Traditional Filipino Nicknames

Jose Rizal was also called “Pepe”.

The nickname is something every Pinoy parent plans about the same time they come up with their child’s “real name”.  For example, my nickname is Monette; and I have two sisters named Suzzette and Nanette — no way that was a fun coincidence.

Growing up, childhood nicknames brand us.  Calling an acquaintance by a nickname elicits a sense of immediate familiarity.  The Pinoy practice of calling complete strangers Tito-Tita (uncle-aunt), Kuya-Ate (big brother-sister) and Manong-Manang (big brother-sister) feeds that very need for familial intimacy.  Politicians make up traditional nicknames to appear more approachable to their constituents.  In a visit to Bicol years back, my husband’s cousin (who also happened to be mayor) introduced me as “Monang”, which temporarily disguised my pseudo-urban upbringing.

To paraphrase the Pinoy comedian Rex Navarrete , every Filipino family is “required by law” to have a “Boy” and a “Baby” — or at least, it feels that way.  Each region has their own version of these nicknames, often reserved for the youngest of the siblings, regardless of how phonetically distant their formal names are.  These uniquely Filipino defaults are “Boboy”, “Nonoy”, “Totoy”, “Inday”, “Ineng”, “Neneng”, among many.

In conversations I’ve had over the years over my family history, it is very common for relatives to forget real names.  I am stuck with an “ Inkong This” or “ Mamay That” to work with.  So in the service of those who will walk down the same path I did, here are traditional Filipino nicknames and their likely equivalents.  Help us enrich the database — send us a comment or email!

NicknamePossible “Real” NameAldoRomualdoAmparingAmparoAniBayaniAsyongNicasioBaniBayaniBelayIsabelBeloyIsabeloBeriongSilverioBertaAlberta, Edilberta, Gilberta, Roberta, Umberta … ends with “berta”BertoAlberto, Edilberto, Gilberto, Roberto, Umberto … ends with “berto”BindayBrigidaCachingEscolasticaCaloyCarlo, CarlosCardingRicardoCaringCaridadChatoRosarioCholengSoledadConcha, ConchitaConcepcionCoraCorazonCordiyaConcordiaCoringSocorroDadang, DadayAbelarda, Armida, Brigida, Candida, Leonarda … ends with “da”DadôConrado, DiosdadoDitasMerceditasDodong, DoyAbelardo, Brigido, Diosdado, Leonardo … ends with “do”DolpoRodolfoDorayDolores, Isadora, TeodoraEncarEncarnacionFelicingFelicisimaGardoEdgardoGenyaEugeniaGoryo, Goying, GoyitoGregorioIgnoBenignoIkingEnriqueImâ, MayFelicisima, Geronima, Guillerma, Zosima … ends with “ma”Imô, MoyFelicisimo, Geronimo, Guillermo, Zosimo … ends with “mo”InggaDomingaInggoDomingoInyangHerminiaInyongHerminioIpêFelipeIpyonConcepcionIsangFelisaJuaningJuanJulingJulioKadyôLeocadioKanorNicanorKaryôMacarioKikayFranciscaKikôFranciscoKulasNicolasKulasaNicolasaLandoOrlandoLenoElenoLibayLigayaLinaAngelina, Marcelina, Paulina … ends with “lina”LinoAngelino, Marcelino, Paulino … ends with “lino”LitoAngelito, Carmelito, Joselito, Paulito … ends with “lito”LumenIluminadaLupe, LupitaGuadalupeManingManuelManoyManolo, ManuelMaringMariaMenaFilomenaMenggayCarmenMila, MilagringMilagrosMiyongRomeoMonangRamonaMonching, MoningRamonMundingEdmundoNanding, NandoFerdinand, FernandoNanoyMarianoNarding, NardoLeonardoNenaElena, Josefina, Juana, MagdalenaNoraNicanoraPacing, PacitaPazPanggoyJosefaPasyaBonifaciaPepe, Peping, Pepito, PepoyJose, Felipe, RafaelPina, Pinang, PiningAgrifina, Josefina … ends with “fina”PiyangSofiaPonsoAlfonsoPuringPuraQuitongPaquitoRogingRogeliaSebyaEusebiaSebyoEusebioSilyaCeciliaSimâFelicisimaSimôMaximoSinangRosalinaSintôJacintoSisaFranciscaSitaCarmencita, Rosita. Teresita … ends with “cita” or “sita”SiyonAsuncionSolengSoledadTasingAnastaciaTasyôAnastacioTatôLiberato, RenatoTentayVicentaTentoyVicenteTeraySoteraTeroySotero, TeodoroTidadTrinidadTinangAgustina, Cristina, Florentina, Valentina .. ends with “tina”TinongAgustino, Cristino, Florentino, Valentin, Valentino … ends with “tin” or “tino”TitaCarmencita, Lolita … ends with “ita”TitingVicenteTiyagoSantiagoTolomeBartolomeTonyoAntonioTotoyCarmencito, Umberto … ends with “to”ToyangAntonia, Victoria … ends with an “ia”TriningTrinidadTuningAntonioUdoyMarianoUrbingUrbana, UrbanoYanoCipriano, Emiliano … ends with “iano”

Thanks to the very special contributions of Jim Kurt Ereño!