# I'm looking for some friendly type names to call people **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2014, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518 "2014-11-13T09:55:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/21 "2014-11-13T16:08:16Z")
Chuck, as in, “WTF Chuck?” or “What’s up Chuck?” ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/22 "2014-11-13T16:11:55Z")
Comrade. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/23 "2014-11-13T16:13:53Z")
Charlie, if you’re going to be a journalist, you should really work on your google-fu! Here are just a few: > **[Wordnik: Name-Calling for Fun and Profit](https://www.wordnik.com/lists/name-calling-for-fun-and-profit)** > > All the words [http://www.bestandworst.com/v/111530.htm](http://www.bestandworst.com/v/111530.htm) [http://ticklethythoughts.blogspot.com/2011/08/long-list-of-various-terms-of.html#.VGTX67Hnbcs](http://ticklethythoughts.blogspot.com/2011/08/long-list-of-various-terms-of.html#.VGTX67Hnbcs) > **[Yaelf.com is for sale | HugeDomains](https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=yaelf.com)** > > This domain is for sale! Fast and easy shopping. Trusted and secure since 2005. [http://jtrojeck8383.hubpages.com/hub/cuteandfunnynicknames](http://jtrojeck8383.hubpages.com/hub/cuteandfunnynicknames) > **[Lists of nicknames](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_nicknames)** > > This is a list of nickname-related list articles on Wikipedia. A nickname is "a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing instead of or as well as the real name." A nickname is often considered desirable, symbolising a form of acceptance, but can sometimes be a form of ridicule. A moniker also means a nickname or personal name. The word often distinguishes personal names from nicknames that became proper names out of former nicknames. English examples are Bob and Rob, nickname vari ---
**Author:** ![HipGnosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@HipGnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HipGnosis)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/24 "2014-11-13T16:22:13Z")
A young comedian, who’s name escapes me, suggests that all white people call all other white people “cracker”. I can’t think of a single nick-name that will be acceptable to everyone in every circumstance. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/25 "2014-11-13T16:50:33Z")
**Omar Little** : The problem is not Charlie’s google-fu, but in your reading-the-OP-fu. None of those lists are what he is. I’m glad you’re not planning to use these terms yourself, Charlie! Here in NJ, “Mami” and “Papi” are pretty common, used by Latinos, obviously. While these terms seem to be more often used between Latinos, they are sometimes used when speaking to apparent non-Latinos such as myself. I used to work in a retail setting with a guy from Ghana who, when a girl (child) would walk into the store with her parents, would bow slightly and say “Hello Miss Boss.” That always got a smile. (He also called me Miss Boss when I was actually being bossy. I miss that guy.) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/26 "2014-11-13T16:51:40Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > Homeboy > Homeslice > Homeflame > Homecheese > > Guy I worked with high school talked to everyone like this. He was white. Eee-yeahhhhh. There’s a word for that, too. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/27 "2014-11-13T16:59:01Z")
I started being called Arbuelo by youngish strangers in South America when I was about 50. In recent times, I’ve been called the English equivalent (Grampa) here in America a couple of time, but I think just in places where there is a strong Hispanic demographic. In Hispanic culture it is not considered rude or condescending, but rather something like being called Hon by a waitress. In cities with a seafaring culture, I think Captain (or Cap) is pretty common. Just as Podner would be in towns on the rodeo circuit. Different terms would have different degrees of cultural associations according to the location. In Newfoundland, it is extremely common (in fact universal) to use such a term in the third person. When talking about somebody else whose name is not known or relevant, they would be referred to as Buddy or Missus, according to gender. As in “I asked about that, and Buddy said No”. When addressed, a person would almost always be called “Boy”, pronounced ‘bye’. Even women are often Bye, or else “my dear” (moy dear’), and the usage is so universal, it is never taken as disrespectful. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/28 "2014-11-13T17:11:40Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > **Omar Little** : The problem is not Charlie’s google-fu, but in your reading-the-OP-fu. None of those lists are what he is. Meant to say "what he is asking for. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/29 "2014-11-13T17:18:17Z")
My dad always called everybody “Bud.” First time my future husband and I were there to visit, he asked me, “Your dad \*does \*know my real name’s not Bud, right?” ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/30 "2014-11-13T17:32:18Z")
HAd a gal call me “Orgasmic One” the other day and then she back pedaled when she decided to say “I thought you were a guy I know.” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/31 "2014-11-13T17:50:48Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > Homeboy > Homeslice > Homeflame > Homecheese > > Guy I worked with high school talked to everyone like this. He was white. Home-skillet Home-box-office heh. How about Buckaroo, Partner, or just plain Cowboy? There’s always Stranger, especially if you haven’t seen them in a while. Cousin, or just “Cuz”. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/32 "2014-11-13T18:03:16Z")
The little Indian man that sells me sodas in the bodega downstairs calls me “Boss” and I kind of like that. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/33 "2014-11-13T18:29:06Z")
Let’s see, what I get all the time are, “Champ”, “Killer”, “Boss”, “Big Guy”. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/34 "2014-11-13T18:51:14Z")
Wing Commander, Archbishop, Procurator Fiscal, Lord Privy Seal. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/35 "2014-11-13T19:09:03Z")
I’ve always been partial to “Guv’nor”. “Jefe” is pretty good, too. “Massa”, however, is right out. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/36 "2014-11-13T19:20:50Z")
Cheese weasel. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/37 "2014-11-13T19:46:20Z")
Friend Buddy Guy [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-5uzJVkeaUI/hqdefault.jpg "Endless Canadian Argument") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5uzJVkeaUI) ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/38 "2014-11-13T20:36:49Z")
Not too many you can extend to women here… Nowadays, I just get Ma’am. -\_- ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/39 "2014-11-13T21:29:46Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Let’s see, what I get all the time are, “Champ”, “Killer”, “Boss”, “Big Guy”. That nobody calls you “Wheelz” on the regular kind of bums me out. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/40 "2014-11-13T21:37:05Z")
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