# Why "Dubya"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dubya/41240>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 15, 2000, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dubya/41240 "2000-11-15T01:51:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dubya/41240/1 "2000-11-15T01:51:17Z")

</div>

People on this board are always calling George W. Bush “Dubya.” Why do they call him this, and what does this name mean, anyway?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![flynnstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ebca7d/32.png) [@flynnstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flynnstone)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dubya/41240/2 "2000-11-15T01:54:02Z")

</div>

I think they’re just referring to the way “w” is pronounced by some people. Is that what you were asking?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dubya/41240/3 "2000-11-15T01:54:04Z")

</div>

it’s a “spelling” of the initial “W”, said in a “Texas” accent.

the other sides’ offering is “algore”.

great wits on both sides.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Deimos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Deimos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deimos)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dubya/41240/4 "2000-11-15T01:55:37Z")

</div>

george’s dad was also named george.

somewhere along the campaign trail, george w. bush’s supporters started calling him “W” and using the american sign language “W” at rallys.

texans have an accent.

“double U” turned into “Dubya”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dubya/41240/5 "2000-11-15T02:20:49Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> the other sides’ offering is “algore”.

show some respect, it’s Algore.  
(which btw is the way you hear it most of the time)