Common Spanish Nicknames for People’s First Names

Spanish nicknames are the staple of many close relationships. Most of us have had a nickname at some point in our lives. They differentiate our relationship with someone and indicate a special bond with them. I actually have a nickname that only my family and close friends know! 

Other nicknames are blanket nicknames, meaning they are called that by everyone. Sometimes, you might know a person by their nickname and only find out their nombre de pila, or first name, after years of friendship. In this case, the intimacy of the first name is greater than that of the nickname. 

What’s wonderful about Spanish nicknames is that their closeness and intimacy depend on the individual. Getting to know people’s names and nicknames is all part of the fun of building relationships. 

Do you need a list of endearing pet names and nicknames for friends and family? View our blog post Soul-Stirring Spanish Terms of Endearment for Anyone You Love.

Origin of Spanish Nicknames

How did Spanish nicknames come to be in the first place? 

Some name-based nicknames come from common speech mistakes kids make when trying to say their own names. People find it cute and the name sticks for a long time. An example of this is the nickname Chayo, which is short for Rosario. If you imagine a little girl named Rosario trying to say her own name, the nickname Chayo starts to make sense. 

Other Spanish nicknames come from combinations of first and middle names. Some really common nickname combinations are Juanpa and Majo, which are combinations of Juan Pablo and María José respectively.

The example of Chayo also gives us more information about the origin of Spanish nicknames. If you pay attention to Latin American slang, you’ll notice that many words, and nicknames have the phoneme ‘ch.’ This is because most of our slang, especially in Mexico and Central America, comes from the native tongues of the region, such as nahuatl, kaqchikel, etc. 

Spanish Nicknames with History

Other nicknames are related to Latin America folklore and legends. The nickname Lola, short for Dolores, is famous in Chile because of the story of a woman who killed her husband and lied about his death; now Lola roams the Chilean mines dragging her past lover’s coffin behind her looking for their killer, without knowing it was her all along. Spooky!

There are two other famous nicknames that make no sense at first glance: Pepe and Paco. 

Pepe, a nickname for José, derives from Jesus’ putative father Joseph. In Latin, putative father is pater putativus, which is commonly abbreviated as p.p. If you read that abbreviation in Spanish out loud, you’ll find why we call José “Pepe” instead.

Paco is another Spanish nickname with a religious origin. The vast majority of Latin Americans are Christian, after all! This name comes from San Francisco de Asís, a humble saint who was also known as Pater Comunitatis, which is Latin for “Father of the Community.” Grabbing the first two letters from each word of this Latin name is where the Spanish nickname Paco comes from.

Remember what I said about the ch sound earlier? Paco and Pepe have versions of them with the classic ch sound added: Pancho and Chepe. It goes to show we’ll put a ch in just about any slang word or nickname.

Nickname Variations by Region

Do Spanish nicknames vary by region? As you may know, slang words are sometimes shared among countries, but oftentimes their meanings or pronunciations vary. A similar thing happens with nicknames. Most nicknames are the same all across the board in Latin America, at least when it comes to changing or shortening first names. However, you’ll find that each country has its own set of common Spanish nicknames associated with its local slang. I’ll give you a list of common nicknames in different Latin American countries. 

Guatemala

Pollo, colocho, canche, gordo, oso, peque, chato, pato

México

Güero, güey, chavo, chaparro, greñas, gordo, CJ (pronounced seh hoh-tah)

Argentina

Penca, boludo, boló, guaso, guasa, nera, nero, cara e poio

The Most Common Spanish Nicknames

Now that you know a little bit more about Spanish nicknames and our relationships with them, let’s take a deep dive into name-derived nicknames! This list of Spanish nicknames will give you some ideas for common name abbreviations. 

Also, check out our post on Loving Spanish Phrases for Your Significant Other.

Spanish Nicknames for Guys

Getting a nickname can be a rite of passage for a group of male friends in Latin American culture. Sometimes, guys will take your nickname and change it so much that it will be unrecognizable from your original name! This is a common way to express affection though wordplay. A group of friends I had in college changed my name from Rafael over and over until they called me Garfio (hook). It was strange but endearing. Remember to not take yourself too seriously and roll with the punches and you’ll be A-OK! The following list details some common male Spanish nicknames.

Nicknames for Girls

Women tend to use Spanish nicknames in an intimate and personal way. I have two loud friends in university who call each other “mama” affectionately. Sometimes, I would be in class and hear someone screaming “MAMAAAAAA” in the hallway and I’d have to contain my laughter because I knew it was those two saying hi to each other. 

But these gender differences in Spanish nicknames are just tendencies described based on my experiences and observations. These behaviours don’t exist in a vacuum and they can be experienced by everyone, regardless of gender! Anyway, let’s take a look at some female Spanish nicknames.

Spanish Nicknames are Fun!

Spanish nicknames are a great way to connect with the culture and get closer to those around you. The best way to learn about them and use them is through conversations! Spanish nicknames are something that everyone is constantly learning, even locals! So don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and make some Spanish-speaking friends. You might even get a nickname for yourself.

Are there any nicknames I didn’t mention that you would like to share? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Rafael Parra

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

A native Spanish speaker from Guatemala, I'm a psychology student, creative developer, and aspiring polymath who's always learning new things and improving as a person. I'm a nerd when it comes to language, education, and videogames. My goal is to practice all these disciplines in unison and make something great with my time.

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