# Does anybody call their cousin \_\_\_ "Cousin \_\_\_"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 16, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178 "2008-08-16T02:10:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/1 "2008-08-16T02:10:47Z")
Just one of those trivial nonsensical things I’ve wondered about. On movies and TV and in books you’ll hear characters refer to “Cousin Jay” or “Cousin Linda”, but I’ve never known anybody who actually did this. They might refer to “_my_ cousin Jay/Linda” if they’re talking about them to someone else, but they just refer to them by their first name in person or to other members of the family who know them. I’ve wondered if this is just something that’s used for one-word exposition or if some people really do say “Cousin Jerry/Cousin Tina” the same way they might say “Uncle Burt/Aunt Sophie”. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/2 "2008-08-16T02:21:57Z")
When I was younger, I had a cousin that almost everybody called Cous’n Let (Lettie). It came out as “Co’nLet” People had been pronouncing it in this southern, mushmouth kind of way for so long, it stuck. When I was really young I thought the full appellation was her actual name, never realizing what it really meant until I went away to college (that’s some higher learnin’ for you right there). It cracks my West Coast Jewish best friend up and occasionally he’ll ask, “How’s Cous’nLet doing?” But then he enjoys stories of my father calling us kids “lazy sotdodgers.” I don’t remember anybody else being addressed this way though. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/3 "2008-08-16T02:29:39Z")
Me and my cousins. I have them in my cell phone as “Cousin \_\_\_” and when we call and leave messages we say “Hey, this is Cousin \_\_\_” We start emails “Hey Cuz,” and sign them “Cousin \_\_\_” We greet eachother as “Cousin!” When I was a teen, my first cousin Chris and I worked with our cousin John at our second cousin Ralph’s restaurant (follow?) I was known as Cousin Zipper\* by EVERYONE, and Cousin Chris was known as Cousin Chris. John was just John because everyone knew him before Chris and I got there. I referred to my mom’s cousin, the owner, as Cousin Ralph and his brother as Cousin George. Some of the extra special chefs got to be known as “Cousin \_\_\_” too. I ran into one of the chefs last year, after about 10 years of being out of the business, and he referred to me as “Cousin Zipper.” FWIW we grew up calling our aunts “Auntie \_\_\_” too. We a fairly close-knit Slovak family. \*not my real name 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/4 "2008-08-16T02:31:38Z")
My family did it sometimes, when someone not related had the same name as a cousin or an uncle: “I’m going over to Jerry’s for a while, Ma.” “Jerry the child molester?” “Nah, Cousin Jerry.” ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/5 "2008-08-16T03:17:45Z")
I do it sometimes. I only have six first cousins and they live far, far away. My young daughters have met most of them but they are too young to grasp the relationship. I sometimes say cousin X so that they can understand it more. I use it in the same way that I use Aunt and Uncle for them. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/6 "2008-08-16T04:56:56Z")
Sure. I don’t call my cousins “Cousin \_\_\_\_” when speaking _to_ them, but I do when talking about them to other family members. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/7 "2008-08-16T05:19:04Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] I do it sometimes. I only have six first cousins and they live far, far away. [/QUOTE] Ditto. My cousin Justin has always been “cousin Justin” because I’ve always had friends named Justin that I’m closer to. Also, 2 of my girl cousins call me cousin when we see each other, as in “hey cousin!” ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/8 "2008-08-16T06:50:42Z")
For some reason, several people in my family (including me) call our cousin Melody “Cousin Mel”. It’s meant with great affection but I realize that any unitiated people who overhear this conversation probably think we’re talking about a coarse, overweight, middle-aged diner cook in a dirty apron 😛 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/9 "2008-08-16T10:46:57Z")
Never have. Not that we spend a lot of time with our cousins - they either lived out of state or were lots older, or both. In fact, now that I think of it, the only one we called Cousin was my grandfather’s dog - 'cause that was his name. One thing that surprised me - in my husband’s family, they don’t typically use Aunt and Uncle when referring to those relatives - just first names. I would never refer to my dad’s sister as Stella - she’s Aunt Stella. I wonder if it’s a regional thing? I grew up in Maryland, his family is from Indiana. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/10 "2008-08-16T10:53:29Z")
I do. Sure, why not? My family didn’t grow up near my extended family, and if I didn’t add “cousin” when referring to Bill or Linda or Sarah, etc., none of my siblings would have any idea who I was talking about. I also sometimes call them “cousin” to their faces. Same with aunts. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/11 "2008-08-16T13:46:45Z")
We were incredibly close to our first cousins growing up, like every birthday and vacation and even minor holidays were spent together. None of us use “cousin” to refer to one another, although I will use it when talking to my son about one of them to remind him who they are now that we’re all grown and don’t see one another often. Older or second/third cousins sometimes get honorated to Aunt or Uncle if it seems more polite than a youngster calling them by first name, but no “Cousin Lori” anywhere in the family. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/12 "2008-08-16T14:44:09Z")
My cousin, Mary Ann, is known as Cousin Mary Ann – but that is mostly to distinguish her from her mother, Aunt Mary Ann. She is also known as Young Mary Ann and Little Mary Ann. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/13 "2008-08-16T14:46:11Z")
Yeah, I had this weird looking cousin; short, extremely long hair, wore sunglasses and a derby. Had the strangest voice. He had a strange name, too: [**Itt**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_Itt) . 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/14 "2008-08-16T14:49:26Z")
This is similar, but my mother and one of her cousins share the same name. I think I was in high school before I realized her name wasn’t actually Cousin, because that’s what everyone called her and that was how she signed our birthday cards. Even her own mother referred to her as Cousin, even though my mother switched to a shortened nick-name and refuses to admit what her full name is. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/15 "2008-08-16T14:57:42Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] One thing that surprised me - in my husband’s family, they don’t typically use Aunt and Uncle when referring to those relatives - just first names. I would never refer to my dad’s sister as Stella - she’s Aunt Stella. I wonder if it’s a regional thing? I grew up in Maryland, his family is from Indiana. [/QUOTE] We call the aunts and uncles on my dad’s side by their first names. My niece and nephews (all under age 8) sometimes use the Aunt & Uncle appellation; sometimes they don’t. I personally prefer just the first name. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Jean\_Louise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Miss\_Jean\_Louise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Jean_Louise)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/16 "2008-08-16T16:04:32Z")
I call my cousin “Justin” and he calls me “sexy”. Why do you ask? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/17 "2008-08-16T17:09:51Z")
We do this when multiple family members have the same name. It eliminates confusion – especially when talking to the kids. They know Cousin Bob, Uncle Bob, and Grandpa Bob are different people. When you just mention Bob, nobody’s sure who you’re talking about. I have dozens of cousins (:D) if you count the ones on my wife’s side, but there’s only one that I call “cuz.” He has the same first name as one of my brothers. ---
**Author:** ![cromulent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b4bc9f/32.png) [@cromulent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cromulent)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/18 "2008-08-16T17:18:12Z")
When my baby cousin (who is now 12, haha) was a real, actual toddler, his mom and dad would refer to me as Cousin **Cromulent** , and to his aunt as Aunt CromulentMom and his uncle as Uncle CromulentDad. This was just so he understood the various familial relationships involved. Now that he’s got a pretty good grasp on all that, he still calls my mom and dad Aunt and Uncle, but I’m just referred to by my first name. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/19 "2008-08-16T18:01:33Z")
[QUOTE=Miss Jean Louise] I call my cousin “Justin” and he calls me “sexy”. Why do you ask? 🙂 [/QUOTE] Ew ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178/20 "2008-08-16T19:10:56Z")
I have never called a cousin “Cousin \_\_\_\_\_\_”, not have I ever added “Aunt” or “Uncle” to my aunt and uncle’s names… it just seems so weird to do it! We will occasionally refer to my grandmother as “Grandmaman C—”, and to my grandfather as “Grandpapa A–”, but usually it is either the title or the name, and rarely both. My husband is the same… never a title before his relative’s names. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-call-their-cousin-___-cousin-___/460178.md?page=2)