Crazy Nicknames for Boys
Updated Thu Feb 01 2024
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Crazy nicknames for boys are not often found on the birth certificate. There are a couple you can make a strong case for — such as Bo, Buddy, and Ziggy — but some are so outdated, and yes, crazy, that we don’t see them making a comeback. Can you imagine meeting a baby called Dickie or Jocko today?
Along with Dickie and Jocko, some of the crazy nicknames for boys include Bubba, Cuddy, Handy, Jimbo, Loney, Newt, Oddie, and Sax. Crazy names make good names for fictional characters, though; Biff, Doogie, Moby, and Rambo are all connected to famous characters.
Crazy nicknames can be wearable — just ask celebrities like Buzz Aldrin, Chevy Chase, Ringo Starr, and Tiger Woods. Here, view our roster of the wackiest nicknames for boys, past and present, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Sonny
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son"Description:
Sonny is one of the generic boy nickname names making a surprise reappearance, and it was recently used by actor Jason Lee. Another surprise: It's been on the US Top 1000 list every year since 1927, and as of 2023, it entered the Top 400 for the first time. Laidback Sonny is also popular in the UK, New Zealand and Australia.
- Ziggy
Origin:
German, diminutive of Siegfried and SigmundMeaning:
"victorious peace; victorious protection; victory"Description:
Perhaps the ultimate nicknamey name, Ziggy manages to sound cool, cutesy, spiky, and energetic all at once. It brings to mind the glam-rock of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the cool vibes of reggae musician Ziggy Marley, along with the contemporary-but-vintage appeal of Teddy, Mack, and Albie.
- Bear
Origin:
Animal nameMeaning:
"bear"Description:
Bear has suddenly lumbered onto the baby name landscape. Perhaps inspired by British adventurer Bear Grylls (born Edward Michael), first celebrity chef Jamie Oliver used it as the middle name for his boy Buddy, and Alicia Silverstone called her son Bear Blu, followed by Kate Winslet's Bear Blaize.
- Jonty
Origin:
Diminutive of JonathanMeaning:
"gift of Jehovah"Description:
Jaunty, to say the least, Jonty might be an option if Johnny feels too old school. It has been noticed most often on the playing fields, as in U.K. rugby player Jonty Parkin (born Jonathan) and South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes (Jonathon).
- Kip
Origin:
American diminution of Christopher, Greek and LatinMeaning:
"bearer of Christ"Description:
Kip Thorne, nobel laureate and long-time colleague of Stephen Hawking, is just one of several Kips who don't have a longer name. But Kip is often short for Christopher.
- Fritz
Origin:
German, diminutive of Friedrich or FrederickMeaning:
"peaceful ruler"Description:
Since female cousins Mitzi and Fritzi have entered the realm of possibilities, there's a chance that Cousin Fritz could as well. Fritz is the name of several notables, from early German-born film director Lang to early footballer Fritz (born Frederick) Pollard, the first African-American to play in the Rose Bowl in 1916.
- Bo
Origin:
Norse nicknameMeaning:
"to live"Description:
A popular name in Denmark, in this country Bo has some cowboy swagger and a lot of substance in its minimal two letters. In Mandarin Chinese, Bo means "wave".
- Buddy
Origin:
English, nickname nameDescription:
Until recently it was rarely used as a proper name; Buddy Holly, for example, was christened Charles, and Salinger's Buddy Glass was born Webb. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver did name his fourth child Buddy Bear Maurice--a fittingly named brother to Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela and Petal Blossom Rainbow, and singer Tom Fletcher has a double-nicknamed Buddy Bob.
- Pippin
Origin:
Variation of PepinMeaning:
"awe-inspiring"Description:
Super-sweet name that was the title of a Broadway play -- but best known as a type of apple. The Dutch variation is Pepijn is finding some popularity in that country, where short nickname names are stylish.
- Pip
Origin:
English, diminutive of PhilipMeaning:
"lover of horses"Description:
The original Pip was the main character in Great Expectations (full name Philip Pirrip). Cute for a tike, maybe too cute for an adult.
- Iggy
Origin:
Latin, diminutive of IgnatiusMeaning:
"fiery"Description:
Iggy is the quintessential pop star name, though it's the nickname Cate Blanchett uses for son Ignatius. Iggy does bring any grander-sounding name down to earth.
- Duke
Origin:
English rank of nobilityDescription:
While John Wayne and Duke Ellington are worthy role models, the reason Duke is currently enjoying a revival and returned to the Top 1000 in 2013 as one of the year's fastest-rising boys’ names is more likely due to the name given to high-profile TV couple Giuliana and Bill Rancic. Christened Edward Duke, he has always been called by his middle name, just as Edward Duke Ellington was. Duke is just one of several aristocratic titles being increasingly used by ordinary citizens.
- Dick
Origin:
Diminutive of RichardMeaning:
"dominant ruler"Description:
Dick was a once-common short form of Richard; replaced by Rick or Richie, and finally by the full name itself. Rude meaning -- make that two rude meanings -- pretty much knocks this one out of consideration.
- Ozzie
Origin:
Diminutive of Osmond, Oswald, or OscarMeaning:
"divine; deer"Description:
Ozzy has been on the rise in recent years and currently sits in the Top 1000 in the UK and the US. The Ozzie spelling has yet to catch up, but has nevertheless gained more attention thanks to its popular counterpart. Given to 135 boys and to 50 girls in 2023, for every one Ozzie there are three Ozzys.
- Jonesy
Origin:
Diminutive of Jones, English surname derived from JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
It's difficult to imagine anyone using the first name Jonesy -- and in fact, in the most recent US tally, there were nearly 100 babies named Jones but none named Jonesy. Still, this is a name that many people with Jones for a name, last or first, end up being known by, and as a nickname, it's sorta cute in a Skip, Chip, Bitsy kind of way.
- Tiger
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"animal name"Description:
Other wild animals like Fox, Wolf and Bear are catching on as baby names, and Tiger is a rarer option with several famous namesakes, including golf champ Tiger Woods, who was born Eldrick. Other famous Tigers include Indian actor Tiger Shroff, born Jai, and British actor Tyger Drew-Honey, who spells his name with a Y.
- Odie
Origin:
Diminutive of Odell, Otis; English, GermanMeaning:
"of the valley; wealthy"Description:
This old-timey nickname for Otis and Odell is strongly tied to Garfield’s canine companion in the Garfield comic, movie, and TV franchise.
- Kitto
Origin:
Cornish, diminutive of Christopher, Greek and LatinMeaning:
"bearer of Christ"Description:
Kitto updates Dad Name Christopher with a trendy o-ending short form. Use it as an honor name or an original nickname.
- Skipper
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"captain"Description:
Sure, and we hope he has a good time playing with Buster and Buddy.
- Tad
Origin:
Diminutive of Thaddeus, AramaicMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
An approachable mini name that could go on the birth certificate, but may work best as a nickname. Full name options include Thaddeus, Theodore, and Thomas, which was the given name of Abe's son Tad Lincoln. Taddy is a rare alternative to Teddy.