Sometimes the name can be meant in fun. Granted, I have said some of these behind a person's back, but other times in front of them to hurt or belittle them. My friends back home have nicknames as well as me, thus these are positive ones. Many people, besides my friends and me, give out nicknames for positive qualities. These are usually the names a person would like to hear rather than insulting ones.
Names can go as far back as to when someone is a child.
He still calls him this to this day. My football coach would nickname his players. More positive nicknames are those of people's names. Nick for Nicholas, Pat for Patrick, Ang for Angela, Jill for Jillian, and so on. Nicknames, whether desirable or undesirable, everyone has either had or has now.