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 “real” 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.
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| Nickname | Possible “Real” Name |
|---|---|
| Aldo | Romualdo |
| Amparing | Amparo |
| Ani | Bayani |
| Asyong | Nicasio |
| Bani | Bayani |
| Belay | Isabel |
| Beloy | Isabelo |
| Beriong | Silverio |
| Berta | Alberta, Edilberta, Gilberta, Roberta, Umberta … ends with “berta” |
| Berto | Alberto, Edilberto, Gilberto, Roberto, Umberto … ends with “berto” |
| Binday | Brigida |
| Caching | Escolastica |
| Caloy | Carlo, Carlos |
| Carding | Ricardo |
| Chato | Rosario |
| Conchita | Concepcion |
| Cora | Corazon |
| Cordiya | Concordia |
| Coring | Socorro |
| Dadang, Daday | Abelarda, Armida, Brigida, Candida, Leonarda … ends with “da” |
| Dadô | Conrado, Diosdado |
| Ditas | Merceditas |
| Dodong, Doy | Abelardo, Brigido, Diosdado, Leonardo … ends with “do” |
| Dolpo | Rodolfo |
| Doray | Dolores, Isadora, Teodora |
| Encar | Encarnacion |
| Felicing | Felicisima |
| Gardo | Edgardo |
| Genya | Eugenia |
| Goryo, Goying, Goyito | Gregorio |
| Igno | Benigno |
| Iking | Enrique |
| Imâ, May | Felicisima, Geronima, Guillerma, Zosima … ends with “ma” |
| Imô, Moy | Felicisimo, Geronimo, Guillermo, Zosimo … ends with ”mo” |
| Ingga | Dominga |
| Inggo | Domingo |
| Inyang | Herminia |
| Inyong | Herminio |
| Ipê | Felipe |
| Ipyon | Concepcion |
| Isang | Felisa |
| Juaning | Juan |
| Juling | Julio |
| Kadyô | Leocadio |
| Kanor | Nicanor |
| Karyô | Macario |
| Kikay | Francisca |
| Kikô | Francisco |
| Kulas | Nicolas |
| Kulasa | Nicolasa |
| Lando | Orlando |
| Leno | Eleno |
| Libay | Ligaya |
| Lina | Angelina, Marcelina, Paulina … ends with “lina” |
| Lino | Angelino, Marcelino, Paulino … ends with “lino” |
| Lito | Angelito, Carmelito, Joselito, Paulito … ends with “lito” |
| Lumen | Iluminada |
| Lupe, Lupita | Guadalupe |
| Maning | Manuel |
| Manoy | Manolo, Manuel |
| Maring | Maria |
| Mena | Filomena |
| Menggay | Carmen |
| Mila, Milagring | Milagros |
| Miyong | Romeo |
| Monang | Ramona |
| Monching, Moning | Ramon |
| Munding | Edmundo |
| Nanding, Nando | Ferdinand, Fernando |
| Nanoy | Mariano |
| Narding, Nardo | Leonardo |
| Nena | Elena, Josefina, Juana, Magdalena |
| Nora | Nicanora |
| Pacing, Pacita | Paz |
| Pasya | Bonifacia |
| Pepe, Peping, Pepito, Pepoy | Jose, Felipe, Rafael |
| Pinang, Pining | Agrifina, Josefina |
| Piyang | Sofia |
| Ponso | Alfonso |
| Puring | Pura |
| Quitong | Paquito |
| Roging | Rogelia |
| Sebya | Eusebia |
| Sebyo | Eusebio |
| Silya | Cecilia |
| Simâ | Felicisima |
| Simô | Maximo |
| Sinang | Rosalina |
| Sintô | Jacinto |
| Sisa | Francisca |
| Sita | Carmencita, Rosita. Teresita … ends with “cita” or “sita” |
| Siyon | Asuncion |
| Soleng | Soledad |
| Tasyô | Anastacio |
| Tatô | Liberato, Renato |
| Tentay | Vicenta |
| Tentoy | Vicente |
| Teray | Sotera |
| Teroy | Sotero, Teodoro |
| Tidad | Trinidad |
| Tinang | Agustina, Cristina, Florentina, Valentina .. ends with “tina” |
| Tinong | Agustino, Cristino, Florentino, Valentin, Valentino … ends with “tin” or “tino” |
| Tita | Carmencita, Lolita … ends with “ita” |
| Titing | Vicente |
| Tiyago | Santiago |
| Tolome | Bartolome |
| Tonyo | Antonio |
| Totoy | Carmencito, Umberto … ends with “to” |
| Toyang | Antonia, Victoria … ends with an “ia” |
| Tuning | Antonio |
| Udoy | Mariano |
| Urbing | Urbana, Urbano |
| Yano | Cipriano, Emiliano … ends with “iano” |
I am curious about how the word “boy” became a nickname. Obviously, being an English word, we must assume that it came about during American occupation. I have a suspicious feeling that it was used by a colonizer who really didn’t care about the subject’s identity and it was used denoting subservience just as the Spaniard would call for his “muchacho.”
I am Filipino (mestizo) and have always been fascinated by the dynamic of “East meets West.”
My grandparents named a child “”Boy” and another “Baby” — both born in the 1940s. I wish I could ask them what they were thinking. :)
This posting has provided me with a lot of clarity on this topic. Prior to reading it I was befuddled by the origins & proliferation of nicknames inherent to Filipino families. Many of my attempts at genealogical research have fallen short due to my family members’ recollections of only the ancestor’s nickname. That said, it’s a bit difficult to comb through records/documentation with only a “Tita” or “Boy” or “Lina” as a lead. It’s frustrating but it’s so rewarding when you do discover a ancestor/relative. Some people don’t have the patience to trace their trees but thankfully I find it a fun challenge. Your website is a great resource.
Thanks for the kind words, CL! I feel as you do when I get vague pet names instead of the ones you can find in documentation. Drop me a line if a nickname stumps you. Perhaps I can help. :)
i remember a story i read when the mother of President Dwight Eisenhower hated the nicknames used for his two older sons; hence, when President Eisenhower was born, his mother named him Dwight; true, there is no nickname for Dwight; but then later through the years, President Eisenhower was called Ike for short.
as per the stories told by my elders, nicknames were used because of so many reasons; i have an ancestor who usually changes his name because he does not like to be caught by the Spaniards like Valeriano Guillit who changed his name to Bohaw Bilit meaning an eagle bird; others changed their names because of their kind of occupation especially in cattle breeding or enterprise or when they have to marry a woman they met on their way in some places they go like my great great grandfather Ahosan also called Acusan or Ogues ; or when they became leaders of the community like Pablo Carino who was called as Pilay or Maumao or Dirut…this Pablo Carino or Calinjo is the ancestor of the Baguio-Tublay-La Trinidad Carinos…
no maria? lol
You have a valid point! While Maria is often used as a prefix in the names of females or a second name for males, it can also stand alone. Adding the nickname “Maring”. :)