Image by Stefano Montagner on Flickr.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

In English, like in other languages, we have some commonly used nicknames for people that are based on how people look or act. These aren’t unique nicknames, like those people acquire from their family or friends, based on their individual characteristics.  Instead these are general nicknames that can be applied to anyone with similar physical or personality features (such as hair color, body shape, interaction style). Some of these nicknames can be seen as offensive; others are more neutral or nice.  Often these nicknames aren’t used when directly talking to a person, instead these kinds of nicknames are more frequently used when referring to a person in the third person, but sometimes in the second person too.

Let’s take a look at these English nicknames based on appearance and personality. Make sure to note which of these nicknames is neutral, positive, or negative (i.e. offensive) for future reference.

Nicknames based on physical features or appearance:

beanpole – someone who is tall and thin (neutral)
blondie – a person with blond hair (neutral)
bones – a very skinny person (neutral/negative)
chubs – a person who is overweight (negative)
fatso – a person who is overweight (negative)
four-eyes – a person who wears glasses (negative)
ginger – a person with red hair (neutral/negative)
red – a person with red hair (neutral)
shorty – a short person (neutral)
slim – a person who is thin (neutral)
small-fry – someone who is small in size (neutral/negative)
tiny – ironically, often this is used as a nickname for some who is very big or fat (neutral)
towhead – a person with very blond, almost white hair; usually a child (neutral/positive)

Nicknames based on personality or interaction style:

Average Joe – a person who is very “normal” or lives a typical life (neutral)
chatterbox – a person who talks a lot (negative)
Debbie Downer – someone who is negative or depressive to be around (negative)
Einstein – a very smart person (neutral/positive/negative – depending on the context)
Nervous Nellie – a person who is very cautious and often worried (neutral/negative)
moneybags – someone with a lot of money (neutral)
Plain Jane – a person who is very plain, perhaps to the point of being boring (negative)

Do any of these nicknames apply to you or someone you know?

Take a look at how some of these nicknames might be used and remember to be careful using them yourself unless you are sure if they are positive, neutral, or negative in connotation.

Examples:

My sister is such a Nervous Nelly.

Did you see that blonide who just walked by?

Rachel’s children were real towheads when they were young.

Hey Tiny, what’s going on?

We call Missy ‘chatterbox’, because she never stops talking.

I bet it was the ginger who did it.

If you’re so smart, what’s the answer Einstein?