Names and Nicknames

Conrad is not a common name in my culture, although quite common in my ancestral land.  Indeed, it has been handed down through many generations in my family since 1737 in Hameln, Germany.  My great-great grandfather went by Conrad even though it, like me, was not his first name, and he was the Hake to emigrate to America in 1854.  Most recently, before me, the name was given to my father's brother killed in a bombing raid over Germany in World War II.  Giving it to me, as the first born of my generation, actually caused jealous anger to some in my family, for it was the name most valued to hand down.  Oh, well, first come, first served, I guess.

Interestingly, none of us appeared to have Conrad (or Konrad as it was spelled in Germany) as our first name, yet the is what each of us have been called.  My first name is Joseph, named after my father whose legal name was not Joseph but actually Joe, and specifically named Joseph so I would not be a junior.  And, in answer to the literate among you, they were not even thinking of the author when they did this.  Since he was Joe, they called me Con from the days of my birth.  My grandparents called me Connie.  My relatives from Tennessee called me Joe Connie, which I've always kind of found humorous because it is my real claim to being southern!

When I started school, a fly got into the ointment!  I was in a 3-room schoolhouse and I was a member of the largest class with eight kids.  The problem was that in my class of seven boys and one girl, God decided she should be named Connie!

Up until fourth grade, no problem.  But, the teasing that is inevitable started that year.  When we moved after the fifth grade year, I told my parents who told people outside the house that my name was Connie I didn't want to be Connie anymore, but Conrad.  And so it was and has been ever since!  Apparently, my Uncle in the Air Force did the same thing, for correspondence about him to our family called him Ed!

But, as though Conrad wasn't enough of an oddity to some, the nicknames came forth over the years.  I had a boss who said a worker name should be like a bird dog, one syllable.  He found Con weird as a name, so always called me Joe! LOL  Since then, I have been Festus, since my last name of Hake was similar to Hagen for Festus Hagen on Gunsmoke.  I've been Cornbred, C-Rad, Cornelius, Conman, X-Con.  And my business signature was nothing but class and authority, J. Conrad!

The only nickname I lack is something from Donald Trump.  I suppose that if I were a member of his wrecking ball team of crooks, they might ultimately nickname me Con-victed!

Please check out my other blog mates' takes on the same topic brought to us by Padmini at their blogs, Padmum, Raju, Ramana, Sanjana and Shackman!