This is pretty subjective. I meet strangers regularly in my job. In your examples you have “Shorty” and “Big Guy” and I really recommend you don’t use those. Personally I don’t like it when guys call me “Chief”. And “Buddy” or “Pal” can be good or bad depending on context. “Brother” is the best name any one uses on me. IMO do not use any name when greeting a stranger. Most important thing I think you can do to make a good impression is a good firm handshake, eye contact for the right amount of time, and a friendly tone of voice.
Some ironic olde worlde hipster terms (adjust for appropriate gender):
Fella-me-lad.
Steadfast fellow.
Stout yeoman.
My good man.
Young master.
My Lord.
Why do you need this at all? What’s wrong with just ‘Hello’?
I dislike being called ‘buddy’ or ‘mate’ by a total stranger. If you don’t know someone’s name then, until you find out what it is, don’t use anything.
In the UK we have, over the last few years, been re-educating nursing staff to use patient’s names and to not take the lazy alternative of ‘dear’, ‘love’, ‘duck’ or any other local alternative.
Of course there is always the old fashioned ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ to fall back on.
Any random military rank: Lieutenant, Colonel, Ensign … Maybe toss in a last name along with it.
If you do this often enough that they remember they had a different rank last time, be ready with a “you got promoted, good job!” or “you got demoted for that ‘incident’.”
ETA:
It sounds like the door greeter is the one initially using ‘buddy’ or ‘mate’. They certainly can’t complain if Charlie Wayne then does the same.
I often forget peoples’ names if we are not super close. My fallback is “dude”. The other day I ran into Jason, but couldn’t remember his name, so I said, “yo, dude” and shook his hand. Just then, his gf approached (still can’t remember her name) so I said, " and the lovely dudette!"
I’m afraid I may not have been clear as to what I was asking.
I know that it is a bad idea to call people names that reflect on their physical appearance such as “shorty” or “big guy”.
But, I’m asking if you can help me find a list of some common names that people use.
Personally, I strongly dislike whenever anyone calls me any of those names.
But, I’m writing an article and I’d like to list some common names and my hope was that someone would know a search term for Google that would find a list of some of those names.
I thank the people who replied for trying to help me. If anyone has any idea how to find such a list, I would sure appreciate that.
I’ve used “Mate” as a friendly term since my days with the Aussies. I’ll use “Cowboy” if I mean to be slightly jocular.
Oddly enough, the general term I draw most is “Boss” - and I pretty much ain’t nobody’s boss these days. Being a transplanted CT Yankee, though, I kind of like it.
If you article is US-centric then I can’t help you.
But if your interest extends to international terms of endearment to strangers then in the UK, in addition to the aforementioned and universal ‘dear’ and ‘love’ we have ‘duck’ and ‘babs’ (Midlands), ‘hen’ or less commonly now ‘doll’ (both Scots - obviously for use to ladies only), ‘hun’ or 'hinny and ‘pet’ (NE England), ‘my lover’ (SW England - esp Bristol), ‘chuck’ (Manchester area), kid or kidder (Liverpool), babes (Essex), Boyo (Wales - for men only but rare now only using used by English taking the piss), ‘cocker’ or ‘cock’ (parts of northern England) and finally ‘princess’ or ‘treasure’ (parts of London).
I have often tried to use “gorgeous” when talking to a lady - especially if she really is gorgeous.
She doesn’t seem to mind that if only the two of us can hear. But if other people are within earshot, then she usually objects to my calling her that. I can understand that.
