pappy

Pappy is a nickname and informal given name derived from papa, often used as an affectionate term for a father or elder male relative. In English-speaking cultures the term has also been adopted as a personal or professional nickname, sometimes selected to evoke familiarity or a family connection. The form is widely recognized in both real-life and fictional contexts, and appears in branding and media as well as personal appellations.

Notable uses include Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, a United States Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and World War II fighter ace who commanded the Black Sheep Squadron and received the Medal of Honor; William Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, an American singer and radio host who served as Governor of Texas and later a U.S. Senator; and Pappy Van Winkle, a name associated with the Van Winkle family distillery behind Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve, a highly regarded premium bourbon.

Beyond individuals, the nickname remains common in families and in popular culture, where it is used to convey warmth and familiarity with an elder figure or as a distinctive branding element in products and media.