The identity you must claim for yourself.

What’s the story behind your nickname?

The funny thing about names is that we seldom choose what we are called.

Names are given to us, and if you’re lucky enough to have one you love, congratulations! You’re in the minority. For the rest of us, we often just go along with the names we’ve been given. 

Before diving into the topic of nicknames and the stories behind them, I encourage you to read my piece titled *Reason for Your Name* for a better understanding of the article. 

Names come into existence through complex emotions, and they are influenced by many factors: circumstances, traditions, events, beliefs, the future, and the state of mind of the person giving the name rather than the person bearing it. Nicknames are no exception. 

Surprisingly, our nicknames can change as we grow older, unlike our birth names and official names. By now, you might be wondering why I haven’t yet revealed my nickname and the stories behind it. The reason is that I have quite a few, each associated with different times and circumstances, chosen by family members, peers, and friends. From “Sir Booyiant” to “Americana” to “British” to “Big,” people have chosen these names based on their experiences, understanding, expectations, and the dynamics of their relationships with me. 

However, despite having little control over what nickname people assign to you, you do have the right to reject any name that doesn’t define who you are and what you stand for.