Hmmm, well, we've had several friends try to affectionately attach the nickname "the yank" to me, but this is in a nickname heavy group (so far, I'm basically the only one who has proved impervious) and I know it was out of love. Is it the way he says it? Can you decide to just let it sort of bounce off? I agree with the others that there's likely no changing him at this point--deafness is difficult to deal with, for everyone, though, and I feel for you with that.