Why Are Filipinos Required To Have A Nickname?

[Americano]

My father liked to give people nicknames but I don't remember ever having to write a nickname on any school papers or on any government or bank documents. Some of you may not know that Filipinos are required to have a nickname. I guess the first place they are required to have a nickname is at school. They are required to have a nickname when they open a bank account and when opening other kinds of accounts too.

 

Sometimes I transfer money from my US bank account to my wife here in the Philippines. When the bank employee comes looking for her to deliver the money he is asking for Lyn which is her nickname. There must be at least one million women with the nick name Lyn but I bet she is the only one named Manilyn Rowe so why isn't he looking for someone with that name?

 

Why require nicknames in the first place?  Isn't the name their parents give them at birth good enough?

I have 3 friends who have the nickname che-che but their real names are all different.  I can see a teacher saying, che-che come to the front of the class and 3 girls standing up.

 

I like nicknames which have meaning and have even given some Filipinos nicknames but I don't see any reason why anyone should be required to have a nickname.

 

I few years ago I stayed with a family in Quezon City for 2 weeks. They had a 8 year old son who was always finding ways to cause trouble. It was unbelievable the things he could think to do, like turning off the aircon in the hot van when no one was looking and putting his chewing gum on the door handle were no one could see it but it stuck to everyone's hands. I started calling him Little Trouble and after a few days his family was calling him that too.

 

Last summer My wife's nephew who was 9 years old stayed with us for one month. He was so smart and talking like an adult that I started calling him Little Man.

 

[jon1]

Use it to your advantage and start doing the same... that's what I do ;)

[JJReyes]

The question is, "Why do Filipinos have nicknames?"

 

Although I have not read papers on this subject, I suspect there is a historical reason. During the Spanish era, the Malay names were difficult to pronounce. The Malay names came from the period when the Philippines was part of the Sri Visaya and Majapahit Empires. A Spanish governor general through edict required all Pilipinos to select and register a Hispanic name. The nicknames were a.k.a. (as known as). So you had an official name and nickname for your family and friends. This eventually evolved into the more whimsical form we have today.

Edited June 13, 2013 by JJReyes

[Americano]

JJ,

 

You explained the origin of nicknames in the Philippines but why are Filipinos required to have a nickname today when they are no longer ruled by the Spanish?  I don't know of any reason to require a nickname now. Nicknames today are no easier to read than real names. 

[JJReyes]

You explained the origin of nicknames in the Philippines but why are Filipinos required to have a nickname today when they are no longer ruled by the Spanish? I don't know of any reason to require a nickname now. Nicknames today are no easier to read than real names.

 

It's true Americano. There is no logical reason for it if you are a Westerner. Filipinos also can't explain the reason because the basis is tradition. Names like everything else are constantly evolving. Black Americans are starting to use African names for their children to reflect their heritage. Caucasians are still using Christian names, but they are changing the spelling to make the name more personal and unique. Some are bypassing Christian names altogether. I met a teen whose first name is, "Apple." The UH football team had a quarterback whose first name was, "Colt."

 

Hong Kong was also interesting during the time period when it was a British colony. Many educated residents adopted a Christian first name followed by their Chinese surname. One reason is confusion because in the Chinese system, the family name comes first followed by the given names. You identified first with a family or clan. The group was more important than the individual.

[Americano]

In Vietnam the family names comes first too followed by the middle name and then the first name. My Vietnamese wife of 20 years was named Nguyen Thi Beba. Beba being her first name. I never heard of a Vietnamese having a nickname. I guess they figure that 3 names were already enough and I agree.

[robert k]

They probably all have nick-names because it's a crime not to, punishable by some number of years imprisonment. :hystery: My girl hates being called by her name.

[Bruce]

I have had trouble explaining that I do not have a nick name. A concept that is difficult for some of them to grasp. If pressed, I can offer that well.... a lot of people call me 'A$$***E' so I guess you can use that if you insist I have a nickname. :hystery:

Edited June 13, 2013 by Bruce

[brock]

. Some of you may not know that Filipinos are required to have a nickname. I guess the first place they are required to have a nickname is at school. They are required to have a nickname when they open a bank account and when opening other kinds of accounts too.

 

I don't think its required as my wife Nesa has no nickname, Only the one I call her by, And she wouldn't want anybody to know that

[robert k]

I have had trouble explaining that I do not have a nick name. A concept that is difficult for some of them to grasp. If pressed, I can offer that well.... a lot of people call me 'A$$***E' so I guess you can use that if you insist I have a nickname. :hystery:

That's a bad nickname Bruce, you, me and several million other people are sharing it when someone wants our attention and it breeds confusion :attention: