Are Nicknames Going Extinct?

Have you noticed nicknames aren’t as common anymore?  A writer for “The Wall Street Journal” claims they’re going extinct.

He has five kids, aged six to 18.  And none of them have been given nicknames by their friends.  He says none of their friends seem to have one either.

He claims ALL types of nicknames are in decline.  Everything from “Junior” to calling your buddy from Dallas “Tex.”  And he thinks it’s sad, because nicknames are almost always a positive thing, or a sign of affection.

He says even initials like A.J. or J.D. seems less common, partly because parents take their kids’ names more seriously than they used to.  His youngest kid has a few friends named “William,” and none of them go by “Billy.”

Obviously, nicknames will never FULLY go extinct.  Plenty of athletes and RADIO HOSTS still go by a nickname.  But he thinks silly ones among friends are less common because we’re more worried about OFFENDING people. 

Years ago, you might have called your heavy-set friend “Tiny” as a joke.  But you might be more worried about calling attention to their weight now.  Same goes for calling someone “Red” because they’re a ginger. 

(WSJ)