Nickname Creation in the South: Why Southern Grandparents Have Such Varied Monikers

Affectionate names for grandparents are common, especially in the South, where nicknames are perhaps more widespread than in any other area of the country. Tradition, vanity, distinction between sets of grandparents, baby-talk, happenstance and regional culture all play a part in nicknaming. Take Meemaw and Papaw for example. These two nicknames are very common in Dixie, according to Dr. Mike Coggeshall, professor of Anthropology at Clemson University in South Carolina. Dr. Coggeshall, who grew up in the Midwest, admits he never heard those names until moving to the South.

Kinship terms are also helpful in distinguishing fraternal from maternal grandparents. They also indicate degrees of formality or the closeness of a relationship. Whatever the terms used to refer to, or talk to, relatives, they reflect to a certain degree the social relationships of those people. Logically, the closer people are, the more intimate the terms. But how do pet names in the South originate?

Nickname Creation and Examples from the South

Usually the first grandchild gets naming rights, by virtue of his or her adorable and unusual ways to pronounce grandmother and grandfather. If a child is unable to say grandma, for example, and Bama comes forth instead, grandma has her name! Likewise, if the child is unable to say grandpa, but Gundy spills out, grandpa, forever more is known as Gundy. One gentleman, a grandfather who had bushy eyebrows and a considerable amount of arm "fur", seemed to roar when he spoke. His grandkids lovingly nicknamed him Rug after a newspaper cartoon bear.

Some grandmothers insist on being called grandmother. Until the grandchildren are able to say the word properly she remains nameless to them. In Greenville, South Carolina, an informal random poll among shoppers revealed Mawmaw, Mimi, Nana and MeMaw to be favorite names for grandmother, while Poppy and Papaw were top names for grandfather. Many respondents were unsure about the spellings. Ethnic names are also popular: Sitto (pronounced sit-too) is the Arabic word for grandma, while Gido is Arabic for grandfather.

Of course, nicknames are not only for grandparents. Grandparents can, and often do, give their grandchildren special names. Bubba is typically Southern, especially in the Deep South-- Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Bubba can also be heard in the television show, In the Heat of the Night. Put "Little" before any given name (Little Larry, Little Earle) and the accent and chewing tobacco normally follows.

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