you would be 24 years later!
ReplyDeleteTwisty Pinch or TP for short is still my fav. It has always been fun to type out over IM. TP or FINCH (always all caps), I love it, and I love all your nicknames (Aunt Pretty is another great one). You have all these namesakes because you are such a special person to so many people. You are loved for sure :)
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