# Examples, nick-names that are funny or clever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 27, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073 "2006-03-27T14:00:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/1 "2006-03-27T14:00:15Z")
I think it’s been a while since we did this. Here in Englandshire we have a professional football (‘soccer’) player called Kiki Musampa. You may want to stop for two minutes to work out what his team-mates call him. The answer is that they call him… Chris Most people don’t ‘get’ this at first. Let your mind play with it for a while until you get the ‘A ha!’ moment. If you still need help, I’ll explain it, but do try to let your mind swill it around until the penny drops, as it is _so_ satisfying when it does. Chris Musampa = christmas hamper * * * Another soccer player we have is called Fitz Hall. Yes, that his real name. His nick name is ‘One size’. Not as clever as the above, but still funny. One last one, there was a player from the 70s and 80s called Imre Varadi. I’ll spoiler box this one as I did above in case you want to think about the answer. The answer is ‘Ollie’ And just in case you don’t ‘get’ it: ‘Ollie Varadi’ = ‘Oliver Hardy’, as in Laurel & Hardy * * * Any more good examples of real-life nick names that you think are witty, smart, clever or intriguing? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/2 "2006-03-27T14:15:34Z")
[Bob “Death to Flying Things” Ferguson](http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/fergubo01.shtml). I have no idea where he got it, and he’s long dead, but it’s certainly memorable and intriging. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/3 "2006-03-27T14:30:35Z")
The Sth African (cricket) bowler Monde Zondeki’s nickname is “All hands”. In Australian football, the Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley had in his youth a nickname based on his confidence that he would become an ornament to the game: Figjam (Fuck I’m good, just ask me). ---
**Author:** ![Jacob\_Silj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Jacob\_Silj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jacob_Silj)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/4 "2006-03-27T17:47:45Z")
got nothin’, just wanted to add Kiki Musampa’s goal against Portsmouth was amazing, and I hope City gets him on a permanent basis. Yay City! ---
**Author:** ![scott62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@scott62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott62)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/5 "2006-03-27T18:02:48Z")
I’m not sure if it was funny or clever but in my school we had a Fadger and a Nudger. They weren’t related or had names that were even remotely similar. Kids eh? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/6 "2006-03-27T18:25:16Z")
I like Varadi’s nickname! On this side of the pond, ESPN personality Chris Berman has made bestowing these names on baseball players - and sometimes football players - his trademark. Some are stupid and many are just “this is my thing and here’s the best pun I could think of.” But some of his nicknames that are clever. I often crack up when he refers to St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger as “Ray” or when he sings a little bit of “If I Only Had a Brain” after showing a Bulger highlight. Because Ray Bolger played The Scarecrow in _The Wizard of Oz_. [Here’s some of the endless list of his nicknames.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicknames_Chris_Berman_mentions) ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/7 "2006-03-27T18:39:02Z")
What’s a Christmas Hamper? ??Boggles?? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/8 "2006-03-27T18:45:02Z")
[QUOTE=devilsknew] What’s a Christmas Hamper? ??Boggles?? [/QUOTE] Yeah, that one didn’t travel across the Atlantic. Could one of our UK Dopers explain? Is it like a Christmas stocking? I hope the answer doesn’t involve spotted dick. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/9 "2006-03-27T18:51:02Z")
[Christmas Hampers](http://www.christmashamper.com/chtmenu/products.asp?PC_ID=1), as scoffed by Stalky & Co, Bully Bunter, Famous Five, et. al. Wizard. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/10 "2006-03-27T18:54:37Z")
Oh! You mean, a Hickory Farms Gift Box! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/11 "2006-03-27T19:07:50Z")
A work buddy and I used to make up alternate names, not necessarily nicknames we intended the named ones to hear of, for folks at work. Some of them were so regularly used we almost forgot their real names. Firstname Fast became Notso Fast Lewis Lastname became Lewis Stulz Billy Lastname became Billy Clubb Sonia Lastname became Sonia Mind Rita Lastname became Rita Mandweep Jerry Lastname became Jerry Mander Rod Lastname became Rod Inreel Ray Lastname became Ray Jingbull We didn’t do just a whole lot of work, as you might guess. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/12 "2006-03-27T22:44:27Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] A work buddy and I used to make up alternate names, not necessarily nicknames we intended the named ones to hear of, for folks at work. Some of them were so regularly used we almost forgot their real names. [/QUOTE] I worked with a guy at my last job who did that. He referred to Danny, Harry, and Jared from the billing team as “Danny DeVito,” “Harry Potter”, and “Jared from Subway.” It’s also because of him that my wife and I air-double-quote the word “laser” (a-la Austin Powers’ nemesis Dr. Evil) every time we say it. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/13 "2006-03-27T22:50:13Z")
Jon Schwartz, drummer for “Weird Al” Yankovic, is called “Bermuda” (Bermuda Schwartz–\>Bermuda shorts). ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/14 "2006-03-28T00:19:06Z")
Here are some fairly recent baseball monickers that weren’t dubbed by Chris Berman. [Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd](http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/boydoi01.shtml) [Covelli “Coco” Crisp](http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/crispco01.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Amaranta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Amaranta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amaranta)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/15 "2006-03-28T01:07:12Z")
[QUOTE=psiekier] I worked with a guy at my last job who did that. He referred to Danny, Harry, and Jared from the billing team as “Danny DeVito,” “Harry Potter”, and “Jared from Subway.” It’s also because of him that my wife and I air-double-quote the word “laser” (a-la Austin Powers’ nemesis Dr. Evil) every time we say it. [/QUOTE] Yah, an old boss of mine did this with our names too. Jared was just “Subway”, Suzy was always “Suzy Q”, Janene was “I Dream of Janene-ee”, Erin was “Hank Erin” or just “Hank”, and whenever Brock and Robyn worked together we’d get to hear “Hey! Brock ‘n’ Robyn, well ya really going to rock tonight…” all day long. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who turned a rather boring job into so much fun, at least for himself. ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/16 "2006-03-28T01:19:36Z")
Without turning this into a “Lost” thread, my favorite thing about Sawyer is that he has a new nickname for practically every castaway each episode. Some of my favorites: Hurley: Pillsbury, Jabba Jack: St. Jack, Jack-Ass, Dr. Quinn, Dr. DoRight Kate: Freckles, Sassafras, the Mighty Huntress, Puddin’, Sheena Sayid: Al Jazeera, Captain Falafel, Abu Charlie: Rock God, VH1 has-been Walt: Tattoo, Short Round, Kazoo Jin: Mr. Miyagi, Bruce, Cato, Sulu, Chewie Ana Lucia: Rambina, Hot Lips, Ponce de Leon Mr. Eko: Shaft, Mr. Ed Locke: Mr. Clean, Daniel Boone ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/17 "2006-03-28T03:15:02Z")
[QUOTE=Amaranta] Yah, an old boss of mine did this with our names too. [/QUOTE] I’ve got a co-worker who I’m dying to call “Wrath of Khan.” I’m not sure she’d get it. ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/18 "2006-03-28T03:25:51Z")
I have a good freind with the last name of Poe. While his wife was pregnant with their first child, we tried to come up with some good names for the kid. Fishin’ Gestap Telephone Ishowis Al Tenfoot Hip D May Ty Harp ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/19 "2006-03-29T09:58:26Z")
Australian cricketers: Peter Toohey was known as Rats. Ratatouille Peter Sleep was called “Sounda”. Australian RU player John Eales was known as “Nobody” because he was such a talented all-round performer. Riff on “Nobody’s perfect” And a certain Nick Clithero of my acquaintance is known as “Hero” from pronouncing the two halves of his surname as seperate words… ---
**Author:** ![dbuzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de0a6/32.png) [@dbuzman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbuzman)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073/20 "2006-03-29T12:02:56Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] [Bob “Death to Flying Things” Ferguson](http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/fergubo01.shtml). I have no idea where he got it, and he’s long dead, but it’s certainly memorable and intriging. [/QUOTE] Did he ever kill a bird while at bat? As in he hit the ball and the ball hit a bird? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-nick-names-that-are-funny-or-clever/350073.md?page=2)