What was Hemingway's nickname among friends?

Hemingway's nickname among friends and admirers was Papa. The affectionate name became so strongly associated with Ernest Hemingway that it remains one of the most recognizable labels connected with the author.

Papa reflected Hemingway's public image as an older, commanding, adventurous figure. Friends, family members, colleagues, and admirers used it in different settings, and the nickname became especially prominent during his later years in Cuba. It also suited the larger persona he cultivated: a celebrated writer who projected toughness, confidence, physical vigor, and worldly experience.

The nickname is often written as “Papa Hemingway,” but Papa was not his middle name or a replacement for Ernest. His formal name was Ernest Miller Hemingway. Some accounts also mention informal names such as Ernie, especially earlier in his life, but Papa is the canonical nickname associated with him in biographies and popular culture.

The nickname later appeared in book and film titles, including A. E. Hotchner's 1966 memoir Papa Hemingway and the film Papa: Hemingway in Cuba. These titles helped preserve the association long after Hemingway's death in 1961.