Why do Americans abbreviate people's names?

Question

Almost every person is given a nickname...Bob, Charlie, Bill, Peggy etc.

What happened to just saying the full name?

Answer 1

I got a better one, why the middle name? Why do people insist on being called by their middle name than their first? I just don't get it.

Answer 2

Personally, I love using full names. To each his own.

And it's not just Americans that shorten names. My friend Markus from Switzerland shortened his to Kusa.

Use the full name if it makes you happy. I tell people flat out not to shorten mine (save for family and close friends).

Answer 3

It's several factors that feed the same bad habit.
1. Not learning foreign languages--that's arrogance.
2. Laziness--when you're being ordered around and badgered all day by petty dictators types enforced emotionless obedience to crazed behavioral expectations in a climate of total injustice and unrealism, you get tired.
3. Lack of respect--The most theocratic bunch in the free world lack rights, regulations by which to claim them, and authentic self esteem--which a man earns pnly by learning to know the inner science of things and by mastering skills.
4.Emotional insecurity--Failed minds bring higher things down to their level by giving them smaller names--as victims of kings called a king Henry Hal, or Harry or "that miser", to soften their pain at being his slaves.
5.Context dropping--Insecure and paranoid types gain safety by pretending to closeness which doesn't exist, and ignoring the reality they don't want to deal with--that this person is being perceived as a threat to them.
6.Childishness--The desire of the individual incapable of self-assertion in Reality is to make other persons his victims, enlisted saviors, co-conspirators in an attempt to avoid effort and risk.

What other country refers to a president Lincoln as "Abe",
a general Eisenhower as "Ike" and their greatest cities by a belittling phrase, "the big apple", "the big easy", "la la land". Euphemistic phrases, derogatory nicknames and short-namings are all symptoms of laziness or fear of som sort.
Among the Founding Fathers, only non-political Benjamin Franklin is being disrespected; the others still have their names intact at least.

Give me a break.

Answer 4

It usually starts in childhood as a sign of affection. It is friendlier and helps us bond. And I don't think Americans are alone in this, but we do tend to be more informal in most situations as our ancestors had to learn to connect to new people as they built new communities out of harsh environments.

Answer 5

Nicknames are quicker and easier to say, pronounce, and spell but I don't know that that is why they're used. Another reason could be that they are named after another close friend or relative and it is to avoid confusion. Who knows?

Answer 6

Traditionally, it comes from same family names....You've got William Smith, William Smith Jr., and William Smith III.....so they simple become Bill, Billy, and little Willy. It's just easier.

Answer 7

My nicknames were given to me by my siblings because they couldn't pronounce my name correctly when learning to speak.

Answer 8

What possible difference would that make in the scope of human relations? We just aren't that formal.

Answer 9

i dont know shak wak, it is just easier and shows you're on a more personal level with them.

Answer 10

we are american and lazy. and a nickname shows intimacy. i love nicknames!