A rose by any other name

Where do nicknames come from? Do they always have to have some symbolic or representative meaning? I mean, I know where Earth Dog came from...I also know where another nickname of mine came from (if I told you I would have to kill you...thanks mom and dad!).

Today I was reading the W.S.J. about the censoring of Howard Stern. The article went on to discuss another D.J.'s nickname. Ready for this? "Bubba the Love Sponge". AAACCKKKKK!

Now twice in the last month I've heard the word "SPONGE" used to describe something other than a sponge. First there were SpongeMonkeys (a nickname for tarsiers or those disgusting creatures on Quizno commercials) and now a "Love Sponge" (God only knows what that means). Where do people come up with these? Then again, I probably don't want to know...