Why do we have nicknames?

• To show affection, people keep our nicknames. For ex. I am called Chote at home.
  
• Because our original name is just not good enough. For ex. Neals actual name in Neal-N-Nikki was Gurneal or something
  
• Because our original name is just not small enough to be pronounced 100 times a day. For ex. I have no option than to have a nickname if my name is Sadashiva Umraparkar
• When our persona resembles someone or something, we get a nickname. For ex. A person who wears specks is called Chaukha because he has 4 eyes.
  
• To show hate, people keep our nicknames.
  
• To talk about somebody when they are present without them knowing that they are the topic of discussion. For ex. Common, we all do that, you do not need examples for this :)
• To talk about somebody when you are afraid to take their name in public. For ex. Every office has its own Krur Singh whose real name is never spelt out in public :)
• When some thing is associated with our life, it might result in a nickname. For ex. A friend of mine had his class role number as L-10 and the creative people started calling him laltein.