Since there are only five acceptable first names and seven suitable surnames, many Mennonites have resorted to distinguishing each other with nicknames. In order to determine your Mennonite nickname, all we need is your birthday. Select the month and day of your birthday to determine your permanent and unchangeable Mennonite nickname. For example, if your birthday was November 8, your Menno name would be Tjnibla Panna.
Select the month you were born in:
- January – Gumshoe
- February – Slapshot
- March – Fuela
- April – Jantsied
- May – Pradja
- June – Mexikaunsche
- July – Kose
- August – Schusta
- September – Hunjsche
- October – Corner
- November – Tjnibla
- December – Tomato Juice
Choose the day of the month you were born:
- 1-2 – Thiesse
- 3-4 – Dick
- 5-6 – Hiebat
- 7-8 – Panna
- 9-10 – Schallenboajch
- 11-12 – Tjreaja
- 13-14 – Jaunze
- 15-16 – Rempelsche
- 17-18 – Abe
- 19-20 – Nettie
- 21-22 – Reimer
- 23-24 – Ungasche
- 25-26 – Poetker
- 27-28 – Lina
- 29-30 – Barkman
- 31 – Knels
Combine the two and you’ve got your name.
English translations: Gumshoe (rubber boots), Fuela (lazy), Jantsied (other side of the Red River), Pradja (preacher), Mexikaunsche (Mexican Mennonite now living in Canada), Kose (having a goat-like beard), Schusta (shoemaker), Hunjsche (hound dog), Tjnibla (Mennonite folk chiropractor).
(All of these are real historic Mennonite nicknames (though not necessarily in this combination). The GAMEO article on Mennonite nicknames is a very helpful resource on this topic.)