Where did the name come from? Find out the story of how “Nubbs” came to be.

By Bigs

---

How did the name “Nubbs” come into existence?

I am not sure.

Now that may not be what you were expecting to see, and maybe Nubbs himself can chime in, but I can’t remember. But wait, it is endearing in a way!

You see, I, Bigs, have called Nubbs “Nubbs” for as long as I can remember. I was probably in middle school when it first stuck. I promise it has nothing to do with the National University of Battambang, or a network usage based billing system, and ESPECIALLY not a mockery of anyone with disabilities. It is simply a name that a young Bigs came up with seemingly randomly one fateful day.

Then why did it stick? Well how could it not! It is short, simple, fun to say, and memorable. Even now, as a grown man, I still call my dad Nubbs. I call him other things too like “medad” or “my best pal”, but “The Daily My Best Pal”/”The Daily Medad” didn’t seem as vague or fun, both of which we are going for here.

Fun fact: Nubbs has “Nubbs” tattooed on his wrist. He HAD a leather bracelet that had the name etched into it at Disney World, but that broke. Tattoos don’t break, so he went with that after. That is what you call dedication.

Now, my dad’s name is not Nubbs, legally at least. It is a nickname. Nicknames are great! Well, they can be at least. I suppose it depends on the reason you got the nickname. However, where did nicknames come from? Why were they created? What are some iconic nicknames?

All questions I plan to tell you the answer to in the very first…

BIGS’ BENEFICIAL BITES

A list of FIVE fun facts, hopefully beneficial in some way, to share with your friends around the water cooler or in the Zoom call (it is 2025 after all)!

• Many common nicknames come from a person’s job like “Doc” for a doctor, or a “Doc” for a… basketball player? Wait.
• Another source of a nickname is a person’s actual name! Who would have thought?! Think Dick for Richard.
• Nicknames often represent a characteristic of the person they are given to. Jerome Bettis, a legendary NFL running back for the Chargers and Rams, had the nickname “The Bus” because he often carried would be tacklers with him down the field. Ivan Vasilyevich was known as “Ivan the Terrible” because… well… he kinda sucked?
• The name Hank is a nickname derived from “Hendrick”, the Dutch equivalent of the English “Henry”.
• I never had a badass nickname that stuck, but Nubbs gave me “Bigs”, and I am more than cool with that.

Now that you know the origin story, or what there is of it, and know some interesting nickname facts, you can conquer the world with your newfound knowledge and maybe come up with your own nickname for someone soon. Don’t let it be a mean one, though. Be excellent to each other, and share your favorite nickname below.

Deuces, and peace.

Bigs out.