Nicknames abound among the Mitford sisters. What purposes do these names serve?

Nicknames abound among the Mitford sisters. What purposes do these names serve?

I think nicknames in general show a desire to give uniqueness to friends or family members. In my family nicknames are common-endearing ways of showing love. My grown children often refer to the nicknames I gave them as children and they hold them close to their hearts. Unless a nickname is a form of putting someone down, I applaud seeking out that special connection. As a teacher, I feel blessed when my students share their nicknames and ask me to use them. I believe the Mitford sisters used this as a way of showing love and family bonds.

I find nicknames to usually be a term of endearment in a family. This demonstrated that the Mitford's were a close knit and loving family. Despite disagreements, rivalries or favorites they still loved each other very much and continued to use those nicknames.

I think it shows the close relationship the sisters had, even while some jealous feelings were acknowledged, there was still love and admiration.

In most instances I have found nicknames to be endearments, however they can also be mean spirited, hurtful and embarrassing. The nicknames in this family seemed to be loving, just not very imaginative. In certain echelons they were almost required, and to be very "cutesy". In this instance they did seem a bit babyish...

Nicknames can be terms of endearment or can be demeaning and hurtful. They signify familiarity and establish belonging to a smaller social group or they can be a means of ostracizing an individual. In the case of the Mitford sisters the nicknames were used as a means of showing affection and closeness.

While I certainly agree that nicknames can be a way of showing closeness and family ties, I wonder if the nicknames when used by the adult Mitford sisters were a way of re-establishing the childhood pecking order.

I think the nicknames showed endearment to each other but also could sound hurtful especially to people outside the family. Also, sometimes nicknames are used as a code that no one outside a group would know the meaning. But in this novel it truly shows the love and understanding each sister for one another.

I found the nicknames tiresome and confusing. The continuation of numerous childhood nicknames reinforced my belief that these sisters were sheltered and shallow.

I'm glad to have read the previous comments, as the wide use of nicknames puzzled me. It would have annoyed the crap out of me, if it were my family circle, that's for sure! My family didn't use nicknames, and neither did my friends, so I found the concept odd and trivializing. But, as others have pointed out, they could also have been terms of endearment.

I liked the way Benedict uses nicknames to show how the sisters are feeling about one another in a given situation. Nancy is "Naunce" when Diana is feeling close, "Nancy" when they're distant. Diana stops using "Naunce" entirely after Wigs on the Green is published. And Nancy is "Lady" when Unity is PO'd at her. For the sisters, it's a kind of private shorthand:

"After my recovery from despair, Unity stopped the tender use of Nancy or Naunce for me and reverted more often to the nickname of “Lady,” which she generally uses if I peeve her in some way." (loc. 419-420)

I agree with others on this thread that nicknames can be a form of endearment. They can also be a double edged form of sarcasm cloaked as endearment as they often cut quite close to the truth. I find nicknames proliferate the closer you are to someone. It's rare for a stranger to endow a nickname.

I also agree with the previous comments. Nicknames can be a form of endearment, a reminder of childhood closeness. However they can also be a subtle put down used to keep one in one’s place in the family pecking order. Bendict also uses them to signal a change in the sisters relationships.

I think that in this story the use of nicknames was how the sisters remembered where they came from and the bond they had as children. As the reader I often found them confusing but isn't that what nicknames are really for - to bond some together and keep others out?

I came from a large family and our nicknames evolved from shared and loving moments. Some were used only within the family but mine, and others, spread to use in school and with friends. Using a nickname indicates a warmth -just as your given name plus your middle name always indicated “look out.”
I found the names a bit confusing at first and actually wrote a list of the sisters with their nicknames.

As many have noted above, nicknames serve to convey affection among dearly loved ones -- ones with whom we have unique, intimate bonds. Nicknames are freighted with baggage -- good and bad. They are badges to be borne throughout a lifetime. In this book's case, they symbolize the intimacy between sisters. These relationships -- unlike some marriages -- are also to be borne throughout a lifetime.

I think the nicknames used by the family could be endearments, but also showed what they were feeling for each other, sort of “weathervanes” for their feelings. And they did seem to be pejorative at times, while at other times affectionate.

I agree that Benedict used the nicknames to indicate how sisters were feeling. Often they were downright cruel. Again,I think it’s an English upper class thing. Think about “Willy and Haz.”

The nicknames used in the novel were at times annoying. Usually a nickname indicated some fond characteristic of the family member. With the Mitford sisters, the names seemed to be a barometer of their feelings or emotion at any given time.

I agree with all who see family nicknames as special signs of love and endearment. A nickname can make you part of a secret club, an included group. My kids call me "patticakes". I cherish it.

I agree with all who see family nicknames as special signs of love and endearment. A nickname can make you part of a secret club, an included group. My kids call me "patticakes". I cherish it.

As others have mentioned, the nicknames were used as a way of expressing their feelings towards one another, whether good or bad. I also think they were used as a special language created between the siblings.