THE NICKNAMES IN THE BAIE
You’re passing through the beautiful village of Baie-Sainte-Anne. You’re thinking of stopping by to visit someone you know. Her name is Amanda. But you don’t know her home address. You stop someone along the way to ask if they know Amanda. Don’t be surprised if they tell you there’s no Amanda in Baie-Sainte-Anne. However, if you had asked for Tititte, they would have directed you to the person you were looking for.
Nicknames are quite common in Baie-Sainte-Anne. This collection is a compilation of various nicknames that are used today or were used in the past. It does not include shortened names such as Zéa for Elzéa or Nic for Nicole. Nor does it include names adapted into English, such as Mike for Michel or Will for Guillaume. It also does not include the many first names preceded by «ti,» such as Ti-Adé, Ti-Louis, or Ti-Émile.
No doubt there are nicknames that have been forgotten and others that are better known within the family circle. One thing is certain: there’s no shortage of creativity when it comes to giving someone a new nickname.
It’s true that Baie-Sainte-Anne isn’t the only place with nicknames, and that this beautiful coastal village didn’t invent the concept of nicknames, but why does Baie-Sainte-Anne have so many? When did this tradition take root?
Nicknames in Baie-Sainte-Anne are so common, sometimes so funny, and so original that they even inspired a local author, Astrid Gibbs, to write a poem titled «
Drôles de nom», published in 2006 in the anthology
La Grand-Dune m’habite.
Text written par Gilles Manuel.