Nick Names? Parastoukli! What is yours? Do Turkish Cypriot have them?

depurple

In Cyprus many had a Nick Name given to them: Either when they did something silly or it was given to them by others and even given as a bet between friends:
There are times if you dont use their Nick Names you wont find the person you are looking for:
Do Turkish Cypriot have them as well? Erolz ?Mete? Let me know?

In Lapithos it was very common: We had many Nick Names: Here are some:
Katoropetaktis: Urine Thrower:
Mavo Zambis: Black Calf Muscles:
Mastrapas: Tin Potty:
Montgomery: Becasue he looked like him:
Germanos: Because he lived in Germany:
Australezzos: My Grandfather because he lived Down Under:
Do you guys know any more names?

ALSO: One more question:
Why do many in Cyprus take their fathers First name and not his Surname????
By doing this they looses who their anchestors where:
It doesn't make sence to me:
cheers
PS In Australia My Nick Name is Geronimo:
Because I had long hair and wore a head band like a Red Indian:
People used to say to me HOW!
And I would say; "I know HOW but I dont know WHEN!"

moonskin

thebrix

Khan · Deputy Joined: 13 Nov 2005 Posts: 1092 Location: London

I rather oddly have two surnames, one for England and one for Cyprus. The one in England is my grandfathers first name (that is the name my father took because they emigrated here before the surname law), and the one in Cyprus is our family name under the surname law (which my grandfather took when he migrated back). It is not easy being a Cypriot. Smile

thebrix · Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:29 pm Post subject:

Bananiot · Deputy Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 1214 Location: Nicosia

Remember the two shilling coin depurple? We used to call it "chifte", from a Turkish word meaning double.

Cyprus rules! · Mukhtar/is Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 668

Yeah it's true Nick names are used a lot in Cyprus. My one Grandad was called, papou 'Tipto' because he was one of the first Greek Cypriot's to move to Tipton in the Midlands, My other Grandad is known as 'Karaolis' (Snail I believe) because he has very curly hair, or had as the case may be... Wink

My great grandfather's nickname was something like, 'Checkeros' (although I'll have to check with my dad on that one, I believe it may have come from the Turkish word for Sugar, and it was slightly 'Greekified'...although again I'll have to check!). It was, I believe given to him by his Turkish Cypriot friends, and subsequently used by everyone else, because he was so sweet!! I've also noticed that names tend to get 'shortened' or a different version of it is used (If that makes sense...), like for example, my Grandmother goes by the name of yiayia Nitsa, when her name is actually Helen, or in Greek Eleni, I think it comes from 'Elenitsa', like the song! Laughing

Also my other Grandmother, who's name is Anastasia, is called by some people, including my Grandad, 'Tassou', also my Mother, who's name is Chrystalla/ Chrystella (English version), is called by some, again ,mainly by my Grandad, 'Tallou'...I really have no idea where those Nick names come from...maybe it's a mountain thing (My Mum's family originate from a village in the Troodos Mountains). The annoying thing is, that because I share the same name as my Grandmother, Anastasia (although I go by the name 'Natasa' or in English 'Natassa', which apparently is a, ehem, 'shortened' version, something my friends can't get their heads round!) My Grandfather has started called me Tassou as well!! Something I find kinda annoying as I'm not too fond of the name, as you can imagine Shocked

, and now just to get on my nerves, my dads started doing it also!!! He thinks it's hilarious!! Rolling Eyes

Bananiot · Deputy Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 1214 Location: Nicosia

Your grandfather's name would be Shekeros, rather than Checkeros.

bg_turk · Deputy Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 1316 Location: Bulgaria

I'd hate to spoil this. But giving nicknames is no unique Cypriot thing. In BG some of my friends are called Ivan the Frog, Hristo the Lighter, Mityo the Gun, Ahmed the Hawk, , etc ... though I personally prefer to refer to them by their real names.

moonskin · Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject:

Dhavlos · Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:28 pm Post subject:

Can i point out that the 'nicknames' seem different (this is just from what i can see here)....ie, in bulgaria it seems, the people are given their name then 'the ...'

eg 'Ivan the frog'

whereas in cyprus, the nickname is one word, and usually does not ahve any link to the persons name.

eg 'Katoropetaktis'

in other words...slightly different systems for making nicknames.

Also, concerning the 'standardisation of names' ....my yiayias family now have about 3 different names, depending on which sibling you are! lol....all differnet variations of the same name: hambi, charalambous, haralambous, haralambros etc etc...

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

Dhavlos any idea what Lela is short for ?

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

My Deceased mother in laws name was Andrula but everyone called her Dula

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

Yes we do have nicknames
Memo - Mehmet
Ibo - Ibrahim

depurple · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:46 pm Post subject:

My aunties husband was called:
Gouroushis? Don't know what it means?
Tarabouloukis? Teddy Bear I think?
Londoons: After the wrestler Jim London:
Fatellis?
Pandeshis?
Tsigaras: Cigarettes
Trihinas: Covered in Hair:
Gatharosporos: Donkey Seed: My cousin married there son:
Petereloaous: Owned the service station:
Americanos: Lived in America:
Plousis: His grandfather was rich:
O Kirios: Always dressed up rich BUT didn't have a dime on him:
O Yepas: The Vulture: Because he was always looking at something to take for free:
Koufoyannis: Deaf Yannis: Couldn't hear the first time: