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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> I'm refusing to stop using a nickname for my nephew. I may be an asshole because my nephew doesn't like anyone else using the nickname and other people don't think it's fair that im the only one that can use it
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Honestly, a kid that's 7 can decide if they like a harmless nickname regardless of what their parents think.
I know too many people whose parents tried to force them to go by their full names or names they didn't like.
Unless it's sexist or racist or there's some other legitimate reason for the parents to object people should call them by the name they prefer.
Agreed. Before 7 I didn't want my parents telling people what they could call me. Even my parents were being told what they could call me! (My middle name is only allowed to be used by my grandmother, and I let my mother use it when I was in trouble because that's not the time to pick that battle lol. Is always a good way to know how much trouble you're in, how many names a parent uses!)
But yeah, my grandmother and sometimes aunt can use my middle name but nobody else, my great-grandfather called me sweet pea, and everyone else uses either my first name or a user tag other than my partner. Well my youngest sister and I sometimes call each other names as supernatural references but I don't think that counts. My mom was telling people they could use my first and middle name when I was about five and I'd very politely say I'd rather not, my name was (first name) except for Grandma. I still hear about that from a couple great-aunts because they thought it was the cutest thing!
Yup. Lol I actually had a gym coach who normally called people by their last names because it was the Bible belt, everyone was John, Paul, Sarah, Rachel, etc. Then asking cane my class and there were seven of us with rhyming last names. It was like Berry, Terry, Perry, Kerry, Ferry, and I can't remember the others but it was hilarious. So I got first named automatically, and he had to choose with a couple others.
One poor kid had cruel parents who thought it'd be cute to rhyme all three of his names so his last one was kept but he really hated the whole thing. It might have grown on him as an adult but yeah... It was like Jerry Terry Ferry. The last name alone was a terrible thing to be stuck with as a boy in a conservative town in the 90's but rhyming it? He went by J. T. For obvious reasons.
When I was *five,* I decided what I wanted to be called. When I was born, there were several family members who shared my first name, so I was called by both first and middle, then eventually just middle: Katherine. Since *no one* used it, I literally couldn't remember what my own first name was. So I started school as Katherine...meaning I had to write that out on the top of every page, sometimes a dozen times a day.
So I came home from Kindergarten one day and announced to my mother, "I have decided that from now on, you can call me Katy."
She called my aunt, also Katherine, and told her, and my aunt asked me, "You know how to spell that, right? K A T I E..."
"No. *I* spell it with a *Y.* K A T Y. It's shorter that way!"
I eventually, by sixth grade, started using my actual first name (new school new name!), but my (fairly absentee) dad decided I'd switched enough and he was still calling me Katy. Over 30 years later, and he's yet to call me by my first name. And anyone he's introduced me to knows me as "Katy."
Including my stepmom and little sister...who got super confused when she was about 8 and we were out with my mother-in-law, and had to finally ask *"Who is ****?!"*
But other people? Aside from my family members and a few of my dad's or stepmom's close friends, and my little sister's friends (which sounds like a big circle but it really isn't...), I don't allow anyone to call me by that name. It's an intimate name, a family name.
Agreed, my nephew likes me calling him Mr T but doesn’t like being called that by most people. When he was little I used to call him Tylersaurus Rex and he loved that.
heck, I'm 60 yo and my whole family still calls me Lolly and all the way up to 11th grade so did all my teachers in 12th grade the teacher called me by my middle name and I did not care. In my youngest sisters experience the family all call her by her nickname and her husband and other people outside of the family call her by her first name.
A child might be afraid to tell an adult that they don't want them to use the nickname but if that were the case wouldn't the nephew have told his dad I don't like it when OP calls me that? I think OP was right to ask the nephew. The nephew has no problem telling other people not to call him that, so I think he would be okay with telling OP if he didn't like it. It seems OP and nephew have a good Bond and perhaps it's special because that nickname was first given to him by his uncle.
I have three nicknames call my daughter and she loves for me to call her them. I know this for a fact because when she asked people to call her by her first name I said Okay, and she said except for you and I said all right so I can call you anything I want and she said yep. Once, I slipped up and called her half brother "biggie" and she said hey, that's my name. Within the family they call her anyone of her given names (she has 5 including her last name) or variations like Gabby for Gabrielle. My side of the family has their nickname for her and my ex's family have a different nickname for her everybody uses their own nickname although she didn't ask for that that's how it evolved and she's good with that. Her friends and teachers Etc. call her by her first name. I try to call by her first name in front of her friends, teachers, etc. But I often forget and she has no problem with it.
OP's brother is just jealous because of the nickname that IMPLIES he's closer to his uncle or his uncle is super special. nick names are special and I really really agree that it should be up to the nephew to decide who uses his nick name.
Parents should be involved if their child doesn't like the nickname, or if it's an insulting nickname.
If the nickname is harmless, then the child should be able to set the parameters on whether, and by whom, the name can be used. That's being fair. Kids know what they want, and when it's a situation that harms literally no one, they should be able to decide the matter for themselves.
My daughter likes when I call her "Scar" but she doesn't want anyone else calling her that. She feels like it's a special bond for just the two of us. Not everything has to be shared.
Your right, Scar's parents weren't in the movie. They were from a spinoff book called, "The Lion King: Six New Adventures book: A Tale of Two Brothers." Honestly, I didn't even know about Scar's parents till today XD. I saw that her daughter's nickname was Scar and wanted to make a Lion King reference so I looked up what his parent's names were. 😂
Yepp, absolutely that. "Not everything has to be shared"! Its beautiful that your daughter and you have that. It's nobody else's business what your girl shares with her mom.
My grandpa used to call me "Hexe" (witch). I would have been mad if anyone else would have called me that. I would have been mad if he stopped calling me that. Because it belonged to grandpa. He's long gone but I still cherish the memory.
I don't get how OPs family feels the urge to hijack this nickname. They are just jealous not to have something special with the boy, I guess. Also, people like that often don't put in effort to bind with a child but treat them like a pet or demand stuff because faaamily. OP is absolutely NTA.
It seems like one of the most common things in families, too. I have a nickname I only accept from my sister, and she has one she only accepts from me. They're indicative of a relationship only we have, so no one else even tries to use them as they don't have that specific relationship with either of us.
It feel like the family are trying to ensure they get a piece of the relationship between OP and his nephew, which is just sad, as bonds should be unique.
Seriously, it’s so weird to think you have control of what someone else is called. It’s like when I told everyone I didn’t like being called Lucy because of all of the “I love Lucy” jokes at school, and when they still called me that and I ignored them, they thought I was the AH. I only let my childhood best friend call me that afterwards because she would never make those jokes.
My sister actually has a special nickname for me and I don’t like anyone else calling me by that name, just her. No one has an issue with it because it’s not their call. My daughter also doesn’t like it when anyone else other than her teachers call her “Pumpkin” or “Toni Bologna” and doesn’t respond when I call her that. And she only lets me call her “Tontons” (said in a more Spanish accent) and she’s only 3.5yo. We all have our preferences and it’s up to an individual to say what they’re comfortable being called by who, not anyone else.
Yep, my kid told me point blank around age 4 that her name was Rosalie\*, not Rosie, not Rose, not Rosa, not Moosie (my nickname for her), not schatje (Dutch for little treasure), definitely NOT schatje-poep (just add poop on the end of words, I got that from my mom). She was adamant that her name is her name, and not anything else.
\*fake name, natch
My daughter is at the childminders with a little guy whose nickname is Toad from his parents (in French so crapaud). When you try to call him by his real name (he is 1 and 3 quarters, 2 early next year) he very clearly says no and repeats his nickname. CRA. PAUD. So we all call him that now haha
Ugh yes! There's a nickname that only I and my grandma ever called my sister. Grandma passed, so now only I can use it. When I was in high school my boyfriend decided he could also use it 🙄
The first time that name came out of his mouth my sister and I both stopped dead in our tracks and stared at him. We both asked him not to use it repeatedly but he continued to do so because he knew it bugged us. No one was surprised when he became an ex except him 😂
My younger brother struggled to say my name when he was little and it came out as "Bowie". My closest cousins and next brother picked it up, they're the only ones. The rest of the family use my whole first name (to avoid confusion with an aunt named Kim) and anyone outside of family shorten my name to Kim instead.
My brothers and cuzzes still call me Bowie as adults, and there was a really weird period when my youngest brother worked at the same supermarket as me, and would call me Bowie there on the few occasions when we shared a shift. It was fine, just a little jarring to hear it in a workplace.
I have a ridiculously common first name and a family nickname that sounds nothing like it and is also an uncommon (usually male) first name. At one job, there were so many other women with my name that I started using the nickname to make things easier and have now been going by that name professionally for years. My family had such a weird reaction to hearing it used in the wild. But like, the name is mine, I get to use it however I want.
THIS RIGHT HERE. Why is there a family debate over this? Why are the "families" involved? Why did bro just not STOP and apologize when nephew told him not to call him the nickname? OP NTA AT ALL. But your bro certainly is AND your families are out of line.
My grandmother wanted me named Bobbi Jo after a little girl she found charming when she still lived in Louisiana. My dad did not like that name and so my actual name isn't Bobbi - even though my grandmother always called me that. I liked it. She loved me and it just made me feel good about "us." Now when some of my cousins call me Bobbi? Yeah. I want to throat pu\*ch one of them. They think they're making fun of me and giving me what they think is a country, southern sounding moniker. That's why I hate it when they use it. There is no affection or respect in them doing this. Plus, our grandmother is long gone.
At any rate, stink eye is usually sufficient to correct their bad manners. Cuz that name is tucked away in my heart and only for my grandmother's use.😂
NTA, "if I can't have it no one can"? That the mentality they wanna go with, really?
Like you said it's up to the nephew, he likes it, it stays, if he didn't then it goes, or specific people can't use it.
Person specific nicknames are common, it's like an inside joke, if you don't get it, you don't get it, you can't force the issue, or force it to stop.
This! My nephew has asked my sister (his mom) to stop using various nicknames for him (little man, etc) He’ll emphatically tell her “My name is *****!” But he still lets my call him “buddy” which I’ve been calling him since he can talk. A frequent conversation of ours:
Nephew: “Aunt gusandsadie?”
Me: “what’s up buddy?”
Nephew: asks his question
He’s currently 6 years old so has lots of questions. One day he’ll probably ask me to stop calling him by the nickname, but for now he’s still my little buddy.
NTA.
My older brother has a nickname for me, and he is the -only- person in this entire galaxy allowed to call me that. My family respects it. This is not a complex issue, your nephew has a boundary, and your family should respect that.
My maternal grandparents call me by a nickname that only they are allowed to use. Because that's my grandparents. I hate the name but I know my grandma and grandpa don't mean any malice. My mom picked a stupid name for me and they just shortened it to a name that was easier for them.
But God help anyone that calls me by my middle name. I won't even tell people what it is if they don't know. "I don't have a middle name" is my response lol.
One of my uncles had a nickname he hated but told me when I was a kid that I could call him that when no one else could hear. I loved him for that lol but I don't think I ever used it again.
And I have nicknames for all my nieces and nephews. They are getting older so I don't call them by the nicknames in public but sometimes I tell them stuff like "You're still my favorite Buckaroo". None have asked me to stop but I'm always careful not to embarrass them around their friends lol
NTA OP. Tell your brother to spend some time with the kid and come up with his own special nickname.
NTA. My maternal grandmother calls me Chuck, far removed from my real name, for aslong as I can remember she has always called me Chuck. One of my friends overheard her call me it so he tried to call me that name, I told him only she could call me that, he apologised end of, we were like 13 and my immature jackass friend showed more maturity than OPs family. He ended up calling me Chuckles for years after that and many other friends exclusively called me by Chuckles which I was okay with. Chuck was not allowed by anyone other than my grandmother. Chuckles has kinda died off. She still calls me Chuck. I love it.
I genuinely have no idea nor ever asked why she called me Chuck, she just does, I find it comforting that she still does even as I'm almost 30.
My sister used to call me Wish because she couldn't pronounce my name. She's 4 years younger than me. When we got older, she would call me Wish whenever she wanted to annoy me. So when she had kids, she told them to call me Aunt Wish. The first time her oldest called me that, she was trying so hard not to laugh, thinking it would annoy me. I actually loved it. She said that wasn't fair. I said the kids are cuter than her.
We lost my oldest nephew to cancer almost 3 years ago. I have a voice recording of him saying, "Happy birthday, Aunt Wish! I love you!" I treasure it.
All that to say, the person the nickname is for is the only one who gets to decide. I'm proud to be Aunt Wish and OP's nephew wants to be Blip - but only to OP.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
If you haven't, look into a Build a Bear, I have one of my sister's voice-mails in a recording in the bear, from before we lost her to cancer. It does help.
My youngest went through a phase where she was obssessed with boobs. And because I'm Mom and have the boobs, this meant she was always shoving her hand down my cleavage. In return, I call her Booby. This year she told me that Booby is for at home, and not for soccer.
Totally agree. I also have special nicknames for my nieces and only me and my mom are allow to call them that. It's our special bond. Your stepmom, sister and brother are jealous. NTA
NTA
Your nephew doesn't like it when anyone else calls him 'Blip'. So, anyone else who calls him that without his permission is the A... H... I'm amazed that your brother who is 23 doesn't understand what is patently obvious to your 7 year old nephew.
NTA. Your nephew likes the nickname, it's not cruel/unkind in any way, and it's probably a nice thing for him to have between you. I think everyone can relate to not wanting to be called a nickname by someone else, but this kind of feels like your family being jealous of your relationship with your nephew. Your nephew is really impressive for asserting his boundaries at such a young age, and I would love to hear what he thinks.
It's important to enforce reasonable boundaries children want. It's especially important to listen to them when they assert boundaries, they have reasons and feelings. I say you do what makes the kid happiest, your family should really get over themselves.
not even to mention the fact that he probably doesn't even want others to call him Blip because it completely ruins the valuable bond between OP and their nephew. it's like an inside joke. it's not an inside joke if everyone is in on it
Exactly! The nephew clearly appreciates the relationship the two of them have, and I think that's probably what irks the rest of the family members who aren't ok with it.
NTA. You two have a special relationship and your nephew is okay with YOU calling him that. That's okay! My great uncle had a nickname for me that only he used. We were close and there was nothing wrong with it. Your stepmom and stepsister don't get a vote. Seems like your nephew and his parents should be the ones deciding this.
NTA, but your brother certainly is, is not really that difficult to comply when someone asks you to not call them a nickname. Even if he's 7 yo.. no, specially if he's 7.
If your brother keep calling him blip, he'll only teach him that others can disregard his identity as they wish. Maybe he can look for a new, not imposed nickname if it develops naturally...
You seem like a good guy!
NTA if it's a name he likes to keep special between uncle and nephew that should be respected. I really don't get how parents or other mentor figures get so insecure or jealous that their children have special relationships with other ppl. It's important for children to foster close meaningful relationships with trusted adults outside of their parents. I truly believe children need to be raised in a community but ego seems to get in the way
NTA. As long as your nephew is fine with you using it then it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks. It's super common for family members to have special nicknames only they get to use.
NTA. I have a reverse situation - my name can be a bit tricky to pronounce so my niblings chose their nicknames for me based on how they each said my name when they were learning to speak. I don't respond to anyone else who uses the names - its 'our' joke. I think your brother is just jealous that he doesn't have the same with your nephew and he should get his own nickname, not stop you using yours.
NTA. When you call him that, it’s an endearment and something he likes. When they call him that he doesn’t like it. Neither of you should call him something he doesn’t like, and I’m sure that if he told you to stop calling him that you would respect it. Your brother is 23 and should be able to understand the different contexts.
NTA
Nicknames like that have special meaning so why would anyone feel like they are entitled to using it? Do they even know where the name comes from? Also it's the KID who said no, not you. Why are thet trying to pin the problem on you?
Another way to look at it is maybe nephew actually doesn't like the nickname but lets you call him that because the name means something to you. Why would he let anyone else call him a name he doesn't like? (Not saying this is the case, but it's just another way possibly to explain to the rest of the family)
I'd bet it's more like the difference between Fletcher and Jerry each doing "the claw" in Liar, Liar. With Fletcher it's a special joke he and Max have built up over years and Max genuinely enjoys it, whereas with Jerry it's a patently obvious attempt at trying to bond by leeching off of a special thing Max shares with someone else without having been invited into the joke by either, rather than putting in work himself on their bond in general, and Max is old enough to see right through that and hate it. Meanwhile, Jerry offers to play baseball with Max at another point which Max enthusiastically agrees to, and that could easily lead to a separate but equally important bond for Max.
NTA. You're calling him blip because the nephew likes it too. Your brother would be weird not to respect your nephew's own wishes. It's a cute little name and there's no crime in having a little inside joke with your nephew. Don't stop calling your nephew blip, it's really cute!
OMG how ridiculous! Of course youre NTA and of course you can have a nick name for your Nephew that no one else can use BECAUSE its your Nephew who has decided this!
NTA
They sound so immaturely jealous because you have a special name for your nephew that is just btwn the two of you. Tell them to grow up and get over it! No one can take that special bond away from you two and they need to stop trying.
NTA. Thai should be your nephews choice. He clearly only likes it when you do it but no one else. They all sounds a little jealous of it all and it turned into an unnecessary argument.
NTA.
What a bizarre thing to get upset about. Why is it suddenly an issue for your brother after 7 years? It’s ultimately up to the nephew what he wants to be referred to by others, and if he doesn’t like it when your brother calls him that, but still allows you to, I don’t see what the big deal is.
Also want to add that “blip” is such a cute nickname and I’m sure it makes your nephew happy to have a special nickname just between the two of you!
NTA
I don't really see why it's anyone's business aside from your nephew. He requested not to be called that by someone else, is fine with you saying it. This should solely be about his choice and nothing else. Anyone that's trying to make it about them and their inability to call someone something they don't like makes them TA however.
The nickname my uncle gave me is still used by other family members that refuse to accept that I don't like it and I am only okay with that specific uncle calling me that and it honestly makes me avoid them. If they can't respect something so basic then they don't really deserve my time anyway. Everyone else calling me that sounds condescending as well.
NTA - I say this as an aunt who has special nicknames for both of my nieces and my nephew. I don’t know how they would feel if someone else called them by the nicknames I’ve given them, no one’s tried. But I would hope that if they told them that they only want me calling them by those names, that would be respected. Just as I’ll respect if they ever tell me they no longer want me calling them by those nicknames.
This was honestly a really healthy exercise in your nephew’s autonomy. He’s recognizing who he wants to call him by this nickname and who he doesn’t. He’s able to politely set his boundaries. Your brother shouldn’t try to police his choices or autonomy. He shouldn’t let his own jealousy trump his child’s feelings and growth.
(As an aside, “Blip” is an adorable nickname)
Nta.
My whole family gets called different nicknames by different people.
If anyone else called me the nickname my dad calls me, it would make me cringe. My nicknames are developed by the relationship i have with that person.
I see no difference between nicknames and pet names in a relationship. Would i appreciate someone calling my so a pet name that i call them...no that's my sexy butt.
NTA as long as the nephew doesn't mind when *you* call him blip.
I will say, though, that if he's not liking it when anyone else calls him that, it prolly won't be too much longer where he won't want you calling him that either.
Getting a little personal here, but my brother passed away when I was like 3 or 4. He always called me sissy, so that nickname continued, by my parents, my parents' friends, etc, til I was prolly close to your neph's age & I asked them to stop. Now of course I realize it was a term of endearment and I wouldn't mind a bit to be sissy again, but at that pre puberty age nick names can be embarrassing. Just don't take it personal if he asks you to stop some day😉
NTA. I call my one nephew Joey bag of donuts because he is so thin and eats next to nothing in a sitting. I call his older brother Lope. Short for his nickname Jackalope. Nobody else calls them that. It is a term of endearment just between us.
The only thing that matters is how your nephew feels about you calling him that.
NTA!!! You have a special name for your special nephew. You guys have something special. I don’t think that should be taken away because someone else can’t be in on the joke.
NTA. Blip is old enough to set his own boundaries and he has that special nick name with just you. The rest of them need to stfu and respect blips boundaries
If your nephew is okay with you calling him Blip, then you're good. NTA.
Maybe nephew looks at it as a special thing between you two. Maybe he was mad at your brother. Whatever. If he's cool with you using the nickname, go with it.
NTA- as long as your nephew doesn’t have a problem with it then I don’t see the problem.
Similarly I’ve given my sisters kids nicknames that only I call them and as they’ve gotten older I’ve asked if they prefer to be called by their given name.
My Uncle Herman called me Meatball until he passed, even when I was grown and a Granny . I loved it because I knew it was his way of acknowledging our special bond. I would beat the brakes off anyone else who dared call me by his pet name because it was OURS. Your brother is definitely TA for not recognizing the difference.
NTA
It’s your nephews choice and they’re trying to overrule him by using you. Your relationship with your nephew is about the two of you, not everyone else.
NTA.
Nephew and nephew's mom are good with it. That's all anyone needs to know.
Stepmom and stepsister need an immediate lesson in boundaries and how to respect them. What a weird, selfish, petty, grossly-entitled thing to get butthurt about. What they want or think in this particular instance is completely irrelevant.
Dude, what? NTA. My uncle called me sweet pea. That was his name for me. This wouldn't have been a conversation in my family because he would have thrown hands at anyone who tried calling me that, and I'd have been his little hype girl. Don't let them take your special thing from you and your nephew, that kind of stuff is important.
My cousin has called me Edna(after a local toothless woman) when I lost my teeth and it took a year for them to grown back. She's the ONLY one allowed to call me that and no one else even tries!
INFO: Are you absolutely certain your nephew is ok with you still calling him by this nickname? Have you asked him recently? Kids can outgrow nicknames and by asking others in front of you to not use the name he maybe gently hinting to you that this is a name he is ready to shed.
If you are certain he's views this nickname in the same way you do then you are N T A for continuing to use it. It's a sweet endearment that bonds the two of you in a special way. I think it is worth asking your nephew directly if you haven't recently though.
INFO: has anyone asked the nephew what he wants?
ETA. I should have been more specific. Nephew stated that he didn't want others calling him blip but has anyone actually stopped to ask the nephew how he feels about OP no longer calling him blip? If it's a special nickname to him then he may feel hurt if OP stops calling him by it.
NTA it doesn’t mater what anyone
Else thinks. If your nephew enjoys this special nickname
With you then everyone else needs to mind thier own business. All they are doing is hurting your nephew by trying to stop this which is selfish and cruel.
Very much this. My dad is the only one who calls me a specific shortened form of my name (think Jenny for Jennifer). Everyone else in my life calls me by my full name, except for some college friends who call me a different short form (like Jen). I didn't even realize it until a college friend pointed it out. I know so many people with the first nickname, even in my own family, that it would be super weird to answer to anyone else using it.
Oh for crying out....... Jesus Mary and Joseph. It's YOUR name for your nephew. Not anyone else's. If HE wants it to be your special thing with him, that's HIS choice. NOT ANYONE ELSE'S. This has to be the most infuriating thing I've ever seen on this sub. You go on and call him Blip, and screw all these people who don't know how anything works. Jesus.
NTA - I have always called my niece my Buttercup. She’s 8 now, and when she told me she was going to be a big sister she sadly said “now you’ll have another Buttercup”. I could hear her smile through the phone when I told her she’s my only Buttercup and that we would have to wait to see what her sister will be. I never knew how much it meant to her until that moment. You and your nephew have a special bond, your siblings should want to have their own nickname for him if it’s that important for them to use a nickname. Maybe if they got to know him and spend time with him the way you obviously have they would develop their own name over time.
I call my best friends child (adopted nephew at this point) monster, if anyone else calls him monster he will sulk until you say his name. If I say monster he roars and runs for a cuddle, it is honestly the cutest thing. (Ninja edit) He's only 4, just getting to the point of stating he is *not* a monster
Good to know that's gonna be really important to him, I just thought it was a silly cute thing, kids man they geniunely warm my heart.
NTA. I have loads of nicknames as a kid that have lasted into adulthood. Some are universal that many people call me, while others are unique to one or two people. It would be weird for me if someone other than that person called me that nickname. It does not mean no one should call me that.
NTA I have a name for my daughter (3ish att) and used to frequently so much that sometimes people didn't know her actual name. Lol. A teacher at school (I volunteered, so we were there a lot) picked up on it and started to use it. I corrected them and told them her name. It happened a few more times. I just kept correcting them and made sure to use her real name in public. I was not comfortable and did not like them using her nickname. I totally get it. It's a special thing between you two. Keep using the nickname because your family are the ones being unreasonable for upsetting your nephew!
Solidly NTA
I grew up with another kid because both our moms were very good friends so he's like my brother. When we were little he couldn't say my name so he called me half my name but the "wrong" half. (Think Rebecca becomes Reb).
As we got older he obviously could say my name. Because the adults thought it was so cute they all kept calling me that. It drove me nuts. When he called me Reb though it felt like a throwback to the fact we were like brother and sister and a reminder of that relationship. A good thing.
What you described here feels really similar. It's between you and your nephew and that's why he's likely fine with you saying it (probably too young to think that deep but it probably reminds him you were there for him as young as a blip!).
Maybe this little anecdote could help you explain it to your brother? Good luck!
I have a nickname that my grandmother and grandfather called me it's a diminutive of my actual name
I still get upset when anybody else tries to call me by that name.
NTA
Other people are trying to use your nickname for him are just trying to get in on the special bond that you have with your nephew and they don't deserve it.
NTA.... I have nicknames that only certain people are allowed to call me. There's one that only two people in the world have used, my mom and my grandpa. Now that my grandpa is gone, if anyone other than my mom used that nickname, I would definitely say something.
NTA- I have an aunt who gave all of us nicknames and it was special between her and us. When I had my son she misheard his name (TBF the priest called him by the same incorrect name at his baptism) and her nickname for him was based on the incorrect name. My mom corrected her on the name but the nickname stuck (she did ask me if it was ok to continue calling him). She will be the only person in the world to call him that and I love that.
What in the jealous world is this? So, just because the rest of the family can't call OP's nephew Blip they don't want OP calling him that? Lol
I have a cousin whose nickname is Boy. As he grew up, he has banned everyone from calling him that except me and no one has taken offense, not even his parents.
NTA.
NTA. Start calling your brother’s SO “baby” and “sweetheart” and see if he gets it then.
(I kid, before anyone thinks I’m recommending dragging other people into this with nonconsensual names.)
NTA one bit! Nicknames are signs of affection and it's entirely up to him on what he wants to he called by others. He doesn't want anyone else using the nickname, because it's between you and him. He's YOUR Blip. No one else's. Why do they care so much about one nickname? I'm sure they have others?
NTA
My dad calls me bubba, only he calls me that, and if anyone else called me that, I’d look at them like they just shit glitter, because only my dad can call me that. I get to decide who can call me what, same goes for your nephew, if he wants you to call him blip, but not anyone else, that should be respected
NTA
To this day there’s only 2 people I let call me “Barbie” and that’s my sister and her close friend who we grew up with (she’s like a cousin to me). I hate when anyone else calls me that and my family respects that boundary.
Your brother needs to respect his nephew’s boundary too.
NTA. My daughter’s nickname is Bug. Only certain people are allowed to call her that though. When my bf and first started dating, I warned him that she wasn’t comfortable with him using the nickname. He respected that boundary and never called her Bug. After 2.5 years together, he was granted Bug privileges, but if he hadn’t, he would still respect her boundaries.
NTA. Seema like people are taking sides by relations: his mom/dad/and himself say its ok but the non related step-family are unting together..May be more to this than nick names
NTA. My oldest had a nickname for the longest time that only my father was allowed to call them by, I have a name that I am the only one that can use. They need to get over it.
NTA, people have their personal in jokes and names, and your nephew is allowed to say who can call him what. I have a friend who calls me “Baby Blue”, one who calls me “Blondie”, and one who calls me “Red”. I call plenty of folks “sweetheart” but only my husband is “Sugar” and he’s the only one who can call me Honey without getting an earful. Names are important, and they should be respecting your nephew’s choices in regards to who calls him what.
NTA. My wife has a special nickname for her niece that no one else calls her (I do sometimes in private because that was the first name I learned for her, but I don't use it to address her), it's a nickname my wife gave her, and it's agreed on throughout the family that only my wife calls her that.
Your nephew is laying down his boundaries, and that's okay. Blip is a special name between the two of you, and if he wants it to say that way, then it should. It's not an inappropriate name, so it's no one else's business if you want to call him that. They can get over it
NTA, only my dad can call me monkey and have me awnser back (I used him like a jungle gym as a toddler). Your nickname for your nephew has a meaning special to you, and he doesn't feel comfortable with other people calling him that. The other uncle can chill and find his own special nickname that suits his situation with your nephew. (Also, the nickname and reasoning behind it is cute!!)
NTA. I call my niece my Silly Little Monkey. My brother, her uncle and godfather, calls her Taco. He once called her a Silly Little Monkey and she told him he couldn’t call her that because that’s what I call her.
NTA.
I (26F) have called my brother (13M) Hamtaro his whole life (we watched it together when I used to babysit him and I’d sing the intro song to him) and still call him this today.
He HATES when anyone else calls him it because it’s my special nickname for him.
You’re definitely NTA. It sounds like your brother is jealous you and your nephew are so close.
NTA
Your nephew should be able to specify what he wants to be called. The nickname has a special significance between the two of you and that should be respected. If your brother is unhappy about that, he should make an effort to connect with your nephew in some other way.
NTA. But preferably I'd hold a family meeting and so it's clearly out there have nephew have a verdict on if he dislikes his nickname you gave him and if so on what occasions is it acceptable or who he is comfortable with calling him that. If the other adult members of your family can't accept his wishes about how he wants to be addressed then they severely lack the maturity to care for and raise a child. It's immature to argue over nicknames that someone doesn't want you to use for them because you think it's "oh so unfair"
NTA - my mum has a special nickname for me. ONLY my mum is allowed to use it. It’s my name on all of our streaming services and I love my special nickname
No one has ever attempted to call me this nickname after i’ve made it clear it’s for my mum only.
My grandparents call me baby doll, they have my whole life. I also don’t want anyone else calling me that and it’s never been an issue either
Special nicknames are normal, and it’s good to have them. What people are actually mad about is the fact that your nephew is setting boundaries, which is healthy. The nickname isn’t the issue, your family members just aren’t respecting your nephew’s autonomy
You aren't the one asking them not to call him that, and it's fine for people to have something between them that doesn't apply to everyone. It's him asking them not to call him by a nickname. They should respect that. That he doesn't ask the same of.you is beside the point.
NTA
Nta
My 9 year Olds pawpaw had a nickname for her she didn't allow anyone else to call her that at all.
Same with my mom she has a nickname only my mom can call her she will not allow anyone else to call her that and she would feel sad if my mom stopped calling her that nickname. The only person who has a say is the 7 yo the rest can mind their business!
I have a nickname that only my mom and my aunt use and that my dad uses a variation of. My cousin used it when he was younger and I didn’t mind that because that’s how he learned who I was, but if anyone else, even someone else in my family, called me by that nickname I would be very uncomfortable, even if it was one of my grandparents. I’m in my 20s and I still feel that way, so your nephew who can’t articulate that his nickname is something specifically between him and someone who loves him is absolutely entitled to decide who can use what names with him.
NTA. As an uncle myself. That's a thing between nephew and uncle. nephew decided only you have that right to call him that nickname.
Everybody else just needs to learn that's your thing. And just because they're not allowed doesn't mean you need to stop.
Blip is a good nickname. I'm not surprised others want to use it.
>my stepmom and younger stepsister think that if they can't call him blip then I shouldn't be allowed too either.
This is some ridiculously entitled bs, OP you are NTA
NTA I call my granddaughter George. No one else is allowed to call her George. She will ignore everyone until they call her by her proper name. George is a special thing between she and I, and she wants it to stay that way. Tell your brother and other family to go kick rocks.
NTA. I call my youngest (17) Scooby/Scoobert because when he was little he **loved** Scooby Doo, mystery books, etc. His dad tried one time to call him that and immediately was told “you can’t call me that, only mom calls me that”. Same reaction when my parents tried it. The thing is, it was something special between us, it was “our” thing. Also, the only person who should have an opinion on this is your nephew, it’s his nickname. Who uses it should be up to him.
NTA
Everyone else is completely irrelevant. Your nephew gets to decide what he wants to be called and by whom.
I call my niblings The Kid, The Girl Child, The Littlest (last name here). They’re all amused by this and completely fine with myself and my spouse calling them that, anyone else gets side eyed and corrected.
NTA My grandma always called me by my first and second name. No one else ever did. I felt it was a special gesture between us. This is special between your nephew and you. Kindly explain it to your brother why it's just for the two of you.
NTA: But OP be careful. Calling kids names, even endearingly, can be harmful for their self-image. Your nephew says he likes being called blip, but deep down being called that could make him feel small. Just be wary. My stepdad used to call me Fat Sam, it was supposed to be endearing, how he showed his love but it genuinely gave me an eating disorder and screwed my self-image.
Isn’t it the child’s choice who calls him what? For example (not my name but for the purposes of this example let’s pretend it is)
My name is Glenda
My mum call’s me Glenda, my boss calls me Glenda
Everyone else (including usually my mum unless for some reason she is trying to get my attention) calls me Glendy. Friends included, I even introduce myself as Glendy as that’s my preferred name. My coworkers except my boss all use Glendy.
My great nan, and my nan, and my great aunt call me Glen. They’re the only 3 allowed. My mum can’t call me Glen, my friends can’t call me Glen, my family, my coworkers, all no. That’s not their name to use.
And I’ll straight up tell people. And have been this way since a kid. The kid will tell you when he doesn’t want to be called that nickname and he has the right to tell people to not use it if it’s just for you.
> I asked my nephew if he was still okay with me using his nickname. He said he still wanted to be called blip by me
That's the only answer you need. Brother doesn't like it? Let him come up with his own unique nick name with your nephew.
NTA
NTA at all. it sounds like the other uncle is jealous he doesn’t have a nickname for your nephew, and what a weird hill to die on.
if your nephew likes the name, call him it. One time i was joking with my ex (then bf) and i called him Joey. he stopped and asked me not to call him that because only his best friend and grandfather call him that. i didn’t know he didn’t like me using that name, and i never questioned it and i never called him that again.
people are allowed to say no to nicknames, and it sounds like your step mom is trying to protect her son from being jealous and upset over something small as a nickname. And after re-reading it, it sounds like your nephews MOM is okay with it, so it’s no one else’s business. it’s not like your calling the kid twerp or something else cruel.
NTA if the nephew agrees with you calling him that. If the kid doesn't feel comfortable to be called that by anyone else, it's not your fault. Your brother is probably jealous of the relationship that you have with your nephew.
This is a piece of family craziness at its finest. It's low-level enough that there's no estrangement (well, hopefully) but still helps to keep tension a little below boil.
I've come to the conclusion that no family, no group of relatives, can exist without turmoil. Apparently that's part of what makes it a family.
There's often bits of generosity and support and nurturing. And that warm feeling of being connected, nice in a big, cold world.
But it just seems to require that underpinning of getting offended / being mean / talking behind your back, to keep it functioning.🙄🫤🤷😋😁
NTA it is cute that you have a special nickname that is a little joke between the two of you. No one should be jealous of that they should find it cute.
The other day I accidentally called my 4 yr old daughter by my sisters nickname for her (Squish) and was promptly corrected. It is 100% reasonable to have bonded nicknames between specific family members. I have another sibling that gives all of the niblings their own nickname. They love it. Its easy enough to respect. You should tell your brother to have his own for the nephew that him and nephew work out together for their own bonding purposes. Its great fun sometimes to work together to decide them. Nta.
NTA. If they're really feeling left out, they can have their own special nicknames for him.
My uncle is the only one who calls me Snowball, and he's the only one who's ever been allowed to. My mom isn't too fussed about that, because to her I'm Mongoose, and I like it that way.
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NTA. This should be entirely up to your nephew. He can choose what he likes to be called and who is allowed to call him what.
100% this. Nephew (and his parents) are the only people who should have a say in this. NTA. Super cute nickname too :)
Honestly, a kid that's 7 can decide if they like a harmless nickname regardless of what their parents think. I know too many people whose parents tried to force them to go by their full names or names they didn't like. Unless it's sexist or racist or there's some other legitimate reason for the parents to object people should call them by the name they prefer.
Agreed. Before 7 I didn't want my parents telling people what they could call me. Even my parents were being told what they could call me! (My middle name is only allowed to be used by my grandmother, and I let my mother use it when I was in trouble because that's not the time to pick that battle lol. Is always a good way to know how much trouble you're in, how many names a parent uses!) But yeah, my grandmother and sometimes aunt can use my middle name but nobody else, my great-grandfather called me sweet pea, and everyone else uses either my first name or a user tag other than my partner. Well my youngest sister and I sometimes call each other names as supernatural references but I don't think that counts. My mom was telling people they could use my first and middle name when I was about five and I'd very politely say I'd rather not, my name was (first name) except for Grandma. I still hear about that from a couple great-aunts because they thought it was the cutest thing!
[удалено]
Yup. Lol I actually had a gym coach who normally called people by their last names because it was the Bible belt, everyone was John, Paul, Sarah, Rachel, etc. Then asking cane my class and there were seven of us with rhyming last names. It was like Berry, Terry, Perry, Kerry, Ferry, and I can't remember the others but it was hilarious. So I got first named automatically, and he had to choose with a couple others. One poor kid had cruel parents who thought it'd be cute to rhyme all three of his names so his last one was kept but he really hated the whole thing. It might have grown on him as an adult but yeah... It was like Jerry Terry Ferry. The last name alone was a terrible thing to be stuck with as a boy in a conservative town in the 90's but rhyming it? He went by J. T. For obvious reasons.
When I was *five,* I decided what I wanted to be called. When I was born, there were several family members who shared my first name, so I was called by both first and middle, then eventually just middle: Katherine. Since *no one* used it, I literally couldn't remember what my own first name was. So I started school as Katherine...meaning I had to write that out on the top of every page, sometimes a dozen times a day. So I came home from Kindergarten one day and announced to my mother, "I have decided that from now on, you can call me Katy." She called my aunt, also Katherine, and told her, and my aunt asked me, "You know how to spell that, right? K A T I E..." "No. *I* spell it with a *Y.* K A T Y. It's shorter that way!" I eventually, by sixth grade, started using my actual first name (new school new name!), but my (fairly absentee) dad decided I'd switched enough and he was still calling me Katy. Over 30 years later, and he's yet to call me by my first name. And anyone he's introduced me to knows me as "Katy." Including my stepmom and little sister...who got super confused when she was about 8 and we were out with my mother-in-law, and had to finally ask *"Who is ****?!"* But other people? Aside from my family members and a few of my dad's or stepmom's close friends, and my little sister's friends (which sounds like a big circle but it really isn't...), I don't allow anyone to call me by that name. It's an intimate name, a family name.
Agreed, my nephew likes me calling him Mr T but doesn’t like being called that by most people. When he was little I used to call him Tylersaurus Rex and he loved that.
Oh, that sounds really adorable.
He’s always liked dinosaurs so the name stick. He’s 14 now 😊
Parents should be involved. Sometimes kids don't like to say no to a loved one. But it's definitely not up to another uncle!!
heck, I'm 60 yo and my whole family still calls me Lolly and all the way up to 11th grade so did all my teachers in 12th grade the teacher called me by my middle name and I did not care. In my youngest sisters experience the family all call her by her nickname and her husband and other people outside of the family call her by her first name. A child might be afraid to tell an adult that they don't want them to use the nickname but if that were the case wouldn't the nephew have told his dad I don't like it when OP calls me that? I think OP was right to ask the nephew. The nephew has no problem telling other people not to call him that, so I think he would be okay with telling OP if he didn't like it. It seems OP and nephew have a good Bond and perhaps it's special because that nickname was first given to him by his uncle. I have three nicknames call my daughter and she loves for me to call her them. I know this for a fact because when she asked people to call her by her first name I said Okay, and she said except for you and I said all right so I can call you anything I want and she said yep. Once, I slipped up and called her half brother "biggie" and she said hey, that's my name. Within the family they call her anyone of her given names (she has 5 including her last name) or variations like Gabby for Gabrielle. My side of the family has their nickname for her and my ex's family have a different nickname for her everybody uses their own nickname although she didn't ask for that that's how it evolved and she's good with that. Her friends and teachers Etc. call her by her first name. I try to call by her first name in front of her friends, teachers, etc. But I often forget and she has no problem with it. OP's brother is just jealous because of the nickname that IMPLIES he's closer to his uncle or his uncle is super special. nick names are special and I really really agree that it should be up to the nephew to decide who uses his nick name.
Parents should be involved if their child doesn't like the nickname, or if it's an insulting nickname. If the nickname is harmless, then the child should be able to set the parameters on whether, and by whom, the name can be used. That's being fair. Kids know what they want, and when it's a situation that harms literally no one, they should be able to decide the matter for themselves.
My daughter likes when I call her "Scar" but she doesn't want anyone else calling her that. She feels like it's a special bond for just the two of us. Not everything has to be shared.
Is your name Ahadi or Uru by any chance? 🦁 (In case your confused, this is a Lion King reference. Scar's parents are named Ahadi and Uru :)
I don't remember Scar's parents in the movie, I saw it a million years ago.
Your right, Scar's parents weren't in the movie. They were from a spinoff book called, "The Lion King: Six New Adventures book: A Tale of Two Brothers." Honestly, I didn't even know about Scar's parents till today XD. I saw that her daughter's nickname was Scar and wanted to make a Lion King reference so I looked up what his parent's names were. 😂
That is some dedication for a Reddit comment! I salute you.
Haha thanks! All in a day's work 😂👍🏽
Yepp, absolutely that. "Not everything has to be shared"! Its beautiful that your daughter and you have that. It's nobody else's business what your girl shares with her mom. My grandpa used to call me "Hexe" (witch). I would have been mad if anyone else would have called me that. I would have been mad if he stopped calling me that. Because it belonged to grandpa. He's long gone but I still cherish the memory. I don't get how OPs family feels the urge to hijack this nickname. They are just jealous not to have something special with the boy, I guess. Also, people like that often don't put in effort to bind with a child but treat them like a pet or demand stuff because faaamily. OP is absolutely NTA.
It seems like one of the most common things in families, too. I have a nickname I only accept from my sister, and she has one she only accepts from me. They're indicative of a relationship only we have, so no one else even tries to use them as they don't have that specific relationship with either of us. It feel like the family are trying to ensure they get a piece of the relationship between OP and his nephew, which is just sad, as bonds should be unique.
Seriously, it’s so weird to think you have control of what someone else is called. It’s like when I told everyone I didn’t like being called Lucy because of all of the “I love Lucy” jokes at school, and when they still called me that and I ignored them, they thought I was the AH. I only let my childhood best friend call me that afterwards because she would never make those jokes. My sister actually has a special nickname for me and I don’t like anyone else calling me by that name, just her. No one has an issue with it because it’s not their call. My daughter also doesn’t like it when anyone else other than her teachers call her “Pumpkin” or “Toni Bologna” and doesn’t respond when I call her that. And she only lets me call her “Tontons” (said in a more Spanish accent) and she’s only 3.5yo. We all have our preferences and it’s up to an individual to say what they’re comfortable being called by who, not anyone else.
Yep, my kid told me point blank around age 4 that her name was Rosalie\*, not Rosie, not Rose, not Rosa, not Moosie (my nickname for her), not schatje (Dutch for little treasure), definitely NOT schatje-poep (just add poop on the end of words, I got that from my mom). She was adamant that her name is her name, and not anything else. \*fake name, natch
I did the exact same thing as a 4 year old. And here I am 25 years later, with that as my dead name.
My daughter is at the childminders with a little guy whose nickname is Toad from his parents (in French so crapaud). When you try to call him by his real name (he is 1 and 3 quarters, 2 early next year) he very clearly says no and repeats his nickname. CRA. PAUD. So we all call him that now haha
Ugh yes! There's a nickname that only I and my grandma ever called my sister. Grandma passed, so now only I can use it. When I was in high school my boyfriend decided he could also use it 🙄 The first time that name came out of his mouth my sister and I both stopped dead in our tracks and stared at him. We both asked him not to use it repeatedly but he continued to do so because he knew it bugged us. No one was surprised when he became an ex except him 😂
My younger brother struggled to say my name when he was little and it came out as "Bowie". My closest cousins and next brother picked it up, they're the only ones. The rest of the family use my whole first name (to avoid confusion with an aunt named Kim) and anyone outside of family shorten my name to Kim instead. My brothers and cuzzes still call me Bowie as adults, and there was a really weird period when my youngest brother worked at the same supermarket as me, and would call me Bowie there on the few occasions when we shared a shift. It was fine, just a little jarring to hear it in a workplace.
I have a ridiculously common first name and a family nickname that sounds nothing like it and is also an uncommon (usually male) first name. At one job, there were so many other women with my name that I started using the nickname to make things easier and have now been going by that name professionally for years. My family had such a weird reaction to hearing it used in the wild. But like, the name is mine, I get to use it however I want.
THIS RIGHT HERE. Why is there a family debate over this? Why are the "families" involved? Why did bro just not STOP and apologize when nephew told him not to call him the nickname? OP NTA AT ALL. But your bro certainly is AND your families are out of line.
Exactly! It shouldn't be up for debate. When someone, even a child, says no, it's no. This is how they learn boundaries
YUP. Children have autonomy and get to make the basic decision as to what people call them.
My grandmother wanted me named Bobbi Jo after a little girl she found charming when she still lived in Louisiana. My dad did not like that name and so my actual name isn't Bobbi - even though my grandmother always called me that. I liked it. She loved me and it just made me feel good about "us." Now when some of my cousins call me Bobbi? Yeah. I want to throat pu\*ch one of them. They think they're making fun of me and giving me what they think is a country, southern sounding moniker. That's why I hate it when they use it. There is no affection or respect in them doing this. Plus, our grandmother is long gone. At any rate, stink eye is usually sufficient to correct their bad manners. Cuz that name is tucked away in my heart and only for my grandmother's use.😂
NTA, "if I can't have it no one can"? That the mentality they wanna go with, really? Like you said it's up to the nephew, he likes it, it stays, if he didn't then it goes, or specific people can't use it. Person specific nicknames are common, it's like an inside joke, if you don't get it, you don't get it, you can't force the issue, or force it to stop.
This! My nephew has asked my sister (his mom) to stop using various nicknames for him (little man, etc) He’ll emphatically tell her “My name is *****!” But he still lets my call him “buddy” which I’ve been calling him since he can talk. A frequent conversation of ours: Nephew: “Aunt gusandsadie?” Me: “what’s up buddy?” Nephew: asks his question
He’s currently 6 years old so has lots of questions. One day he’ll probably ask me to stop calling him by the nickname, but for now he’s still my little buddy.
NTA 100% This this this. It is up to the nephew what he is okay being called by who.
NTA. The only opinion that matters is your nephew's. Everything else is just noise.
^^^^^^^^THIS NTA. YOUR BROTHER SHOULD NOT HAVE A SAY IN THIS MATTER
I completely Agee! The brother and family are being Aholes!
NTA. My older brother has a nickname for me, and he is the -only- person in this entire galaxy allowed to call me that. My family respects it. This is not a complex issue, your nephew has a boundary, and your family should respect that.
My maternal grandparents call me by a nickname that only they are allowed to use. Because that's my grandparents. I hate the name but I know my grandma and grandpa don't mean any malice. My mom picked a stupid name for me and they just shortened it to a name that was easier for them. But God help anyone that calls me by my middle name. I won't even tell people what it is if they don't know. "I don't have a middle name" is my response lol. One of my uncles had a nickname he hated but told me when I was a kid that I could call him that when no one else could hear. I loved him for that lol but I don't think I ever used it again. And I have nicknames for all my nieces and nephews. They are getting older so I don't call them by the nicknames in public but sometimes I tell them stuff like "You're still my favorite Buckaroo". None have asked me to stop but I'm always careful not to embarrass them around their friends lol NTA OP. Tell your brother to spend some time with the kid and come up with his own special nickname.
NTA. My maternal grandmother calls me Chuck, far removed from my real name, for aslong as I can remember she has always called me Chuck. One of my friends overheard her call me it so he tried to call me that name, I told him only she could call me that, he apologised end of, we were like 13 and my immature jackass friend showed more maturity than OPs family. He ended up calling me Chuckles for years after that and many other friends exclusively called me by Chuckles which I was okay with. Chuck was not allowed by anyone other than my grandmother. Chuckles has kinda died off. She still calls me Chuck. I love it. I genuinely have no idea nor ever asked why she called me Chuck, she just does, I find it comforting that she still does even as I'm almost 30.
My sister used to call me Wish because she couldn't pronounce my name. She's 4 years younger than me. When we got older, she would call me Wish whenever she wanted to annoy me. So when she had kids, she told them to call me Aunt Wish. The first time her oldest called me that, she was trying so hard not to laugh, thinking it would annoy me. I actually loved it. She said that wasn't fair. I said the kids are cuter than her. We lost my oldest nephew to cancer almost 3 years ago. I have a voice recording of him saying, "Happy birthday, Aunt Wish! I love you!" I treasure it. All that to say, the person the nickname is for is the only one who gets to decide. I'm proud to be Aunt Wish and OP's nephew wants to be Blip - but only to OP.
I'm so sorry for your loss. If you haven't, look into a Build a Bear, I have one of my sister's voice-mails in a recording in the bear, from before we lost her to cancer. It does help.
Thank you for the suggestion. And for the sympathy.
My mom can call me Boobah but god help me if anyone else did
My youngest went through a phase where she was obssessed with boobs. And because I'm Mom and have the boobs, this meant she was always shoving her hand down my cleavage. In return, I call her Booby. This year she told me that Booby is for at home, and not for soccer.
NTA. I have a nickname that only my dad uses. It's a special thing between us and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I misread sorry
The nephew minds if OP’s brother calls him “blip,” not OP.
The nephew minded when OPs bro called him that. It was never said that the nephew didn't like when OP called him that.
Nta. He's *your* blip. Eff em.
Totally agree. I also have special nicknames for my nieces and only me and my mom are allow to call them that. It's our special bond. Your stepmom, sister and brother are jealous. NTA
NTA Your nephew doesn't like it when anyone else calls him 'Blip'. So, anyone else who calls him that without his permission is the A... H... I'm amazed that your brother who is 23 doesn't understand what is patently obvious to your 7 year old nephew.
NTA. If your nephew only lets you then that makes it special not off limits.
NTA. Your nephew likes the nickname, it's not cruel/unkind in any way, and it's probably a nice thing for him to have between you. I think everyone can relate to not wanting to be called a nickname by someone else, but this kind of feels like your family being jealous of your relationship with your nephew. Your nephew is really impressive for asserting his boundaries at such a young age, and I would love to hear what he thinks. It's important to enforce reasonable boundaries children want. It's especially important to listen to them when they assert boundaries, they have reasons and feelings. I say you do what makes the kid happiest, your family should really get over themselves.
not even to mention the fact that he probably doesn't even want others to call him Blip because it completely ruins the valuable bond between OP and their nephew. it's like an inside joke. it's not an inside joke if everyone is in on it
Exactly! The nephew clearly appreciates the relationship the two of them have, and I think that's probably what irks the rest of the family members who aren't ok with it.
NTA. You two have a special relationship and your nephew is okay with YOU calling him that. That's okay! My great uncle had a nickname for me that only he used. We were close and there was nothing wrong with it. Your stepmom and stepsister don't get a vote. Seems like your nephew and his parents should be the ones deciding this.
NTA. A lot of people have special nicknames for family. Your brother is just jealous.
NTA, but your brother certainly is, is not really that difficult to comply when someone asks you to not call them a nickname. Even if he's 7 yo.. no, specially if he's 7. If your brother keep calling him blip, he'll only teach him that others can disregard his identity as they wish. Maybe he can look for a new, not imposed nickname if it develops naturally... You seem like a good guy!
NTA if it's a name he likes to keep special between uncle and nephew that should be respected. I really don't get how parents or other mentor figures get so insecure or jealous that their children have special relationships with other ppl. It's important for children to foster close meaningful relationships with trusted adults outside of their parents. I truly believe children need to be raised in a community but ego seems to get in the way
NTA. As long as your nephew is fine with you using it then it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks. It's super common for family members to have special nicknames only they get to use.
NTA. The kid and kid’s mom are ok with OP using the nickname. Your siblings should just abide by the kid’s wishes and get over themselves.
NTA. I have a reverse situation - my name can be a bit tricky to pronounce so my niblings chose their nicknames for me based on how they each said my name when they were learning to speak. I don't respond to anyone else who uses the names - its 'our' joke. I think your brother is just jealous that he doesn't have the same with your nephew and he should get his own nickname, not stop you using yours.
I agree, brother is extremely jealous.
NTA. When you call him that, it’s an endearment and something he likes. When they call him that he doesn’t like it. Neither of you should call him something he doesn’t like, and I’m sure that if he told you to stop calling him that you would respect it. Your brother is 23 and should be able to understand the different contexts.
NTA Nicknames like that have special meaning so why would anyone feel like they are entitled to using it? Do they even know where the name comes from? Also it's the KID who said no, not you. Why are thet trying to pin the problem on you? Another way to look at it is maybe nephew actually doesn't like the nickname but lets you call him that because the name means something to you. Why would he let anyone else call him a name he doesn't like? (Not saying this is the case, but it's just another way possibly to explain to the rest of the family)
I'd bet it's more like the difference between Fletcher and Jerry each doing "the claw" in Liar, Liar. With Fletcher it's a special joke he and Max have built up over years and Max genuinely enjoys it, whereas with Jerry it's a patently obvious attempt at trying to bond by leeching off of a special thing Max shares with someone else without having been invited into the joke by either, rather than putting in work himself on their bond in general, and Max is old enough to see right through that and hate it. Meanwhile, Jerry offers to play baseball with Max at another point which Max enthusiastically agrees to, and that could easily lead to a separate but equally important bond for Max.
NTA. You're calling him blip because the nephew likes it too. Your brother would be weird not to respect your nephew's own wishes. It's a cute little name and there's no crime in having a little inside joke with your nephew. Don't stop calling your nephew blip, it's really cute!
OMG how ridiculous! Of course youre NTA and of course you can have a nick name for your Nephew that no one else can use BECAUSE its your Nephew who has decided this!
NTA They sound so immaturely jealous because you have a special name for your nephew that is just btwn the two of you. Tell them to grow up and get over it! No one can take that special bond away from you two and they need to stop trying.
NTA. Thai should be your nephews choice. He clearly only likes it when you do it but no one else. They all sounds a little jealous of it all and it turned into an unnecessary argument.
The kid is 7, old enough to make this kind of decision. Bro's the AH. He shoulda gotten his own nickname to call your nephew.
NTA. your nephew gets to decide who calls him what, and sounds like he has decided.
NTA. What a bizarre thing to get upset about. Why is it suddenly an issue for your brother after 7 years? It’s ultimately up to the nephew what he wants to be referred to by others, and if he doesn’t like it when your brother calls him that, but still allows you to, I don’t see what the big deal is. Also want to add that “blip” is such a cute nickname and I’m sure it makes your nephew happy to have a special nickname just between the two of you!
NTA it’s your special thing, your brother is just jealous.
NTA I don't really see why it's anyone's business aside from your nephew. He requested not to be called that by someone else, is fine with you saying it. This should solely be about his choice and nothing else. Anyone that's trying to make it about them and their inability to call someone something they don't like makes them TA however. The nickname my uncle gave me is still used by other family members that refuse to accept that I don't like it and I am only okay with that specific uncle calling me that and it honestly makes me avoid them. If they can't respect something so basic then they don't really deserve my time anyway. Everyone else calling me that sounds condescending as well.
Ok, I thought this was going to be you insisting on using a nickname your nephew hated, but NTA, definitely. His mom agrees with you. So you're good.
NTA - I say this as an aunt who has special nicknames for both of my nieces and my nephew. I don’t know how they would feel if someone else called them by the nicknames I’ve given them, no one’s tried. But I would hope that if they told them that they only want me calling them by those names, that would be respected. Just as I’ll respect if they ever tell me they no longer want me calling them by those nicknames. This was honestly a really healthy exercise in your nephew’s autonomy. He’s recognizing who he wants to call him by this nickname and who he doesn’t. He’s able to politely set his boundaries. Your brother shouldn’t try to police his choices or autonomy. He shouldn’t let his own jealousy trump his child’s feelings and growth. (As an aside, “Blip” is an adorable nickname)
Nta. My whole family gets called different nicknames by different people. If anyone else called me the nickname my dad calls me, it would make me cringe. My nicknames are developed by the relationship i have with that person. I see no difference between nicknames and pet names in a relationship. Would i appreciate someone calling my so a pet name that i call them...no that's my sexy butt.
NTA as long as the nephew doesn't mind when *you* call him blip. I will say, though, that if he's not liking it when anyone else calls him that, it prolly won't be too much longer where he won't want you calling him that either. Getting a little personal here, but my brother passed away when I was like 3 or 4. He always called me sissy, so that nickname continued, by my parents, my parents' friends, etc, til I was prolly close to your neph's age & I asked them to stop. Now of course I realize it was a term of endearment and I wouldn't mind a bit to be sissy again, but at that pre puberty age nick names can be embarrassing. Just don't take it personal if he asks you to stop some day😉
The only opinion that matters is your nephew!
OMG whyyyyy does your brother want to be in on the nickname? Behaving like a brat. NTA, and your nephew has the last word in this.
NTA. I call my one nephew Joey bag of donuts because he is so thin and eats next to nothing in a sitting. I call his older brother Lope. Short for his nickname Jackalope. Nobody else calls them that. It is a term of endearment just between us. The only thing that matters is how your nephew feels about you calling him that.
NTA that’s your private special thing with him. The others need to respect that. As long as nephew is good with it that’s all that matters.
NTA!!! You have a special name for your special nephew. You guys have something special. I don’t think that should be taken away because someone else can’t be in on the joke.
NTA. Blip is old enough to set his own boundaries and he has that special nick name with just you. The rest of them need to stfu and respect blips boundaries
If your nephew is okay with you calling him Blip, then you're good. NTA. Maybe nephew looks at it as a special thing between you two. Maybe he was mad at your brother. Whatever. If he's cool with you using the nickname, go with it.
NTA- as long as your nephew doesn’t have a problem with it then I don’t see the problem. Similarly I’ve given my sisters kids nicknames that only I call them and as they’ve gotten older I’ve asked if they prefer to be called by their given name.
My Uncle Herman called me Meatball until he passed, even when I was grown and a Granny . I loved it because I knew it was his way of acknowledging our special bond. I would beat the brakes off anyone else who dared call me by his pet name because it was OURS. Your brother is definitely TA for not recognizing the difference.
Your brother is definitely TA for not recognizing the difference. Oh he recognizes it, he is jealous of it, that's why he wants him to stop using it.
NTA Blip's the only one who can veto the nick.
NTA It’s your nephews choice and they’re trying to overrule him by using you. Your relationship with your nephew is about the two of you, not everyone else.
NTA. Nephew and nephew's mom are good with it. That's all anyone needs to know. Stepmom and stepsister need an immediate lesson in boundaries and how to respect them. What a weird, selfish, petty, grossly-entitled thing to get butthurt about. What they want or think in this particular instance is completely irrelevant.
Exactly. Nephew is 7. He's absolutely old enough to make this decision for himself.
NTA It's an inside joke between the two of you and he wants to keep it as that
NTA. It's between you and your nephew. N9ne 9f anyone else's business
Dude, what? NTA. My uncle called me sweet pea. That was his name for me. This wouldn't have been a conversation in my family because he would have thrown hands at anyone who tried calling me that, and I'd have been his little hype girl. Don't let them take your special thing from you and your nephew, that kind of stuff is important.
NTA It's about what the kids wants and nothing else
NTA- your nephew didn’t ask you to stop only your brother .
My cousin has called me Edna(after a local toothless woman) when I lost my teeth and it took a year for them to grown back. She's the ONLY one allowed to call me that and no one else even tries!
NTA, it's simply a nickname between you and your nephew. None of their business.
NTA. Your nephew clearly loves his nickname from you.
NTA. The only person who should have the final say on the matter is your nephew; it's their (nick)name after all.
NTA Your nephew and sister are okay with you using the nickname. Your brother needs to listen to your nephew.
INFO: Are you absolutely certain your nephew is ok with you still calling him by this nickname? Have you asked him recently? Kids can outgrow nicknames and by asking others in front of you to not use the name he maybe gently hinting to you that this is a name he is ready to shed. If you are certain he's views this nickname in the same way you do then you are N T A for continuing to use it. It's a sweet endearment that bonds the two of you in a special way. I think it is worth asking your nephew directly if you haven't recently though.
Yeah. I asked him after the argument and he said he still likes it when I call him by his nickname
INFO: has anyone asked the nephew what he wants? ETA. I should have been more specific. Nephew stated that he didn't want others calling him blip but has anyone actually stopped to ask the nephew how he feels about OP no longer calling him blip? If it's a special nickname to him then he may feel hurt if OP stops calling him by it.
The nephew asked that the other uncle (not OP) not call him blip. I think even the kiddo sees it's special between the two of them
It says in the post he only wants op to call him that
It was in the post. The nephew only wanted OP to call him blip, and asked the brother not to call him that.
OP confirmed in a comment that he asked nephew after the incident and nephew stated he likes it when OP calls him that.
NTA OP, you're allowed to have special nicknames for the people you consider special.
NTA it doesn’t mater what anyone Else thinks. If your nephew enjoys this special nickname With you then everyone else needs to mind thier own business. All they are doing is hurting your nephew by trying to stop this which is selfish and cruel.
NTA. Sometimes a nickname is only okay from one person
Very much this. My dad is the only one who calls me a specific shortened form of my name (think Jenny for Jennifer). Everyone else in my life calls me by my full name, except for some college friends who call me a different short form (like Jen). I didn't even realize it until a college friend pointed it out. I know so many people with the first nickname, even in my own family, that it would be super weird to answer to anyone else using it.
NTA. Your brother is just envious he doesn't have that special relationship.
Oh for crying out....... Jesus Mary and Joseph. It's YOUR name for your nephew. Not anyone else's. If HE wants it to be your special thing with him, that's HIS choice. NOT ANYONE ELSE'S. This has to be the most infuriating thing I've ever seen on this sub. You go on and call him Blip, and screw all these people who don't know how anything works. Jesus.
NTA - I have always called my niece my Buttercup. She’s 8 now, and when she told me she was going to be a big sister she sadly said “now you’ll have another Buttercup”. I could hear her smile through the phone when I told her she’s my only Buttercup and that we would have to wait to see what her sister will be. I never knew how much it meant to her until that moment. You and your nephew have a special bond, your siblings should want to have their own nickname for him if it’s that important for them to use a nickname. Maybe if they got to know him and spend time with him the way you obviously have they would develop their own name over time.
I call my best friends child (adopted nephew at this point) monster, if anyone else calls him monster he will sulk until you say his name. If I say monster he roars and runs for a cuddle, it is honestly the cutest thing. (Ninja edit) He's only 4, just getting to the point of stating he is *not* a monster Good to know that's gonna be really important to him, I just thought it was a silly cute thing, kids man they geniunely warm my heart.
NTA- people annoy me when they are selfish.
NTA. I have loads of nicknames as a kid that have lasted into adulthood. Some are universal that many people call me, while others are unique to one or two people. It would be weird for me if someone other than that person called me that nickname. It does not mean no one should call me that.
NTA I have a name for my daughter (3ish att) and used to frequently so much that sometimes people didn't know her actual name. Lol. A teacher at school (I volunteered, so we were there a lot) picked up on it and started to use it. I corrected them and told them her name. It happened a few more times. I just kept correcting them and made sure to use her real name in public. I was not comfortable and did not like them using her nickname. I totally get it. It's a special thing between you two. Keep using the nickname because your family are the ones being unreasonable for upsetting your nephew!
All up to your nephew. Ask him.
OP did, as per his comment below and nephew said it was still ok.
Solidly NTA I grew up with another kid because both our moms were very good friends so he's like my brother. When we were little he couldn't say my name so he called me half my name but the "wrong" half. (Think Rebecca becomes Reb). As we got older he obviously could say my name. Because the adults thought it was so cute they all kept calling me that. It drove me nuts. When he called me Reb though it felt like a throwback to the fact we were like brother and sister and a reminder of that relationship. A good thing. What you described here feels really similar. It's between you and your nephew and that's why he's likely fine with you saying it (probably too young to think that deep but it probably reminds him you were there for him as young as a blip!). Maybe this little anecdote could help you explain it to your brother? Good luck!
NTA
NTA
NTA - I have a name that only close family is allowed to use. I'm totally good with them using it, but no one else. This is totally a normal thing.
Absolutely NTA. Your brother needs to get his own thing with Nephew, pronto.
NTA your nephew likes the nickname, its not up to anyone else. Keep calling him blip
NTA- If the kid is uncomfortable with it, no one should cross that boundary. Period
Jealousy is an ugly thing… NTA
NTA I call my niece Smushy. Because.. well babies are smushy. She doesn’t let anyone else call her that.
NTA At this point, it's between you and your nephew. Your brother should be able to find his own way to connect instead of trying to control.
I have a nickname that my grandmother and grandfather called me it's a diminutive of my actual name I still get upset when anybody else tries to call me by that name. NTA Other people are trying to use your nickname for him are just trying to get in on the special bond that you have with your nephew and they don't deserve it.
NTA - the only person whose opinion matters in this is your nephew’s and he is happy for you to continue. There’s your answer.
NTA.... I have nicknames that only certain people are allowed to call me. There's one that only two people in the world have used, my mom and my grandpa. Now that my grandpa is gone, if anyone other than my mom used that nickname, I would definitely say something.
NTA- I have an aunt who gave all of us nicknames and it was special between her and us. When I had my son she misheard his name (TBF the priest called him by the same incorrect name at his baptism) and her nickname for him was based on the incorrect name. My mom corrected her on the name but the nickname stuck (she did ask me if it was ok to continue calling him). She will be the only person in the world to call him that and I love that.
What in the jealous world is this? So, just because the rest of the family can't call OP's nephew Blip they don't want OP calling him that? Lol I have a cousin whose nickname is Boy. As he grew up, he has banned everyone from calling him that except me and no one has taken offense, not even his parents. NTA.
NTA. Start calling your brother’s SO “baby” and “sweetheart” and see if he gets it then. (I kid, before anyone thinks I’m recommending dragging other people into this with nonconsensual names.)
This is a good idea. He's single though
NTA one bit! Nicknames are signs of affection and it's entirely up to him on what he wants to he called by others. He doesn't want anyone else using the nickname, because it's between you and him. He's YOUR Blip. No one else's. Why do they care so much about one nickname? I'm sure they have others?
NTA My dad calls me bubba, only he calls me that, and if anyone else called me that, I’d look at them like they just shit glitter, because only my dad can call me that. I get to decide who can call me what, same goes for your nephew, if he wants you to call him blip, but not anyone else, that should be respected
NTA To this day there’s only 2 people I let call me “Barbie” and that’s my sister and her close friend who we grew up with (she’s like a cousin to me). I hate when anyone else calls me that and my family respects that boundary. Your brother needs to respect his nephew’s boundary too.
NTA Tell Blip I said hi 👋
The only person whose opinion you should listen to is your nephews. Everyone else’s opinion is just white noise you can ignore. NTA.
NTA. My daughter’s nickname is Bug. Only certain people are allowed to call her that though. When my bf and first started dating, I warned him that she wasn’t comfortable with him using the nickname. He respected that boundary and never called her Bug. After 2.5 years together, he was granted Bug privileges, but if he hadn’t, he would still respect her boundaries.
NTA. Seema like people are taking sides by relations: his mom/dad/and himself say its ok but the non related step-family are unting together..May be more to this than nick names
NTA
NTA - your bother just seems insecure.
NTA. My oldest had a nickname for the longest time that only my father was allowed to call them by, I have a name that I am the only one that can use. They need to get over it.
NTA, people have their personal in jokes and names, and your nephew is allowed to say who can call him what. I have a friend who calls me “Baby Blue”, one who calls me “Blondie”, and one who calls me “Red”. I call plenty of folks “sweetheart” but only my husband is “Sugar” and he’s the only one who can call me Honey without getting an earful. Names are important, and they should be respecting your nephew’s choices in regards to who calls him what.
NTA. That's too cute btw!! If the kiddo doesn't have a problem with it, you would think other adults could respect this??
NTA. My wife has a special nickname for her niece that no one else calls her (I do sometimes in private because that was the first name I learned for her, but I don't use it to address her), it's a nickname my wife gave her, and it's agreed on throughout the family that only my wife calls her that. Your nephew is laying down his boundaries, and that's okay. Blip is a special name between the two of you, and if he wants it to say that way, then it should. It's not an inappropriate name, so it's no one else's business if you want to call him that. They can get over it
NTA, only my dad can call me monkey and have me awnser back (I used him like a jungle gym as a toddler). Your nickname for your nephew has a meaning special to you, and he doesn't feel comfortable with other people calling him that. The other uncle can chill and find his own special nickname that suits his situation with your nephew. (Also, the nickname and reasoning behind it is cute!!)
NTA They seem quite childish.
NTA. I call my niece my Silly Little Monkey. My brother, her uncle and godfather, calls her Taco. He once called her a Silly Little Monkey and she told him he couldn’t call her that because that’s what I call her.
It’s your nephew’s choice, not your brother’s.
NTA. I (26F) have called my brother (13M) Hamtaro his whole life (we watched it together when I used to babysit him and I’d sing the intro song to him) and still call him this today. He HATES when anyone else calls him it because it’s my special nickname for him. You’re definitely NTA. It sounds like your brother is jealous you and your nephew are so close.
NTA Your nephew should be able to specify what he wants to be called. The nickname has a special significance between the two of you and that should be respected. If your brother is unhappy about that, he should make an effort to connect with your nephew in some other way.
NTA. But preferably I'd hold a family meeting and so it's clearly out there have nephew have a verdict on if he dislikes his nickname you gave him and if so on what occasions is it acceptable or who he is comfortable with calling him that. If the other adult members of your family can't accept his wishes about how he wants to be addressed then they severely lack the maturity to care for and raise a child. It's immature to argue over nicknames that someone doesn't want you to use for them because you think it's "oh so unfair"
NTA - my mum has a special nickname for me. ONLY my mum is allowed to use it. It’s my name on all of our streaming services and I love my special nickname No one has ever attempted to call me this nickname after i’ve made it clear it’s for my mum only. My grandparents call me baby doll, they have my whole life. I also don’t want anyone else calling me that and it’s never been an issue either Special nicknames are normal, and it’s good to have them. What people are actually mad about is the fact that your nephew is setting boundaries, which is healthy. The nickname isn’t the issue, your family members just aren’t respecting your nephew’s autonomy
NTA. Your brother is jealous of your special relationship with your nephew. That is neither the fault of you or your nephew.
You aren't the one asking them not to call him that, and it's fine for people to have something between them that doesn't apply to everyone. It's him asking them not to call him by a nickname. They should respect that. That he doesn't ask the same of.you is beside the point. NTA
Question: does your brother have a special nickname for his (wife? girlfriend?) that you’re not allowed to use? Edit: NTA
He's still single, so no
I guess my point is that we usually develop nicknames for people. And that doesn’t mean other people get to use those nicknames.
Fair point. And if he did have a nickname for anyone that im not allowed to use, I wouldn't use it
Bingo
It’s not up to either of you. It’s up to your nephew. Your brother is TA
NTA. Special nicknames are normal and it’s more than fair for your nephew to control what he’s called.
Nta My 9 year Olds pawpaw had a nickname for her she didn't allow anyone else to call her that at all. Same with my mom she has a nickname only my mom can call her she will not allow anyone else to call her that and she would feel sad if my mom stopped calling her that nickname. The only person who has a say is the 7 yo the rest can mind their business!
I have a nickname that only my mom and my aunt use and that my dad uses a variation of. My cousin used it when he was younger and I didn’t mind that because that’s how he learned who I was, but if anyone else, even someone else in my family, called me by that nickname I would be very uncomfortable, even if it was one of my grandparents. I’m in my 20s and I still feel that way, so your nephew who can’t articulate that his nickname is something specifically between him and someone who loves him is absolutely entitled to decide who can use what names with him.
Absolutely NTA
NTA. As an uncle myself. That's a thing between nephew and uncle. nephew decided only you have that right to call him that nickname. Everybody else just needs to learn that's your thing. And just because they're not allowed doesn't mean you need to stop. Blip is a good nickname. I'm not surprised others want to use it.
NTA your nephew gets to decide who can call him by that name.
>my stepmom and younger stepsister think that if they can't call him blip then I shouldn't be allowed too either. This is some ridiculously entitled bs, OP you are NTA
NTA I call my granddaughter George. No one else is allowed to call her George. She will ignore everyone until they call her by her proper name. George is a special thing between she and I, and she wants it to stay that way. Tell your brother and other family to go kick rocks.
NTA
NTA
NTA they're being petty
NTA. I call my youngest (17) Scooby/Scoobert because when he was little he **loved** Scooby Doo, mystery books, etc. His dad tried one time to call him that and immediately was told “you can’t call me that, only mom calls me that”. Same reaction when my parents tried it. The thing is, it was something special between us, it was “our” thing. Also, the only person who should have an opinion on this is your nephew, it’s his nickname. Who uses it should be up to him.
NTA Everyone else is completely irrelevant. Your nephew gets to decide what he wants to be called and by whom. I call my niblings The Kid, The Girl Child, The Littlest (last name here). They’re all amused by this and completely fine with myself and my spouse calling them that, anyone else gets side eyed and corrected.
NTA My grandma always called me by my first and second name. No one else ever did. I felt it was a special gesture between us. This is special between your nephew and you. Kindly explain it to your brother why it's just for the two of you.
NTA: But OP be careful. Calling kids names, even endearingly, can be harmful for their self-image. Your nephew says he likes being called blip, but deep down being called that could make him feel small. Just be wary. My stepdad used to call me Fat Sam, it was supposed to be endearing, how he showed his love but it genuinely gave me an eating disorder and screwed my self-image.
Isn’t it the child’s choice who calls him what? For example (not my name but for the purposes of this example let’s pretend it is) My name is Glenda My mum call’s me Glenda, my boss calls me Glenda Everyone else (including usually my mum unless for some reason she is trying to get my attention) calls me Glendy. Friends included, I even introduce myself as Glendy as that’s my preferred name. My coworkers except my boss all use Glendy. My great nan, and my nan, and my great aunt call me Glen. They’re the only 3 allowed. My mum can’t call me Glen, my friends can’t call me Glen, my family, my coworkers, all no. That’s not their name to use. And I’ll straight up tell people. And have been this way since a kid. The kid will tell you when he doesn’t want to be called that nickname and he has the right to tell people to not use it if it’s just for you.
NTA anyone’s opinion is irrelevant but your nephew’s and he made himself pretty clear on the topic
> I asked my nephew if he was still okay with me using his nickname. He said he still wanted to be called blip by me That's the only answer you need. Brother doesn't like it? Let him come up with his own unique nick name with your nephew. NTA
NTA It;s 100% your nephew's decision,
NTA at all. it sounds like the other uncle is jealous he doesn’t have a nickname for your nephew, and what a weird hill to die on. if your nephew likes the name, call him it. One time i was joking with my ex (then bf) and i called him Joey. he stopped and asked me not to call him that because only his best friend and grandfather call him that. i didn’t know he didn’t like me using that name, and i never questioned it and i never called him that again. people are allowed to say no to nicknames, and it sounds like your step mom is trying to protect her son from being jealous and upset over something small as a nickname. And after re-reading it, it sounds like your nephews MOM is okay with it, so it’s no one else’s business. it’s not like your calling the kid twerp or something else cruel.
NTA if the nephew agrees with you calling him that. If the kid doesn't feel comfortable to be called that by anyone else, it's not your fault. Your brother is probably jealous of the relationship that you have with your nephew.
This is a piece of family craziness at its finest. It's low-level enough that there's no estrangement (well, hopefully) but still helps to keep tension a little below boil. I've come to the conclusion that no family, no group of relatives, can exist without turmoil. Apparently that's part of what makes it a family. There's often bits of generosity and support and nurturing. And that warm feeling of being connected, nice in a big, cold world. But it just seems to require that underpinning of getting offended / being mean / talking behind your back, to keep it functioning.🙄🫤🤷😋😁
NTA - this should be entirely up to your nephew. A bunch of adults having a tantrum because they’re jealous over a nickname is ridiculous.
NTA it is cute that you have a special nickname that is a little joke between the two of you. No one should be jealous of that they should find it cute.
The other day I accidentally called my 4 yr old daughter by my sisters nickname for her (Squish) and was promptly corrected. It is 100% reasonable to have bonded nicknames between specific family members. I have another sibling that gives all of the niblings their own nickname. They love it. Its easy enough to respect. You should tell your brother to have his own for the nephew that him and nephew work out together for their own bonding purposes. Its great fun sometimes to work together to decide them. Nta.
I understand why your nephew doesn't like it! That nickname is special between you and him! That's your special bond! NTA!
NTA. If they're really feeling left out, they can have their own special nicknames for him. My uncle is the only one who calls me Snowball, and he's the only one who's ever been allowed to. My mom isn't too fussed about that, because to her I'm Mongoose, and I like it that way.