Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How to Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

      How to Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with one of these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Culture and Lifestyle
  3. Nicknames You'll Only Hear in the South

Nicknames You'll Only Hear in the South

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors Updated June 21, 2022
Skip gallery slides
FB
Boy
Credit: di4kadi4kova / Getty

Nearly every Southerner has found themselves in a situation where a person's given name sounds like it belongs to a total stranger since you've only called this person by their nickname. 

We take our nicknames seriously in the South, and rightly so. Sometimes formal names reveal themselves on special occasions, but often a nickname acts as permanent as your birth name. These names can emerge as a deliberate choice or develop from a quirky personality trait. Often nicknames are passed down like family traditions but can also be something only your nearest family members know where it originated. These names are commonplace in the South, and here are some of our favorites.

Start Slideshow

1 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ace

Ace
Credit: Constance Bannister Corp / Getty

Typically, an Ace is a little too quick-witted for his good. Also, if you've ever known someone that's seemingly good at everything, you've met an Ace.

1 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Beau

Beau Southern Nickname
Credit: Johner Images / Getty

Robert, Beaufort, and Beauregard use Beau as a shortened form of their name, but it's also a given name in the South. Or, it can refer to a devilishly handsome boy.

2 of 20

3 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Boo

Boo
Credit: ArtMarie / Getty

Boo and Booboo are nicknames used for both boys and girls. While pop culture has made it a popular choice for a significant other, in the South, we're more than likely referring to a baby or child—or any adorable creature (pets included).

3 of 20

Advertisement

4 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Bubba

Bubba
Credit: Constance Bannister Corp / Getty

Northerners might poke fun at this one, but Bubba often refers to a most beloved father or grandfather.

4 of 20

5 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Buck

Buck
Credit: George Marks / Getty

Buck means—you guessed it—male deer. If your little tyke is energetic, lively, and all-around spirited, Buck might be just the nickname he needs.

5 of 20

6 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Bud

Bud
Credit: D. Sharon Pruitt Pink Sherbet Photography / Getty

Bud is short for Buddy or brother. Can't remember someone's name? In the South, you can call them Bud. Saying, "Hey, how are you, Bud?" sounds casual and friendly—and unlikely to insult the person whose name you can't recall. Robert, William, or Donald also use it as a nickname.

6 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Bugs

Bugs
Credit: Constance Bannister Corp / Getty

Tag "bug" on the end of any given name (i.e., Sarahbug, Tommybug, Susiebug, Henrybug, etc.), and you'll have your very own Southern nickname. Often the Bugs combo name evolves simply to "Bugsy."

7 of 20

8 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Captain

Captain
Credit: George Marks / Getty

No, he doesn't need to be Captain of a vessel to earn this moniker. The nickname, Captain, is suitable if he's a natural-born leader—or even if you simply enjoy the name.

8 of 20

9 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Doc

Boy
Credit: di4kadi4kova / Getty

No surprise that anyone who bears this name is likely (or at least once was) a doctor, veterinarian, or dentist. There's no need for confusion or to call your doctor by his surname if your small town's only got one of them anyway.

9 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Junior

From Son To Father:
Credit: Orlando / Stringer / Getty Images

We certainly didn't invent the concept of a hand-me-down name. But where we depart from the usual convention is neglecting the inherited name altogether. We'll skip the confusion of father and son sharing the same moniker and call him Junior instead.

10 of 20

11 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Lou

little girl painting
Credit: Kenneth Rittener / Getty

As with "Bug," you can make any name sound more Southern and familiar by adding "Lou." Is her name Grace? Just call her Gracie Lou. Around here, nicknames don't have to be shorter than someone's given name.

11 of 20

12 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Mimi

Mimi
Credit: Constance Bannister Corp / Getty

While Mary is already relatively brief, a Southerner won't pass on the opportunity to bestow another moniker. But, of course, a Southerner won't stop at just one nickname—Mim (pronounced meem) is a nickname for this nickname.

12 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Minnie

Minnie
Credit: H. Armstrong Roberts / Getty

Mary and Amelia are familiar, given names associated with Minnie. It can also refer to a daughter who shares the same name as her mother.

13 of 20

14 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Our Favorite Southern Nicknames

14 of 20

15 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Missy

Missy
Credit: George Marks / Getty

Sure, it can be a nickname for Melissa, but more commonly, using it occurs to catch the attention of a daughter when she's caught herself in a bit of mischief. Southern girls are all too familiar with, "Excuse me, Missy. Now, where do you think you're going at this hour?"

15 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Precious

Blonde boy pouting, sticking out his lower lip, ready to cry.
Credit: H. Armstrong Roberts

This term of endearment is a go-to nickname for little ones who need comfort, consolation, or encouragement. It also makes for a classic grandmother name.

16 of 20

17 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Sass

National Middle Name Pride Day literary figure
Credit: Getty/Lambert

Sometimes shorthand for "sister," this one works particularly well for young women with a bit of extra fire in their personalities.

17 of 20

18 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Sissy

Sissy
Credit: H. Armstrong Roberts / ClassicStock / Getty

Sissy traditionally refers to the oldest daughter in the family. It's also a nickname for Cecilia.

18 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Sugar/Shug/Shuggy

Shug/Shuggy/Sugar
Credit: Constance Bannister Corp / Getty

This is one of the more popular nicknames south of The Mason Dixon—and one that you're not likely to see gaining popularity up North anytime soon. It's a Southern original.

19 of 20

20 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Toots/Tootsie

Thanksgiving Carving the Turkey
Credit: American Stock / Getty Images

While Toots and Tootsie was a popular vintage name, it's still holding its own as a favored nickname in the South.

20 of 20

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Southern Living Editors

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 20 Ace
    2 of 20 Beau
    3 of 20 Boo
    4 of 20 Bubba
    5 of 20 Buck
    6 of 20 Bud
    7 of 20 Bugs
    8 of 20 Captain
    9 of 20 Doc
    10 of 20 Junior
    11 of 20 Lou
    12 of 20 Mimi
    13 of 20 Minnie
    14 of 20 Our Favorite Southern Nicknames
    15 of 20 Missy
    16 of 20 Precious
    17 of 20 Sass
    18 of 20 Sissy
    19 of 20 Sugar/Shug/Shuggy
    20 of 20 Toots/Tootsie

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Nicknames You'll Only Hear in the South
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.