You have a special relationship with your uncle. He's there to have fun with, to talk with, and to support you as you navigate life and all it has to offer. Sometimes a nickname just appears out of the blue, but in case it hasn't, you'll want to consider something fun to reflect on the person and your relationship with him. Try some of these nicknames on for size -- and even if we haven't come up with the perfect moniker, these can offer you a place to start brainstorming from.
Uncle Nicknames That Riff on His Title
When it comes to nicknames for uncles, pretty much anything goes. These general nicknames will work for just about any uncle in your life.
- Unk
- Funcle (stands for fun uncle)
- Unkie
- Nunk (stands for non-uncle and works for someone who is like family, but not biologically related)
- Unko
- Unkers
- Unks
- U.C. or U.D. (Use initials for Uncle Chris or Uncle David, for example)
Pair It With Personality
What is the uncle's personality? What is he best known for? Use some of his qualities, traits, or hobbies to include in his uncle title.
- Uncle Speedy
- Uncle Sleepy
- Uncle Sporty
- Uncle Smiles
- Uncle Goof
- Uncle Jingles (if he is into music)
- Uncle Fish (for water-loving uncles)
- Uncle Snacks
- Uncle Marvel (or insert a specific superhero here instead)
- Uncle Books
- Uncle Brains
- Duncle (if he's into basketball)
Matching or complementary nicknames for your uncle and your aunt could also be fun! This list of aunt nicknames can help.
Uncle Nicknames That Fit His Look
Does your uncle resemble something else? Maybe he had his own nickname growing up that you can work into his uncle nickname? Consider a fun nickname that plays off of his physical characteristics.
- Uncle Bear
- Uncle Hawk
- Uncle Bug
- Uncle Tiger
- Uncle Moose
- Uncle Duckie
- Uncle Giraffe
- Uncle Lion
Uncle Nicknames Used Around the World
Tap into your family culture and heritage by gifting that special uncle in your life with a name that means "uncle" in the language of your people.
- Oom (Dutch)
- Tio (Spanish)
- Zio (Italian)
- Apo (Kurdish)
- Onu (Estonian)
- Unchi (Romanian)
- Ewythr (Welsh)
- Setä (Finnish)
- Monni (Luxembourgish)
- Chú (Vietnamese)
- Onklo (Esperanto)
- Mamang (Sudanese)
Uncle Nicknames Using First Names
Most male names have great nicknames that go with them. Pop a general uncle title onto any of these first-name nicknames, and you have a personalized name just for him.
Examples:
- Unkie Char (for Charlie)
- Unko Jay (for Jason or James)
- Unk Nicky (for Nicolas)
- Funkle Frankie (for Frank or Francis)
- Uncle Day (for David)
- Uncle Jonno (for John or Jonathan)
- Uncle Matty (for Matthew)
- Uncle Markle (for Mark)
Related: These Nicknames for Cousins Celebrate the Special Relationship You Have
Uncles Used to Be Called What?
Many words in the English language have changed over the years, and the word uncle is one of them. In Old English, a mother's brother was called an Eam. A father's brother was referred to as Faedera.
Choosing an Uncle Nickname
In the world of nicknames, pretty much anything goes. They can be traditional, silly, combinations, or shortened words, or have cultural annotation. While rules of nicknames are loosy-goosy, there are a few thoughts to pay attention to during the naming process.
Include Meaning
Whatever you decide to go with, make it mean something. So long as there is thought and feeling behind the name for you and your brother, then it will turn out to be the perfect name.
Check With Your Uncle First
Even if you are 99% sure that he will dig the nickname that you came up with, it is best to run any possible nicknames by him first. Let him have a say in what you'll call him just to make sure no one's feelings get hurt.
Sometimes Kids Have the Final Say
If there are lots of cousins in the family, you'll need to make sure your uncle's nickname is easy to pronounce and not confusing or based on an inside joke. Let the kids weigh in! Oftentimes an uncle's nickname comes from a mispronunciation from a little one, and that can be the best nickname of all.
