How come in the South, many people are called by 2 names?

[raccoon]

Such as, Jim Bob, Shirley Ann, Betty Sue, etc.

Thank goodness this custom has about died out (I think).

[Glorfindel]

1. It's still going strong, at least in the parts of the south I'm familiar with

I think it comes from having large, close-knit families and the habit of naming children after relatives. So, a boy named for his father, Joseph, and his uncle, Robert, might be called Joe-Bob to prevent confusion. The same might be true of a girl named Mary Louise for her grandmothers but invariably referred to as Mary Lou. I know people named Johnnie Sue, Howard Earl, John Bob, Hugh Edward, Mattie Lee, Mary Ann, Sarah Belle, and Joe Kelly, to name just a few. I also know people named "Junior" and "Author" and three brothers named "Love," "Glover," and "Darling." I have also known women named Missouri, Tennessee, Florida, and Arizona. The south, like the universe, is stranger than you can even imagine.

[HopeHoops]

2. My mother has an explanation from that which came directly from my late grandmother.

My mom's given first name is a common nick-name for another name. I once asked her why that was and she said that my grandmother, who grew up in the deep south-western tip of Virginia, hand only ever heard a few dozen different names for girls, or for boys for that matter. They put them together in pairs so you could tell people apart. When she moved to the suburbs of DC as a young adult (1940 or so), she was suddenly exposed to hundreds of names she'd never heard of before. She picked my mom's name because it sounded pretty and it was MANY years later that she found out it was actually a nickname.

So I go with that answer. Think "SPAM, eggs, sausage, and SPAM", "SPAM, SPAM, SPAM and eggs", etc. If there aren't many individual choices, you start combining them to make the plate different.

[trof]

9. "given first name is a common nick-name for another name"

Yeah, like naming a kid 'Harry', not Harold.
Or Jimmie (not James), or Billie (not William).
I know a couple both named Jimmy, except her name is Jimmie.
It makes me think the parents weren't real bright.
:eyes:

[yellowdogintexas]

3. also, you know when your mama is mad at you because you get both names

dead give away.

in my school years there were hugh majorities of girls named Linda and Mary. I guess those were the hot names between 1945 and 1955. Anyway all of the Linda and Mary persons went by both names to avoid confusion.

Mary Sue
Mary Lee
Mary Lou
Mary Ann
The above 4 were all in my home room, a group of about 25 total.

Mary Ellen
Mary Beth
Mary Margaret
Mary Eleanor
Mary Elizabeth (a different Mary from Mary Beth)
Mary Steve


Linda Jane
Linda Lou
Linda Sue
Linda Jean
Linda Ruth
Linda Kay

These are just the ones I can remember!


We had our fair share of Annes, Brendas, Judies, Kathys, Susans and Debbies also. My name was different enough that I only knew personally one other person with the same name until I went to live in Boston and promptly met four others with same first name. I was 21. It has come back in popularity and is often used as a second name.

[sarge43]

4. In case they forget one, they have a backup. n/t

[av8rdave]

5. Oh, the yanks from the north do it to....

Sincerely,

Mortimer Forrest (Better known to friends as "Mo Fo")

[no name no slogan]

8. They sure do, MoFo.

http://www.mofo.com

Best law firm URL in the world.

[av8rdave]

10. NOW I know who owns that domain name!

Thanks!

[Shell Beau]

6. Nope, the custom is still strong.

As a matter of fact, we are still kind of debating on whether to call my gal Bella or Bella Rose!

[CBR]

7. I am from southern WV and was called by my first and middle

name until I was 8 years old. We had moved to NJ (Dad in USCG) and I came home one day and insisted on dropping the middle name. My parents complied. Sometimes wish I hadn't - it is kind of endearing.