My name, as many of you know, is Greg. Why then am I now calling myself Goyo? Because I am going to the Philippines. You see, everybody in the Philippines has a nickname. The most common nicknames in the Philippines for Gregory are Goring and Goyo. So, I am Goyo. Sounds kind of happy go lucky doesn’t it?
Some of the most popular nicknames in the Philippines are…
There are so many nicknames and variations of names that I just cannot cover them all but here are a few of them to give you an idea. Many young boys are given the very appropriate, if not simplistic, nickname of “Boy”. Girls are often called “Girlie”. Now these aren’t just childhood nicknames as we know them in the US, these are names that will follow them throughout their lives. Indeed they may grow old without very many people ever calling them by their true birthname. It is not unusual to be introduced to an elderly fellow and be told his name is “Boy”. They sometimes don’t even make sense to our western logic. When Ferdinand Marcos was alive his nickname was “Macoy”. His son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is called “Bong Bong”. Repeating names are popular as “Ling Ling” or “Ne Ne” are for females. Another popular one for a junior is simply “Jun”. Now in the US we hear of that name and think “June” which is a female name. However, “Jun” in the Philippines is often gender neutral and can mean either a son named after his father or a daughter named after her Mother. “Baby” is another one that is used with either sex. Toto was a rock band some years ago and was the name of Dorothy’s dog in The Wizard of Oz but in the Philippines “Toto” is my best friend. Now his real name is Richard but I have never heard anyone call him that. He is simply “Toto”. I like that. So now you know why I am Goyo. It’s better than some of the alternatives. And remember, in the Philippines there is a Senator named “Joker”. And that’s not a nickname, that’s his birthname. I can think of a few US Senators I have often called a “Joker”. 
Until next time, I remain…
Goyo
Maayong adlaw kanimo, Bai Goyo!
Yes. Indeed, we have interesting names here. We call the “boys” Dodong, “girls” Inday. In some places, “boys” are Nonoy, and “girls” are Neneng.
What a nice name, Goyo!
Welcome to our paradise! Welcome to the Philippines!
By: batang buotan on December 10, 2007
at 8:27 pm
O-o. Goyo fits me. Happy go lucky. Always up for an adventure. Gusto katawa. Yes, Goyo is good.
Goyo in Wonderland
By: goyo on December 11, 2007
at 2:44 am
Hi, Goyo, I like your nickname. I have one birthname, but many nicknames. My name is Vivian. The nicknames are: Viv, Vivi, Vian, Vinky, Ianne, Baby & the last, but obviously not the least, Bebang! LOL. I will hear them again when I visit Cebu next month.=)
By: ianne on December 11, 2007
at 5:31 am
Hi,
Actually, rather than Goyo, the nicknames Goryo or Goryong is more popular for someone with a name Gregorio in the Visayas and Mindanao.
In Luzon, or the Tagalog region, goyo means to be fooled or to be tricked, in a manner of jest!
They say, nagoyo ko siya, ,meaning, “I fooled him/her”.
RR
By: RR on December 11, 2007
at 7:47 am
Hello! nice choice of nickname!
My family and close relatives call me lyn-lyn. one of those repeated name variations.
Enjoy your stay in our country.
By: shiera on December 11, 2007
at 9:48 am
Bebang, you’ve got me beat by a mile! Of course during my life I have been called a lot of names. It’s just that some of them I can’t print here! LOL.
RR, gusto ko your version. I like dyok. So nagoyo ko siya it is!
Goyo in Wonderland
By: goyo on December 11, 2007
at 3:29 pm