Ancient Chinese families gave babies humble nicknames – ‘Dog’, ‘Pig’ – to ward off bad luck

Like people elsewhere in the world, Chinese people often have nicknames in addition to their official names. Some of these may surprise people from other cultures because they sound humble or even unflattering. Chinese parents have traditionally given their children humble, sometimes vulgar, nicknames – occasionally using animal names such as “dog” or “pig.” The practice dates back to ancient times. Parents believed that the humbler a nickname sounded, the better, as it might help ensure their...