In fiction (movies, tv, books, etc.), nicknames are a way to show familiarity between characters. You don’t call your close friends by their government names, after all. Nicknames are usually used by everybody, in a friend group, or family. But there’s a deeper level of this. This occurs when a character has a name that only one person uses. The unique nickname. I’m gonna talk about a few examples.
First example is also an all-time classic: MJ calling Peter “Tiger”. Mary Jane Watson is many things. Model, actress, nightclub owner. But to most people she is best known as Peter Parker’s best love interest. And ever since she dropped the iconic line (above), she has very frequently referred to him as “Tiger”. Dating, married, or not even in each other’s lives, she knows that she can always count on him (as much as you can count on someone who wears spider webs). That’s a name that binds him to her and her only. It also doesn’t hurt that it is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.
Next up, Felicia Hardy calling Peter “Spider”. Yes, it’s our boy once again. This time with another of his love interests, Felicia Hardy, aka the Black Cat. Felicia’s relationship with Peter can be best characterized as “spider before man.” When they first met, she loved the Spider, and had zero interest in finding out about the man behind the mask. Over the years this stance changed, and even though they’re no longer together (or are they? Zeb Wells is teasing things), her calling him “Spider” is a lasting reminder of their unique relationship.
Third, we have Jennifer Jareau (JJ) and Dr. Spencer Reid from the TV show Criminal Minds. JJ always calls him “Spence”. In season 1, episode 4, he remarks that she is the only person in the world that calls him that. The name itself isn’t that complex (just a shortened version of Spencer) but surrounded by people that call him by his last name, this simple act goes to separate Reid and JJ’s relationship from his relationship with the team and even its individual members. Their special sibling is clear for everyone to see, and this little thing is what helps to cement it best.
The names we choose to answer to, and the people who call us by those names, can tell us a lot about ourselves and our relationships with those people. It’s no different in fiction. When subtext plays a huge part in worldbuilding and character development, it can be nice to have shortcuts like that.
