What does Satnin mean? Elvis Presley’s Pet Name Explained to His Mom and Priscilla

Viewers who watched Elvis or Priscilla You may have noticed that in both films, the King of Rock and Roll refers to his mother and his wife by the same nickname, Satnin, although its meaning is not immediately made clear in either film. The 2020s have already been a big decade for Elvis Presley, with two major films about the rock star being released. Elvis stars a cast that includes Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia Dejonge, and was released in 2022. Priscilla is told from the point of view of the woman of the same name (played by Cailee Spaeny) and premieres in 2023.

For the most part, Priscilla and Elvis follow the real story of the couple’s lives, even getting some small details right, like the nickname that Satnin Elvis had for his mother, Gladys Love, and Priscilla. Elvis and his mother were very close throughout his life, and she and her husband, Vernon, were instrumental in helping Elvis with his career and navigate the spotlight (via People). They all lived together at Graceland before Gladys passed away at age 46, a death that shook Elvis. He was close enough to her they both had affectionate names for each other.

Satnin, Elvis’ nickname for his mother, has conflicting meanings

Gladys and Elvis often spoke to each other on “Baby-Talk”

Elvis referred to his mother by the nickname Satnin, a name whose meaning those close to the Presleys disagree (via Distract). Butler and Jacob Elordi in Priscillarefer to their mother almost only as Satnin in both films. June Juanico, an old girlfriend of Elvis, also nicknamed “Satnin”, said the name came from a song her mother used to sing to Elvis when he was little.saying that Presley once told her,

“[His mother] used to sing to me when I was little. Do you remember the song ‘Mammy’s Little Baby Loves Shortnin’ Bread’? Well, she used to sing ‘Mommy’s little baby has satin skin’. You know, June, the skin is as soft as satin.”

In the June version, the name is a deliberate misspelling of “satin” to fit the song’s rhyme scheme, which also makes it a cute and easy-to-remember nickname. Elvis’ cousin Billy Smith tells the story differently and says it began as a provocative nickname for Gladys, which he considered “always heavy”. Billy said that when Elvis used the nickname he would touch Gladys’ belly and say:

“The baby will bring you something to eat, Satnin.”

Billy said that “Satnin” was an extension of the word “fat”, a fattening food. While it’s not as sweet an origin as June’s story, it clearly didn’t bother Gladys too much and Elvis meant it lovingly. Elvis and Gladys often spoke to each other in “baby talk” that may seem overly intimate to some (via The wrap), but it’s not that unusual considering Elvis was an only child, whose twin was stillborn, bringing Gladys closer to her only child.

Why Elvis Started Calling Priscilla Satnin

Elvis had several nicknames for Priscilla

After the death of Elvis’ mother, he transferred the nickname to his wife Priscilla. Originally, Elvis called Priscilla “‘Nungen”, his version of the term, “young”, a reference to their age difference (10 years). He also called her “‘Cilla” and “Little One”, but he changed it to “Satnin” after his mother passed away (through ElvisHistoryBlog). It seemed like he was still using it as a loving way of referring to the “satin skin” he thought Priscilla had.

Other Elvis Pet Names for the Women in His Life

Friends, family and girlfriends had nicknames

Elvis had no shortage of women in his life and gave many of them affectionate names. June Juanico was one of his first girlfriends and he also referred to her as Satnin. He called Anita Wood, who he was with until he entered the Army, “Little.” Elvis called his grandmother Minnie Mae “Dodger” because he once threw a ball at her, which she barely managed to dodge.

There were many others that Elvis affectionately nicknamed one way or another. It is apparent, however, as shown in Priscilla and Elviswho reserved “Satnin” for the greatest loves of his life.