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Famous Nicknames: Nicknames of Famous People

This page has thousands of nicknames, the best collection on the 'Net. Currently Trending Nicknames appear first, so to find the all-time best nicknames please scroll down or do a search for topics like Kings, Generals, Actors, Singers, Sports, Football, etc.

Nicknames in the news and our top currently trending nicknames: Donald Trump Nicknames, Alina Habba Nicknames, Lauren Boebert Nicknames, Tucker Carlson Nicknames, Lara Trump Nicknames



Buffalo Bill Cody (left), Texas Jack Omohundro (center) and Wild Bill Hickok (right)

THE BEST NICKNAMES OF ALL TIME

Our list of the best nicknames of all time is dominated by Vikings, outlaws, renegades, rulers, warriors and athletes, but is also diverse with actors, artists, Native Americans, poets, scientists, singers and religious figures. This ranking began as the top ten nicknames of all time, was later expanded to the top 25 nicknames, then to the current top 50 nicknames.

(50) Harald Fairhair
(49) Eystein the Fart
(48) Sigurd Snake Eye
(47) Ivar the Boneless
(46) Ragnar Hairy Breeches
(45) Ulick of the Heads (for chopping them off?)
(44) Bloody Mary
(43) Ivan the Terrible
(42) Attilâ the Hun: Flagellum Dei ("Scourge of God")
(41) Napoleon Bonaparte: the Little Corporal
(40) Billy the Kid
(39) Kid Curry
(38) "Wild" Bill Hickok
(37) Calamity Jane
(36) "Buffalo" Bill Cody
(35) Annie Oakley: Little Miss Sure Shot
(34) Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel
(33) Charles "Lucky" Luciano: Charlie Lucky
(32) "Scarface" Al Capone
(31) Sitting Bull
(30) Crazy Horse
(29) Ozzie Smith: The Wizard of Oz
(28) Charlie Chaplin: the Little Tramp, Charlot
(27) Abraham Lincoln: Honest Abe, the Great Emancipator
(26) Simón Bolívar: The Liberator
(25) Albert Einstein: the Dopey One, the Dullard
(24) Gustavus Adolphus: the Thunderbolt of the North
(23) Wayne Gretzky: the Great One
(22) Edson Arantes do Nascimento: Pele, O Rei ("The King")
(21) Maria Callas: La Davina ("the Divine One")
(20) Doris Day: the Professional Virgin
(19) Andre the Giant
(18) William Shakespeare: the Bard of Avon, Avon's Swan
(17) Jesus: the Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah
(16) Muhammad: the Prophet
(15) Buddha: the Awakened, the Enlightened One
(14) Otto von Bismarck: the Iron Chancellor
(13) Margaret Thatcher: the Iron Lady
(12) Frank Sinatra: Swoonatra, Chairman of the Board
(11) Sandy Koufax: the "Left Hand of God"
(10) Elvis Presley: Elvis The Pelvis, Sir Swivel Hips
(9) Vlad "The Impaler" Tepes inspired Dracula
(8) Thomas Edison: the Wizard of Menlo Park
(7) Don Rickles: Mr. Warmth, the Merchant of Venom
(6) Babe Ruth: the Bambino, the Sultan of Swat
(5) Muhammad Ali: the Greatest, the Louisville Lip
(4) Richard the Lionheart
(3) Joan of Arc: the Maid of Orleans
(2) Michelangelo (Michael the Angel)
(1) Henry Longabaugh the "Sundance Kid" ran with Butch Cassidy the "Laughing Bandit"

HIGH HONORABLE MENTION: Alexander the Great, Alfred the Great, Catherine the Great, Charlemagne (Charles the Great), "Bonnie" Prince Charlie, Stormy Daniels, Robin Hood, "Air" Jordan, "Granny" Robert E. Lee, "The Sun King" Louis XIV, Groucho Marx, Tricky Dick Nixon, Black Jack Pershing, "Desert Fox" Edwin Rommel, William the Conqueror

THE BEST NICKNAMES OF MICHAEL R. BURCH

John "off his" Rocker
Jalen "Thundering" Hurd
Mike Trout: The WAR Lord
Shoehei Ohtani: Uncanny Ohtani, The Big "Oh!"
Patrick Mahomes: Throwtime
Dave Concepcion: The Immaculate Concepcion
Brooks "The Aura" Koepka
Tiger Woods: Rajah
Cody Bellinger: The Bellringer
Ryne Duren: The Blind Rhino
Jake Paul: Jake Haul, Doubletake Jake
Sidney Powell: The Crackpot Kraken, Squid Vicious
Kellyanne Conway: Wrongway Conway
Ben Carson: HUD Ornament
Ronna McDaniel: Ronna McSpaniel
Jared Kushner: Aide de Kampf
Donald Trump: Little Horn, The Trump of Doom, The False Profit, The MESSiah, Gingervitis, The Albino RINO, Mango Deranged, P. T. Burn 'Em, Sir Leakalot, Sir Enhancealot, Sir Pissypanties, Bonnie Prince Bonespurs, Widdle Donnie Whinydiaper, Little Donnie Diaperpants, Little Donnie Doody-Butt, President Poopy-Diapers, Donald Von Shitzen Hosen, The Ultimate Sovereign Shitizen, Boldfinger, Jack the Gripper, The Holey Roamin' Emperor, The Roamin' Seizer, Julius Seize Her, Seize Her Disgustus, Mark Anatomy, His Hineyness King Gorge the Turd, Hair Gropenfuhrer, Der Fuhrer Feltersnatch, Feel Marshall Trump, The Great Gropesby, The Great Gutsby, The Gaud Father, Conigula, Stuporman, Captain Shamerica, Optimus Grime, Felonius Punk, Rigger Mortis, The Zodiac Biller, The New York Pork Dork, Shreddy Freeloader, Graft Spree, Gaffe Spree, Uncle Ream US, Comrade Trumputin, Putin's Poppet, Putin's Ass-Rootin' Rasputin, Tsarzan, The Brooklyn Bolshevik, The Boychurian Candidate, The Snazzy Nazi, Fearless Pleader, Saddam Le Pompadour, Calamity Mane, Mr. Wiggy Piggy, Genghis Can't, Genghis Con, The Lyin' King, Foxymoron, The Hot Air Buffoon, MAGA MOTORMOUTH, Flabby McFlapalot, Ton-o'-Lard Trump, E Pluribus Loon 'em, The Twitter Terror, Con-way Tweety, POTUS WRECKS, The Hocus Pocus POTUS, TyRANTosaurus Wrecks, Quasi Dodo the Hunchback of Notre Shame, The Grate White Wail, The Grate Divider, The Grate Pretender, Alexpander the Grate, Dire Abby (for his bleak relationship advice), Tribalist Trump, The Hinternationalist, The Mansplainer, Blarney Rubble, Meeky Mouse

POLITICAL NICKNAMES

Hope Hicks: Hopeless Hicks, The Stupor Model, Tricky Hicky, Hopester and Hopie (Donald Trump), The It Girl



Matt Gaetz nicknames: Hell's Gaetz, Sewer Gaetz, Young Nixon, Tricky Dick II, Donny Osmond's Evil Twin Brother, Young Gargamel, Jail Bait Gaetz, Trump's Door Mat, Matt the Mat, Barbarian at the Gaetz, The Sunshine State Seditionist, The Treason Caucuser, Reprobate Gaetz



Matt Gaetz aka Young Nixon and Tricky Dick II



Sidney Powell nicknames: The Kraken, The Crackpot Kraken, The Krank, Full Moon Loon (Michael R. Burch), Sid Vicious, Squidney, Squid Vicious (Michael R. Burch), Squid Viscous (Michael R. Burch)

"I'm going to release the Kraken!" — Sidney Powell, 2020

"I'm going to recall the Kraken and plead guilty like a slick, slimy, slithery squid!" — Sidney Powell, 2023

Squid on the Skids
by Michael R. Burch

Sidney Powell howled in 2020:
“The Kraken will roar through the land of plenty!”
But she recalled the Terror in 2023
with a slippery, slimy, squid-like plea.

Katie Britt nicknames: The Craziest Bitch in the Target Parking Lot (Scarlett Johansson on SNL), Klan Mom, Scary Mom, Little Ms. Trainwreck 2024

Alina Habba nicknames: Yabba Dabba Doo-Doo, Alina Habbadabbadoo-doo, Alina Hubbub, the Tacky Iraqi, Sad Saad (her full name is Alina Saad Habba), Ivanka Lite, Ivanka Off-White

Alina "Have a Dab a Doo-Doo" is the perfect lawyer for ex-president Smelvis von Shitzenpants. — Michael R. Burch

Kenneth Chesebro nicknames: The Cheese (his college nickname), The Big Cheese, Cheese-Bro, Cheese Whiz (Not), Trump's TV Lawyer, Lawyer-ish (SNL), Felonius Punk

Kenneth Chesebro has pled guilty to a felony in Trump's failed coup attempt and will now be singing like a cross between a canary and a stuck pig. — Michael R. Burch aka "The Loyal Opposition"

Jenna Ellis nicknames: Spinning Jenny, Slow Jen Fizz, Flipper, Ellis Island of the Damned

Mike Johnson nicknames: MAGA Mike, the MAGA Megaphony, Trump's Mouthpiece, Speaker of the Louse (Michael R. Burch), Mouse Squeaker (Michael R. Burch), Far Right Mike, The Crow-MAGAnon (Michael R. Burch)

Mike Johnson crows about returning women to the Stone Age when they had no choice about becoming pregnant and bearing children. The Crow-MAGAnon worked tirelessly to deny female employees insurance coverage for contraceptives and said denying women choice would solve all America's economic problems by adding bodies to the work force!

Kevin McCarthy nicknames: Speaker of the Mouse, Cave-In McCarthy, Kevin McBarfy, Snarky McCarthy, "My Kevin" (Donald Trump), Phony Baloney, Baby Carrots, Koch Zero, Coup d'Etat Kevin, Coup d'Tot Kevin, Moron (Nancy Pelosi)

Suggested campaign slogan: "Vote for the new McCarthyism, same as the old  McCarthyism!"

Vivek Ramaswamy nicknames: Bad Lounge Act (Will Hurd), Sleepy Vivek (he's anti-woke), Da Vek (his stage name as a rapper), The Indian Eminem, The Libertarian Liberace (Michael R. Burch), The Swami, Swampy Ramaswamy (Michael R. Burch), Sham-a-Swami (Michael R. Burch), RamaSMARMY (Kara Swisher)

Suggested campaign slogan: "What the heck, vote for Vivek!"

Nikki Haley nicknames: Tricky Nikki, Nikki Mouse, Political Prostitute (Kim Jong Un), Hurricane Haley, Haley's Comet

Ron DeSantis nicknames: Ron DeSanctimonious (Donald Trump), Meatball Ron (Donald Trump), Shutdown Ron (Donald Trump), Mini Trump (Nikki Haley), Mini-Mouse, Ron DeSatanist, Ron DeathSantis, Ron DeathSentance-ist, Death-Dealer DeSantis, CoRONa DeathSantis, Rosie Ronny, Conny Ronny, Ron Disastrous, Ron Disaster, Ron DeCANTist

“Ron DeSanctimonious? Trump doesn’t even know what that means. He thought he was casting a Harry Potter spell on him.” — Jimmy Fallon

Marjorie Taylor Greene nicknames: Mad Marge, Klan Mom (Jimmy Kimmel), The QAnon Queen, Queen Karen the Grate, Karen CARPenter, Nostril-Flarin' Karen, Birther Barbie

Donald Trump nicknames: Don the Con, DEAF CON 1, Diaper Don, Man-Baby (Jon Stewart), Widdle Donnie Whinydiaper (Michael R. Burch), The Lyin' King, Gingervitis,

Trump has vowed to "Make AmeriKKKa grate again."

Walt Nauta nicknames: Waldo, The Valet, The Chef, The Body Man, Trump's Aide de Kampf

Chris Christie nicknames: Corpus Christie, Enormes Pantalones, The Love Gov, Big Boy (George W. Bush)

Mike Pence nicknames: Mr. Mum, The Vice Antichrist, Dense Pence, Senseless Pence, Out of the Loop Dupe, Fifty Shades of Gay

Tim Scott nicknames: Teet, Oreo, Sunny Scott, President Sunbeam, Beam 'Em Up Scotty, Great Scott, Scott Free, Uncle Tim, The Woke RINO, The FUND-amentalist (Michael R. Burch)

George Santos nicknames: George Scam Toast (Michael R. Burch), Cosa Boastra (Michael R. Burch), The Brazil Nut

Ted Cruz nicknames: The Holy Cruzader (Michael R. Burch), The Cruz Controller (Michael R. Burch), Terrible Ted Cruz, Treasonous Ted, Lyin' Ted (Donald Trump: "He holds up the Bible and then he lies."), Wacko Bird (John McCain), Proud Wacko Bird (Cruz himself), The Latin Liberace, Felito, Little Fidelo, Castro's Revenge, Ted Schmooze

Lauren Boebert nicknames: Little Bitch (Marjorie Taylor Greene), QAnon Karen, Cosplay Karen, Bullcrap Barbie, Yosemite Samantha, Reverse Paul Revere (Stephen Colbert)

Francis Suarez: Suave Suarez (Michael R. Burch)

TRUMP COUP NICKNAMES / JANUARY 6 NICKNAMES

Donald Trump nicknames: Mango Mussolini, Cheeto Benito, The Saffron Seditionist (Michael R. Burch), The Fanta Menace, Angry Creamsicle (Stephen Colbert), Screaming Carrot Demon (Samantha Bee), The Peach Imp (pun on "impeachment"), The Albino RINO (Michael R. Burch), Tangerine Palpatine, Persimmon Satan, Hair Hitler, Hair Gropenfuhrer, Tsarzan



Ivanka Trump: ICE Princess Ivanka, Ivanka Tramp, Proxy Wife, I Candy, Trophy Daughter, The First-Lady-Daughter

Jared Kushner: Aide de Kampf, Donald Trump's Junior Partner in Grime, Jarring Jared, Muscle-less Jethro, Jarvanka

Donald Trump Jr.: Donnie Dunce Junior, Ponyboy, Chip Off the Old Blockhead, Fredo Corleone, Frito, Fraido



Eric Trump: Eric the Shred, Eric the Brain Dead, The Covidiot, Eric Idle, Draco Malfoy, Sonny Corleone, Sonny-Boy



Melania Trump: The Slovenian Sphinx (Maureen Dowd), Melania Antoinette (Michael R. Burch), Melanoma, The Cold One

Rudy Giuliani nicknames: Ghouliani, Colludy Rudy (Trevor Noah), Trudy, Broody (think of the horror movie The Brood, if the grotesque hatchlings survived), Lawyer-ish (SNL), Trump's TV Lawyer (Lawrence O'Donnell), Fart Blossom (he farted while arguing Trump's fraudulent election case), Count Flatula (Jimmy Kimmel)



The reanimated corpse known as Rudy Ghouliani was stitched together without a brain by Igor's dumber brother. — Michael R. Burch aka "The Loyal Opposition"

William Barr: Detourney General, Human Hefty Bag, Bad Shrek, Enabler General

Mark Meadows: Scary Poppins, Nanny McFee, Trump's Nanny Boo-Boo (Michael R. Burch), White House Chief of Graft, Graft Spree (Michael R. Burch), Idiot (John Boehner), Fat Nerd (coined by Mark Meadows himself), The Paper Shredder, Trump's Smoking Trashcan Man



Mark Meadows, aka Scary Poppins, is Trump's latest nanny. But the first time he errs and incurs Trump's childish wrath, he will forevermore be known as Nanny Boo-Boo. (I wrote this prediction when Meadows was named Trump's White House Nanny and was proved a true prophet on January 6 when Trump's coup failed and he blamed you-know-who.)

Kayleigh McEnany nicknames: Fact-Free Kayleigh, McEnemy, McInaney, McIninny

Mitch McConnell nicknames: The Napping Turtle, Last Ditch Mitch, Mitch Muck-Con-Hell

Steve Bannon: Acting President Bannon, Loose Cannon Bannon, Stephen KKK Bannon, AmeriKlan Idol, Darth Bannon, Darkness Incarnate, The Arsonist

Brett Kavanaugh: The Hanging Judge (because he lets it all hang out in public), Kreepy Kavanaugh, Forrest Hump

The Pardonees aka the Pardon Pursuers: Rudy Giuliani, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mark Meadows, Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan, Mo Brooks, John Eastman, Andy Biggs, Louie Gohmert, Scott Perry

Clarence Thomas nicknames: Uncle Tom, Gramps, Slappy, Anita's Bane

Virginia Thomas nicknames: Ginni the Ninny, Treasonous Thomas

Clarence and Ginni Thomas nicknames: The CONservative COUPle

Mike Flynn nicknames: Dr. Strangelove, In Like Flynnt, Red Flynnstone, Flynnskint, Walking Car Crash

Patrick Byrne nicknames: Blockchain Byrne, Blockhead Byrne, Brain Drain Byrne, The Mad Overstocker, The Mad King, The Crypto King, The Renaissance Man of E-Commerce, Maria Butina's Flame, Putin's Protégé, Putin's Sock Puppet

Kevin McCarthy nicknames: Phony Baloney, Mr. Malaprop, Hell's a-Revvin' Kevin, Snarky McCarthy

Barry Loudermilk nicknames: The ReCON Man (Michael R. Burch), Georgia Preach (Michael R. Burch)

Jim Jordan nicknames: Gym Jordan, Gym-bro, Jarring Jim Jordan, Hot Air Jordan, Snare Jordan, Blare Jordan, Airhead Jordan, Legislative Terrorist (John Boehner)

Mo Brooks nicknames: Less Is Mo' Brooks, Mo Bucks, Mo Money, Mo Misinformation, The MAGA Motor Mouth, The Square Peg, The Recon Don, The Snazzy Nazi, The White Supremacist Terrorist, The Civil War Revivalist, The Alabama Insurrectionist, The Alabama Ass Kisser

Andy Biggs nicknames: Mr. Bigg Shot, Mr. Bigg Mouth, Little Bigg Man, The Would-Be Big Wig, The Arizona Insurrectionist

Marc Short nicknames: Short of the Marc, Shortstop, Shortcut, Koch Addict, Koch Lite, The A$$-istant, Dark Money Marc, Junior Asshole, Short Attention Span Marc, The Dark Money Operative, Day Late and a Marc Short (Michael R. Burch)

Kimberly Guilfoyle: Little Miss Moneybags, The Treason Funder, Lil' Kim

Karen Pence nicknames: The Lying Nun, Creepy Karen (Donald Trump), Mother (Mike Pence)

Ronna McDaniel nicknames: Lie ShaRONNA (Michael R. Burch, apologies to the Knack), My LieRonna (Michael R. Burch), Ronna McSpaniel (Michael R. Burch), Ronna "Spaniel" McDaniel, Far-Gonna Ronna, The Ronna-Bot, Ronna Corona, Corona Ronna, Miss Misinformation, Little Ronna (her childhood nickname), Big Ronna, Ronna Propaganda (Michael R. Burch), The MAGA Megaphony (Michael R. Burch), Little Miss Capitulation (William Kristol), The Spinmistress (Michael R. Burch), Trump's Appa-rat-chick (Michael R. Burch), Ronna Rottweiler

William Kristol called Ronna McDaniel “a nice symbol of the capitulation of the establishment to Trump.”

Peter Navarro nicknames: The EEKonomist, China Sin-Drone 2 (Michael R. Burch), Bullshitter in the China Shop

Dan Scavino nicknames: Scarface, The Scavenger, Great White Snark, Social Media Czar, Trump's Twitter Babysitter (Michael R. Burch)

Jeffrey Clark nicknames: Clark Bent, Stuporman

Scott Perry nicknames: The Corrupter

Bernie Kerik nicknames: The Convict, The Felon, The Pardonee, Lord of the Tombs

Phil Waldron nicknames: The Big Liar, Phil "Cauldron of Lies" Waldron

John C. Eastman nicknames: Leastman, Trump's Treason Adviser, The Insurrection Architect

Louie Gohmert nicknames: Rigger Mortis, The Election Rigger, Loopy Louie, Loony Tunes Louie, Congressman Covid

Ken Klukowski: The Cluck, Clueless Kluk, Clueless Ken

Chris Miller: The Wind Miller, Space Cadet Chris, The Italian Satellite Chaser

Cassidy Hutchinson nicknames: Cass, The Truth Teller, The Honest One, The Smoking Gun, The Whistleblower

Adam Kinzinger nicknames: Cryin' Adam Kinzinger (Donald Trump)

Liz Cheney nicknames: Trump's Worst Nightmare, The Hanging Judge, The Hangwoman (Michael R. Burch), The Jurist, All-Biz Liz (Michael R. Burch), Apollo (Secret Service), Low-Polling Liz Cheney (Donald Trump), Polling Warmonger Liz Cheney (Donald Trump)

Liz Cheney is Trump's Worst Nightmare: an independent-minded strong woman who is unafraid to stand up to him.

Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol building include: the Zip Tie Guy, the QAnon Shaman, Ski Dad aka the Lectern Thief, the Gavel Thief, the Barcalounger, the Bandana Bandit, and the Bear Sprayer

In his revelatory book On the House former Speaker of the House John Boehner calls Ted Cruz "Lucifer in the Flesh." Boehner calls his party "Crazy Town" because the GOP embraced the Tea Party and the so-called Freedom Caucus. Boehner calls members of the Freedom Caucus "political terrorists" and "far-right knuckleheads." He called former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin "one of the chief crazies."

John Madden was called "Pinky" by his players because his face reddened when he yelled at officials. But they never said it to his face. Madden was one of pro football's most popular and engaging figures, may he rest in peace.



Jon Gruden Nicknames: Chucky, Coach Chucky, Napoleon Blownapart (Michael R. Burch), Meathead (Alex Kirshner in Slate)



These are some of the strangest and most ironic nicknames of all time:

The ancient Vikings had a fetish for colorful nicknames: Ivar the Boneless, Eystein the Fart, Ragnar Hairy Breeches, Sigurd Snake Eye, Ulick of the Heads (apparently he liked to lop them off), Olaf the Titbit (undersized for a Norseman perhaps?), Harald the Shockhead also known as Harald Tanglehair and Harald the Lousy, Halfdan the Bad Entertainer, Erik the Short-Changer, Erik the Priest-Hater (a devotee of Odin and Thor, no doubt), Haakon the Crazy, Sweyn Forkbeard ...

Unfortunately, no one can compete with Vikings in the nickname arena and thus everyone else is relegated to squabbling for second. Still, there have been some notable efforts, such as WŁADYSŁAW THE ELBOW-HIGH (a short-statured king of Poland), PEPIN THE SHORT (the height-challenged father of Charlemagne), MANUEL THE SAUSAGE-MAKER (a prime minister of Spain), LOUIS THE UNAVOIDABLE (no one else could be found to rule France after Napoleon's defeat), IVAYLO THE CABBAGE (a Bulgarian farmer-emperor), DOMNALL THE SPECKLED (a freckle-faced ancestor of Kate Middleton), CONSTANTINE THE DUNG-NAMED (a Byzantine emperor), CHILDERIC THE IDIOT (a king of the Franks), ALFONSO THE SLOBBERER (a King of Galicia who foamed at the mouth when angry), ALBERT WITH THE PIGTAIL who was the father of ALBERT THE PECULIAR (both dukes of Austria). 

• Albert Einstein was called The Dopey One (der Depperte) by his family and Mister Dullard (Herr Langweil) by his teachers.
• Robert E. Lee was nicknamed Granny Lee because he was cautious about attacking and putting his men in danger.
• Winston Churchill, so pugnacious in his speeches during World War II, was known as Winnie to his family and friends.
• Another prime minister of England was known as Viscount Goderich the Blubberer due to his lack of a stiff upper lip when people died.
• Jose Canseco was called The Natural at first, but later The Chemist because it turns out he got all those muscles from a tube.
• Mike Hargrove was a baseball player who took so long to bat he was called the Human Rain Delay!
• Michael Jackson was called The King of Pop by his fans and Applehead by his family.
• Elvis Presley was known as Elvis The Pelvis and Sir Swivel Hips.
• Alexander the Great may have been great to his friends but he was The Madman of Macedonia and Alexander the Accursed to his foes.
• The ancient Greek statesman and orator Pericles was known as Onion Head.
• Vlad Tepes, known as the Impaler, and his son, the Little Impaler, inspired Bram Stoker's eerie novel Dracula.
• The state of Virginia is named after the nickname of Queen Elizabeth I, who was called the Virgin Queen.
• Elizabeth's sister had a much darker nickname, Bloody Mary.
• Mary evidently took after her father, King Henry VIII, who was called The Defender of the Faith despite looting churches and beheading priests and his wives!



Where does Donald Trump rank on the all-time list of famous people with nicknames? Here are some quick samples, or examples, in the form of our top ten nicknames of all time. This is a large page, so if you're looking for something in particular you can use CTRL-F or your browser's search feature to find a specific name or category. But it can be entertaining to scroll down and see the world's greatest, wildest and most original nicknames unfold before your eyes! ...

THE BEST NICKNAMES OF ALL TIME, BY CATEGORY

• William Shakespeare: The Bard of Avon, The Upstart Crow [see "Poets and Playwrights"]
• Emily Dickinson: The Belle of Amherst, The White Witch of Amherst, The Queen Recluse
• Thomas Alva Edison: The Wizard of Menlo Park [see "Scientists and Inventors"]
• Albert Einstein: The Dopey One (der Depperte) and Mister Dullard (Herr Langweil)
• Marco Polo: Il Milione ("The Man of a Million Stories") [see "Famous Explorers"]
• Elvis Presley: The King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis The Pelvis, Sir Swivel Hips [see "Musicians and Singers"]
• Michael Jackson: The King of Pop, MJ, The Wiz, The Gloved One, Applehead (his family)
• Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul, Lady Soul, Ree, Sister Ree, Auntie Ree-Ree (Whitney Houston)
• Frank Sinatra: The Chairman of the Board, Ol' Blue Eyes, The Sultan of Swoon, Swoonatra, The Voice
• Maria Callas: La Davina ("The Divine One")
• Jenny Lind: The Swedish Nightingale
• Joan Sutherland: La Stupenda ("The Stupendous One" or "The Stunning One")
• Edith Piaf: La Môme Piaf ("The Little Sparrow"), The Chanteuse
• Charlie Chaplin: The Little Tramp, The Little Fellow, Charlot [see "Actors and Actresses"]
• Doris Day: The Professional Virgin (because of her squeaky-clean image, at least on-screen)
• Don Rickles: Mr. Warmth, Mr. Potato Head, The Merchant of Venom (Dean Martin)
• Muhammad Ali: The Greatest, The People's Champion, The Louisville Lip [see "Athletes"]
• George Herman Ruth: Babe Ruth, The Bambino, The Sultan of Swat, The Big Bam, Colossus of Clout
• Andre Rousimoff: Andre the Giant, Monster Eiffel Tower, The French Giant, Eighth Wonder of the World
• Paul Anderson: The Colossus, The Dixie Derrick, The World's Strongest Man, The Genial Giant
• Wayne Gretzky: The Great One
• William I: William the Conqueror, Long Sword, The Bastard [see "Military Leaders" and "Tyrants"]
• Alexander of Macedon: Alexander the Great, The Madman of Macedonia, Iskander the Accursed
• Charles Edward Stuart: Bonnie Prince Charlie, The Young Pretender [see "Royals" and "Royal Pains"]
• Phoebe Ann Mosey: Annie Oakley, Little Miss Sure Shot [see "Famous Badasses"]
• Henry Longabaugh the "Sundance Kid" ran with Robert Parker aka Butch Cassidy the "Laughing Bandit"
• Attilâ the Hun: Flagellum Dei ("The Scourge of God")
• Genghis Khan: the Great Khan ("Supreme Leader"), The Great Cham, Temüjin ("Iron"), The Butcher
• Richard Nixon: Tricky Dick, Tricky Dicky, Slick Dick, Gloomy Gus, Iron Butt, Old Flabby Jowls, The Crook
• Napoleon Bonaparte: Caporal la Violette ("Corporal Violet"), The Little Corporal, The Little Gunner of Toulon, The Little Corsican, The Little General, Nabulio ("Little Meddler"), Father Violet, Redingote Grise, The Nightmare of Europe, Jupiter Scapin ("Trickster God"), God Hanuman ("Monkey God"), God of Clay (Lord Byron), The Occultist, L'Autre ("The Other"), Jean d'Épée (Jean d'Sword, an occult take on Jean d'Arc "the Maid of Heaven"), The Man of Destiny (another occult title), The Devil's Favourite

Dishonorable Mention: Donald Trump aka Agent Orange, Gingervitis, Man-Baby (Jon Stewart), Widdle Donnie Whinydiaper (Michael R. Burch), Short-Fingered Vulgarian (Graydon Carter), Big Rocket Man, Duke Nukem, Dr. Strangelove, The Wrath of Con, Hair Hitler, Hair Fuhrer, The New Furor, Trumpen Furor, Captain Chaos (NBC), Captain Shamerica, Stuporman, Bratman, Tsarzan, The Fliplomat, Vanilla ISIS, The Lyin' King, The Lord of the Blings, Darth Hater, Uncle Scam, Uncle Ream US (Michael R. Burch), The Banana Republican, The White Kanye (Bill Maher), The Gaud Father (Michael R. Burch), King Gorge, The Great Gutsby (Michael R. Burch), Cancer in a Wig (Trevor Noah), Fuckface von Clownstick (Jon Stewart), Lord Voldemort (Rosie O'Donnell), Downward-Spiraling Scofflaw (George F. Will), Incurious Gorge (Captain Sully Sullenberger), Cave Man (Rush Limbaugh), Putin's Puppet, Comrade Trumputin, The Brooklyn Bolshevik, Polezni Durak ("Useful Idiot" in Russian), Dictator Fanboy Trump (Stephen Colbert), Generalissimo Trump (Mark Sumner), Rome Burning in Man Form (John Oliver), The American Nero, The MESSiah (Michael R. Burch), Golden Wrecking Ball (Sarah Palin), The White Pride Piper, Little Horn (the Holy Bible), The Trump of Doom (the Holy Bible), THE ANTICHRIST

OMG, in a single day Trump claimed to be the King of Israel, the Second Coming of God and the Chosen One!

Let's get this straight: Trump releases the Nunes memo and the stock market immediately crashes 666 points. The federal budget deficit Trump's first fiscal year was 666 billion dollars. Trump's family owns 666 Fifth Avenue, a street symbolic of money (Mammon). The Trump Tower is 203 meters tall, or 666 feet high. On the Ides of March, the day when the Roman republic became a dictatorship, Trump had 666 delegates. He was born on a blood moon. His ancestor who started the Trump family business died on 6-6-6. Her name was Elizabeth Christ Trump. Elizabeth means "oath" or "vow" so her name literally means "vow for Christ to be trumped." Is it just me, or are we living in a real-life Omen movie?

For a YUGE slew of 666 connections, see Is Donald Trump the Antichrist?

Millions of Americans mobilized to protest Tiny Man Trump's creation of a Tiny Man Square in the heart of the American capitol. In the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, Generalissimo Trump ordered rubber bullets, flash grenades and tear gas to be fired at peaceful protesters so that he could have his freakin' picture taken like a third world dictator, posing with a Bible he's never read outside a church he used as a prop. Now Tyrant Trump threatens to "dominate the streets" but only when the protesters have darker skin. A mob attack on the nation's Capitol building is swell, as long as the mob is white. Is this the last episode of Celebrity Apprentice President before the abysmal show gets canceled permanently?



Trump Sedition Nicknames

The "Seditious Six" are senators Ted Cruz (Texas), Josh Hawley (Missouri), Roger Marshall (Kansas), John Neely Kennedy (Louisiana), Cindy Hyde-Smith (Missouri) and Tommy Tuberville (Alabama).

Josh Hawley nicknames: Skin Crawley Hawley, Bawley Hawley, The Post-Trump Trumpist, Mr. Election Erection
Roger Marshall nicknames: Doc, Roger the Unartful Dodger, Codger Roger, Court Martial Marshall
John Neely Kennedy nicknames: Kneely, No JFK, Crash Kennedy, Trash Kennedy, Big Tease, Drama Queen
Cindy Hyde-Smith nicknames: Mrs. Hyde, Little Miss Insurrectionist, Little Miss Confederacy
Tommy Tuberville nicknames: Spud, Spud Nutty, The Tuber, Pine Box Tommy, The Riverboat Gambler
Matt Gaetz nicknames: The Sunshine State Seditionist, The Treason Caucuser, Reprobate Gaetz
Rick Scott nicknames: pRick Scott, Senator Skeletor, Governor Gollum, Voldemort, Pink Slip Rick
Lauren Boebert nicknames: Little Miss QAnon, The Gun Nut, The Rifle Republican, High School Dropout
Kevin McCarthy nicknames: My Kevin (Donald Trump), Coup d’Etat Kevin, Revvin' Kevin, Loose Lips, Minority Pleader
Steve Scalise nicknames: My Steve (Donald Trump), Malaise Scalise
Elise Stefanik nicknames: Groupthink Stefanik, Little Miss Trumpist
Ted Cruz nicknames: The Holy Cruzader (Michael R. Burch), The Cruz Controller (Michael R. Burch), Terrible Ted Cruz, Treasonous Ted, Lyin' Ted (Donald Trump: "He holds up the Bible and then he lies."), Wacko Bird (John McCain), Proud Wacko Bird (Cruz himself), The Latin Liberace, Felito, Fidelo, Little Fidelo, Castro's Revenge, Cohiba, Ted Schmooze, Ted "the Ooze" Cruz (Michael R. Burch) 

Terrible Ted Cruz let Trump insult his wife and defame his father, then came back to lick his boots and do his bidding.

Ali Alexander nicknames: Alexander the Grate, AlexPander the Grate, The Stop the Steal Squealer
Andy Biggs nicknames: Mr. Bigg Shot, Mr. Bigg Mouth, The Arizona Insurrectionist
Paul Gosar nicknames: Go Too Far Gosar, Cooked Goose Gosar, Tsar Gosar
Mo Brooks nicknames: Mo Bucks, Mo Money, Mo Misinformation, The MAGA Motor Mouth, The Square Peg, The Recon Don, The Snazzy Nazi, The White Supremacist Terrorist, The Civil War Revivalist, The Alabama Insurrectionist, The Alabama Ass Kisser

It's endlessly odd when an ass kisser like Mo Brooks implores other people to be "ass kickers." Brooks sowed the wind, will he now reap the biblical whirlwind? In any case, Mo Brooks is the Square Peg in a certain round hole belonging to his Dark Lord and Master. In late December, Ali Alexander told his followers on Periscope that he, Biggs, Gosar and Brooks, three Republican members of Congress, were "planning something big" that would put maximum pressure on Congress. Investigative reporter Jason Paladino noted that Alexander claimed to have organized the insurrection “with congressman @RepGosar @RepMoBrooks and @RepAndyBiggsAZ. We four schemed up putting maximum pressure on congress while they were voting ...” How much pressure was going to be applied? According to CNN, Alexander said, “It was to build momentum and pressure and then on the day change hearts and minds of Congress peoples [sic] who weren’t yet decided or who saw everyone outside and said, ‘I can't be on the other side of that MOB.’”

Trump Coronavirus Nicknames (please click the hyperlinked names for expanded nickname pages)

Nicknames for these Heroes of the Pandumbic have been coined by Samantha Bee, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, David Letterman, Bill Maher, Trevor Noah, Conan O'Brien, John Oliver, Jon Stewart and other famous comics and comedians. A few were even coined by Trump about his Con-federacy of Dunces. Enjoy!

Donald Trump: The Covidiot, Hydroxymoron (Jimmy Kimmel), DEAF CON 1
Jared Kushner: The Covid Kid, Kid Corona, Aide de Kampf, Jarring Jared
Ivanka Trump: Princess Covidia, Trophy Daughter, ICE Princess Ivanka
Donald Trump Jr.: Human-COVID Hybrid #1, Donnie Dunce Junior, The Donlad
Eric Trump: Human-COVID Hybrid #2, The Stupor Genius, Eric the Shred
Melania Trump: Queen Corona, Melanoma, Melania Antoinette, The Missing Lynx, The Slovenian Sphinx, Little Miss Social Distance

Melania Trump needed no special training, having long practiced social distancing with The Donald!

Rudy Giuliani: Rudy Pandemic, Ghouliani, Trudy, Colludy Rudy (Trevor Noah)
Sidney Powell: The Kraken, The Crackpot, The Krank, Full Moon Loon (Michael R. Burch)
Kayleigh McEnany: Fact-Free Kayleigh, McEnemy, McInaney, McIninny
Mitch McConnell: The Napping Turtle, Last Ditch Mitch, Mitch Muck-Con-Hell
Chris Christie: Corpus Christie, Big Boy (George W. Bush), Enormes Pantalones, The Love Gov
Mike Flynn: Dr. Strangelove, In Like Flynnt, Red Flynnstone, Flynnskint, Walking Car Crash
Karen Pence: The Lying Nun, Creepy Karen (Donald Trump), Mother (Mike Pence)
Mike Pence: Mr. Mum, The Vice Covidiot, The Coronavirus Czar, The Vice Antichrist, Snark of the Beast, Beastie Boy, Dense Pence, Senseless Pence, Out of the Loop Dupe, Fifty Shades of Gay

Mike Pence will hereafter be known as The Lone Stranger and The Lone Deranger because he refused to wear a mask at the Mayo Clinic, endangering the lives of everyone breathed upon by the Human-COVID Hybrid #666.

Hope Hicks: Hopeless Hicks, Tricky Hicky, Dopey Hopey, The Hopester
Devin Nunes: Human-COVID-Chipmunk Hybrid, Devin Pandemic, Devin Devil
Kellyanne Conway: Wrongway Conway, Kellyanne Con-Artist (Randy Rainbow)
Stephen Miller: Young Gargamel (Stephen Colbert), Sméagol, Basic Henchman
Katie Miller: Ms. Gargamel, Ms. Sméagol, Domino, Bar-the-Door Katie
Lindsey Graham: Graham Cracker, Crackers, Nutjob (Donald Trump), Disgrace (Trump), Crazy (Trump), Flimsy Lindsey, Lindsey Gomez, Stinkball, Leningrad Lindsey, Shilly Graham

Lindsey Graham Cracker has died his hair blonde to match his Machiavellian master's. Apparently political lapdogs also look like their owners.

Mark Meadows: Scary Poppins, Nanny McFee, White House Chief of Graft
William Barr: Detourney General, Human Hefty Bag, Bad Shrek, Enabler General

Will the Bar Association bill and bar Bill Barr? Will Trump then declare Colludy Rudy Giuliani his new Detourney General? After Bill Barr is disbarred, will he end up behind barrs, or will he find employment as Trump's personal barrtender and anal barrometer? — Michael R. Burch aka "The Loyal Opposition"

Mike Pompeo: Pompey the Grate, The China Sin-Drone, The Wuhan Conman
Rush Limbaugh: The Rushian, Rusty Dim Bulb, America's Rancorman, Lush
Brett Kavanaugh: The Sludge Judge, Kreepy Kavanaugh, Brett the Tit Man
Tom Cotton: Cottonmouth, The Slaughter Moccasin, Viper, High Cotton
Mark Esper: Troop, The Battle Space Bimbo, Secretary of Nonsense
Mark Milley: Milley Cyrus, Milling Milley, Willy Nilly Milley
Ben Carson: HUD Ornament (Michael R. Burch), Psychopath (Trump), Crazy Ben
Sean Hannity: Scammity, Sean Insanity, The Human Vanity Mirror, Lumpy
Lou Dobbs: Loop-de-Lou, Screwloose Lou, Lou Sobbs
Laura Ingraham: Ingrasham
Ron DeSantis: DeSatan, DeSatanist, Death-Dealer DeSantis, Rosie Ronny, Conny Ronny
Trump Shutdown Nicknames: Cave Man, The Wallflower, The Wall Nut, Blarney Rubble
Trump & Co. Collectively: Staff Infection (Stephen Colbert), Bereave US and the Buttheads (Michael R. Burch), Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne), Island of Misfit Toys (Steve Bannon), The Brooklyn Hillbullies (Michael R. Burch), Donald Duck Dynasty, The Stepfordians, The KKKardashians, Poor Little Bitch Kids, The Four Norsemen of the Trumpocalypse, The Cold Ones, Fifth Avenue Freeze-Out, Mire-a-Lago, Donald and the Douchebags, Hitler's Revenge on the United States

George P. Bush nicknames: P, Pee, Golden Shower George, Puddles, Poodle, Trump's Lapdog, Turncoat, Traitor, Bottom of the Barrel Bush, Georgie Porgie

Joe Biden nicknames include Scranton Joe, The Scranton Scrapper, Scrap Iron, Stridin' Joe Biden, Sleepy Joe (Donald Trump), Papa Joe, Amtrak Joe and 46 (i.e., the 46th President of the United States). Joe Biden was given the nickname "Amtrak Joe" after travelling by train every day to commute between Washington D.C. and his home in Delaware. Tragically, he lost his wife and daughter in a car crash in 1972 and was then sworn into the Senate by his son’s hospital bedside. For the next 36 years he reportedly took the train every day to be home with his sons.

Marjorie Taylor Greene nicknames: Mad Marge, Klan Mom (Jimmy Kimmel), The QAnon Queen, Queen Karen the Grate, Birther Barbie

Sean Hannity nicknames: Lumpy (Jon Stewart), Shammity, Scammity, Sean Vanity, Sean Insanity

Tucker Carlson nicknames: Tucker Charlatan, Tucker Snarlson, Mouth Breather (Stephen Colbert)

Ruth Bader Ginsburg nicknames: The Notorious R.B.G., Ruth Vader Ginsburg, Badass Bader and Kiki. Kiki was the nickname given to Ginsburg by her older sister, Marilyn, because she was a "kicky baby." Sadly, Marilyn passed away from meningitis when Ginsburg was two years old. Going by her sister's nickname became an affectionate way of remembering her. In a CNN interview, Ginsburg's childhood friends Ann Kittner and Harryette Helsel reminisced that they knew her simply as Kiki. "Justice Ginsburg, I cannot call Ruth. We call her Kiki," said Helsel.

Rose Dunn's nickname was the Rose of Cimarron. She was introduced to her lover, George "Bitter Creek" Newcomb, by her brothers. Ironically, those same brothers made things bitter indeed, when they killed Newcomb for the $5,000 bounty on his head. Or so one version of the story goes ...



The name "Bitter Creek" came from an old cowboy song Newcomb liked to sing: "I'm a wild wolf from Bitter Creek and it's my night to howl." Newcomb, also known as the Slaughter Kid, was too wild for the Dalton Gang, so he and Wild Bill Doolin started the Wild Bunch with members like Dan Clifton aka Dynamite Dick and William Blake aka Tulsa Jack. But there were actually two gangs with the same gang nickname. Members of the second Wild Bunch included Robert Leroy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy, Harry Longabaugh aka the Sundance Kid, Harvey Logan aka Kid Curry, George "Flat Nose" Curry (no relation), William "News" Carver (he was addicted to reading newspaper articles about the gang's exploits), Ben "Tall Texan" Kilpatrick, William Ellsworth "Elzy" Lay, Tom "Peep" O'Day, Willard "the Mormon Kid" Christianson, and "Laughing" Sam Carey. Their hideout even had a nickname: the Hole-in-the-Wall. Thus the outlaws were also nicknamed the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Five members unwisely posed for the now-famous “Fort Worth Five” photograph (below). The Pinkerton Detective Agency used the photo for wanted posters. The dapper desperadoes sitting in the picture are the Sundance Kid, the Tall Texan and Butch Cassidy. Standing are "News" Carver and Kid Curry.



"Rattlesnake Dick" Barter had one of the all-time great nicknames; he joined a gang that was known for stagecoach robberies during the California Gold Rush days.

WRITER NICKNAMES

These are the nicknames of famous writers and some not-so-famous today...

Chinua Achebe: Dictionary, Prof
Aeschylus: The Father of Tragedy
Aesop: The Sage of Lydia
Alfred the Great was one of England's first notable writers
Francesco Algarotti: The Swan of Padua
The Archpoet: a medieval poet whose real name is unknown
Aristocles: Plato (due to his broad shoulders; platon="broad")
Jane Austen: A Lady (pen name)
James Baldwin: Popeyes, Froggy

James Baldwin had a gap-toothed grin and bulging eyes that had schoolyard bullies calling him Froggy and Popeyes. But Baldwin found solace in language and said, "Writing was my great consolation. I could be as grotesque as a dwarf, and that wouldn’t matter." Now the bullies are all forgotten and Baldwin alone is remembered for his novels, poems, plays and essays.

Honoré de Balzac: The Poet (as a boy, for bad verse)
Simone de Beauvoir: The Beaver
Ray Bradbury: Douglas Spaulding (pen name)
Anne Bronte: Acton Bell (pen name)
Charlotte Bronte: Currer Bell (pen name)
Emily Bronte: Ellis Bell (pen name)
Michael R. Burch: The Locksmith, The Nickname King, Kim Cherub (pen name), Immanuel A. Michael (pen name), Nakba (pen name), The Children of Gaza (pen name), Trump's Bane, The Loyal Opposition

In my younger days as a pool shark a disgruntled opponent called Chicken Man dubbed me The Locksmith because I wouldn't play for money without a mortal lock. I believe I have earned The Nickname King by creating thousands of nicknames, joining the hallowed ranks of Grantland Rice and Chris Berman, whom I have exceeded in quantity if not quality.

Abigail Van Buren: Dear Abby
Anthony Burgess was the pen name of John Anthony Burgess Wilson

Robert Burns: The Bard, Bobbie Burns, Rabbie Burns, Scotland's Favorite Son, The Ploughman Poet, The Heaven-Taught Ploughman, Robden of Solway Firth, The Bard of Ayrshire, The Peasant Bard

Raymond Burrell: Boz
William S. Burroughs: William Lee (pen name)
Lord Byron: The Limping Devil (his coinage)
Miguel de Cervantes: The One-Handed from Lepanto

Thomas Chatterton: The Bristol Boy, The Blue-Coat Boy, The Marvellous Boy (William Wordsworth), Heaven-Born Genius (S. T. Coleridge), Sweet Harper (STC)

Geoffrey Chaucer: The Flower of Poets
Winston Churchill: Winnie, Thye British Bulldog
Samuel Clemens: Mark Twain (a riverboat term meaning "sufficient depth to proceed")
Ruth Crowley: Ann Landers
Charles Dickens: Boz, Dickie, The Inimitable

Emily Dickinson: The Belle of Amherst, The White Witch of Amherst, The Recluse, Liver Lips, Dolly, Daisy and The Queen Recluse (Samuel Bowles)

Emily Dickinson became such a recluse than she seldom if ever left her bedroom in her later years.

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson: Lewis Carroll (pen name), Dodo
Hilda Doolittle: H.D. (pen name)
Fyodor Dostoevsky: Monk Photius
T.S. Eliot: Old Possum (Ezra Pound)
Ralph Waldo Emerson: The Buddha of the West, Yankee Plato
William Faulkner: Count No 'Count
François Fénelon: The Swan of Cambray
Benjamin Franklin: Ben, Alice Addertongue (a pen name)
Theodor Seuss Geisel: Dr. Seuss
Goethe: The Master
Thomas Gray: The Orpheus of Highwaymen
Joel Chandler Harris: Uncle Remus

Ernest Hemingway: Papa, Champ, Hem, Hemmy, Hemmingstein, Ernie, Ernestoic, Bumby, Oinbones, Tiny, Tatie, Wemedge, Wax Puppy
Herodotus: The Weeping Philosopher, The Father of History

Oliver Wendell Holmes: The Autocrat
Homer: The Swan of Meander, The Blind Bard, The Father of Poetry, The Prince of Poets
John Keats: Adonais (by Percy Bysshe Shelley in his elegy for Keats)
Thomas Jefferson: Long Loin
Ben Jonson: The Bricklayer, Father Ben (of the "Sons of Ben"), Rare Ben Jonson

Benjamin "Ben" Jonson, born in 1572, was the first major English writer to be known primarily by his nickname. Benjamin was the smallest of the twelve Hebrew tribes and the name has connotations of smallness, of diminutiveness. "Ben" makes things even smaller. Ironically, there was a tiny English "tribe of Ben" made up of lesser writers who admired Jonson and "literally" walked in his footsteps.

Dr. Samuel Johnson: Ursa Major, The Great Moralist, The Leviathan of Literature, The Great Cham of Literature ("cham"="khan"="ruler")

James Joyce: Herr Satan (due to his beard)
Li Po: The Great Poet of Drunkenness
Norman Mailer: Knuckles (he had a habit of punching people!), Nailer (MRB)
Rod McKuen: The King of Kitsch (Newsweek), The World's Most Understood Poet (Dick Cavett)
John Milton: The British Homer (Milton became blind, like Homer), The Gospel Gun, The Lady of Christ's College

John Milton's features were delicate and fair, and he had long flowing auburn hair, so his classmates dubbed him The Lady of Christ's College.

Sarojini Naidu: The Nightingale of India
Thomas More: A Man for All Seasons
Thomas Moore: The Melodious Bard
Petrarch: The Tuscan Imp of Flame
Alexander Pope: The Nightingale of Twickenham

Pindar: The Swan of Dirce, The Dircean Swan (Horace), The Theban Eagle
Ezra Pound: Bugsy
Sir Walter Raleigh: The Summer's Nightingale

Sappho: The Tenth Muse, The Pride of Hellas, The Flower of the Graces, The Companion of Apollo, The Poetess, The Sweet-Voiced Girl (her own description)

The nine Muses were goddesses, so The Tenth Muse was high praise indeed!

Sir Walter Scott: The Border Minstrel

William Shakespeare: The Sweet Swan of Avon, The Bard, The Bard of Avon, The Upstart Crow, The Divine, The Matchless, Fancy's Child, Heir of France, The Immortal Bard, The Bard of All Time, England's National Poet, Will

Why all the swans in this list? Apollo was the god of poetry, and his chariot was pulled by swans! Homer was considered to be the greatest of the Greek epic poets, Pindar the greatest of the Greek lyric poets. Virgil was considered to be the greatest of the Roman poets. So when Bon Jonson lauded Shakespeare as the "Sweet Swan of Avon," he may have been nominating him as the greatest English poet, and a rival of Homer, Pindar and Virgil. On the other hand, Robert Greene called Shakespeare an "upstart crow" because he was a lowly actor and commoner who dared to write plays and poems like his superiors (or at least his alleged superiors in class and education).

Percy Bysshe Shelley: Mad Shelley, The Atheist, Ariel, Poet of Poets
Sir Philip Sidney: Astrophel
Robert Southey: Abel Shufflebottom
Edmund Spenser: The Prince of Poets, The Elfin Poet (John Keats)
Jonathan Swift: Presto, The English Rabelais
Henry David Thoreau: Hank the Crank
Virgil: The Mantuan Swan 
Voltaire: Zozo (his family's nickname for him), The Ape of Genius (Victor Hugo)
Walt Whitman: The Good Gray Poet, Uncle Walt, Walt, Wally
Oscar Wilde: C33 (his cell number when he was jailed for being gay)

Unexpected Nicknames Part I

Michael Jackson: Smelly, Applehead
Winston Churchill: Winnie
Randolph Churchill: Chumbolly
Pericles: Onion Head
Oliver Cromwell: The Almighty Nose
Charles de Gaulle: The Great Asparagus, La Grande Zohra (The Grand Camel), Cyrano, The Temperamental Lady de Gaulle (FDR)
Isaac Newton: Big Nose
Edward I: Longshanks, The Hammer
Thomas Jefferson: Long Loin
Cory "Poop" Johnson (because a certain body function makes his playing weight unpredictable!)
Emily Dickinson: Liver Lips
Earl Tucker: Snakehips
Robert E. Lee: Granny Lee, The Old Man, Bobby Lee, The Great Tycoon, Marse Robert, Marble Man, Marble Model, The King of Spades

Robert E. Lee was called "Granny" because he was considered by some critics to be too timid and cautious about attacking. He was called the "Marble Model" because he was a model student and the first West Point graduate to never earn a demerit. He was called the "King of Spades" because he ordered his men to "dig in" and create defensive fortifications; when the strategy worked it became a term of endearment for his troops.

Francois Duvalier: Papa Doc
Jean-Claude Duvalier: Baby Doc
William Wordsworth: Turdsworth (Lord Byron)
Don Rickles: Mr. Warmth, Mr. Potato Head (he provided the voice), The Merchant of Venom (Dean Martin), The Prince of Put-Downs, The Prince of Political Incorrectness, Equal Opportunity Offender, Twisted Mister

Like Famous Father, Like Famous Child

Jackie O., aka Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, was the daughter of the flamboyant Wall Street financier and socialite John Vernou "Black Jack" Bouvier III.
Granny Lee, aka Robert E. Lee, was the son of Light-Horse Harry Lee, a hard-charging hero of the American Revolution [see "Unexpected Nicknames"].
Dubya, aka President George W. Bush, was the son of Poppy, aka President George H. W. Bush.
Old Man Eloquent, aka President John Quincy Adams, was the son of Old Sink or Swim, aka President John Adams.
The Impaler, aka Vlad Tepes, and his son the Little Impaler inspired Bram Stoker's eerie novel Dracula.
Don the Con, aka Donald Trump, was the son of Freddie the Freeloader, aka Fred Trump.

Fred Trump used federal government funds to create his real estate empire, while overbilling, discriminating against minorities, and cheating on his taxes. Don the Con has followed in his father's footsteps and vastly surpassed him in chicanery.

NASA Apollo 11 Nicknames

Neil Armstrong aka the "Ice Commander" became the first man to walk on the moon in 1969
Edwin Eugene Aldrin aka "Buzz" was the second man to walk on the moon
Michael Collins aka "The Forgotten Man" called the trio "amiable strangers" because they didn't know each other before the mission
Aldrin changed his legal name to "Buzz" and was the inspiration for Buzz Lightyear of Toy Story fame
Aldrin was called "Buzz" because his sister pronounced "brother" as "buzzer"
The Apollo 11 lunar module was nicknamed "Eagle" and the command service module was nicknamed "Columbia"
The moon encampment was called "Tranquility Base" which was suitable for a peaceful mission but also because the Eagle landed in the Sea of Tranquility
The first words spoken from the moon were: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."
If Apollo 9 had landed on the moon, its command module was nicknamed "Gumdrop" and its lunar module was "Spider"
If Apollo 10 had landed on the moon, its command module was nicknamed "Charlie Brown" and its lunar module was "Snoopy"
Because astronauts had been choosing such unorthodox nicknames (call signs), NASA took over the naming for Apollo 11

Methods to My Madness

On this page I make distinctions between nicknames, monikers and sobriquets. A moniker changes a person's formal name into an "everyday" name; for instance William into Will, Willy, Bill or Billy. A sobriquet is an epithet, title, or otherwise descriptive term: for instance "Ivan the Terrible" and "Catherine the Great." When added to a name, an appendage like "the Great" is called a cognomen. A nickname is any sort of alias, so even inanimate objects can have nicknames: Big Ben, The Windy City, etc. Thus by my definitions for working purposes here, all monikers and sobriquets are nicknames, just as all cats and dogs are animals.

Nicknames denoted MRB were coined by Michael R. Burch, either specifically for this page, or, in the case of Trump-related nicknames, for The HyperTexts' popular Trump nickname, pun, limerick and joke pages. All such nicknames are "public domain" and can be used and shared freely. If you're willing to credit the source, that would be greatly appreciated!

The Scariest Nicknames

What's the scariest nonhuman nickname? Our vote is for the Israeli Deathstalker, a highly lethal scorpion. Another candidate is the Assassin Bug, which kills 10,000 human beings per year—more than sharks, alligators, crocodiles, wolves, lions, hippos and elephants combined, and with lots of room to spare! But there is an animal that kills even more people and its nickname is "man's best friend."

Popular nicknames for dogs include: Ace, Bailey, Bear, Bella, Benji, Buddy, Charlie, Chopper, Cooper, Daisy, Duke, Jack, Lola, Lucy, Luna, Maggie, Max, Molly, Oliver, Penny, Poppy, Rocky, Sadie, Scout, Sophie, Stella, Ted, Teddy, Toby, Tucker, Willow.

Other highly dangerous creatures include Leo (Lion), Tusker (Elephant), Leviathan (Whale), Croc, Gator, Hippo, Rhino, Laughing Hyena, Brazilian Wandering Spider, Brown Recluse, Black Widow, Black Mamba, Blank Panther, Black Death (Cape Buffalo), Great White Shark, Killer Whale (Orca), Killer Bee, Asian Giant Hornet, Komodo Dragon, King Cobra, Boomslang, Coral Snake, Carpet Viper, Bull Shark, Frilled Shark, Hammerhead, Electric Eel, Stingray, Army Ant, Bullet Ant, Driver Ant, Golden Poison Dart Frog, Blue-Ringed Octopus, Stonefish, Cigarette Snail (Cone Snail), Portuguese Man O' War, Box Jellyfish, Blowfish (Pufferfish), Humboldt Squid, Hooded Seal, Grizzly, Polar Bear, Skeeter (Mosquito), and the Tsetse Fly.

Prophets and Prognosticators

John the Baptist
Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet
Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet
Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet
Barnabas: Son of Consolation
Michel de Nostredame: Nostradamus
Donald Trump: Nostradumbass
Jimmy "the Greek" Synder
Tom "Fish" Finn

The Best Boxing Nicknames

Muhammad Ali: The Greatest, The People's Champion, The Louisville Lip, The Lullable Lip
"Smokin'" Joe Frazier
James "Lights Out" Toney
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini
"Iron" Mike Tyson
Willie Pep: Will o' the Wisp
Jack Dempsey: the Manassas Mauler
Roberto Duran: Manos De Piedra (Hands of Stone)
Jake LaMotta: Bronx Bull, Raging Bull
Rocco "Rocky" Marciano: The Brockton Blockbuster
Hector "Macho" Camacho
"Merciless" Ray Mercer
Bernard Hopkins: The Executioner
James "Bonecrusher" Smith
Mike "Bodysnatcher" McCallum
"Homicide Hank" Henry Armstrong
Thomas Hearns: the Hitman, the Motor City Cobra
Larry Holmes: The Easton Assassin
Marco Antonio Barrera: The Baby-Faced Assassin
"Marvelous" Marvin Hagler
Renaldo "Mister" Snipes
“Gentleman” Jim Corbett
Joe Louis: The Brown Bomber
"Sugar" Ray Robinson
"Sugar" Ray Leonard
Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker
Eric "Butterbean" Esche
Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao
Oscar De La Hoya: The Golden Boy
Juan Lazcano: The Hispanic Causin' Panic
Michael "Second To" Nunn 
Samuel Peter: The Nigerian Nightmare
Nigel Benn: The Dark Destroyer 
Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
Oliver "The Atomic Bull" McCall
Riddick Bowe: Big Daddy
Arturo "Thunder" Gatti
Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
Ronald "Winky" Wright
Charles "Sonny" Liston
O'Neil "Give 'em Hell" Bell
James "Buster" Douglas
Chuck Wepner: The Bayonne Bleeder
Emanuel Augustus: Drunken Master
"Two Ton" Tony Galento
Primo Carnera: the Ambling Alp
Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Money Mayweather, Boxing's Bling Midas (Michael R. Burch), Fair Weather Mayweather (Michael R. Burch), Cherryweather 

Jake Paul: The Problem Child, Jake the Fake, Jake the Flake, Snowflake Jake, Jake Haul (Michael R. Burch), Jake Fall (Michael R. Burch), Jake Doubletake (Michael R. Burch), Jake the Snake Oil Salesman (Michael R. Burch), Jake the Rake (he staged a fake wedding then published pictures of himself "doing it" with his fake bride)

The Evolution of Nicknames: How One Nickname Leads to Another

Nicknames often come with fascinating stories. For instance, Earvin Johnson was first called "Magic" as a 15-year-old basketball star at Everett High School. He was given the nickname by a sportswriter who saw Johnson produce 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists, as if by magic. However, Johnson's mother, a devout Christian, thought the nickname was blasphemous!

Sometimes one nickname leads to another. Walter Johnson was baseball's first great strikeout artist. Grantland Rice dubbed him the Big Train because Johnson's fastball roared like an express train as it whizzed past batters. Many years later Nolan Ryan began to threaten the Big Train's strikeout records. He was awarded the nickname The Ryan Express, which was a take on the movie Von Ryan's Express but also a tip of the cap to the original Big Train.

Grantland Rice coined a number of enduring nicknames: Red Grange was the Galloping Ghost; Jack Dempsey was the Manassa Mauler; Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat, Doc Thor, and a "bolt-heaving" Jupiter; Notre Dame's backfield were the Four Horsemen (of the Apocalypse); Helen Wills Moody was Little Miss Poker Face; Honus Wagner was Honus the Hittite (with a pun on "hit"); Ty Cobb was the Georgia Peach.

Ty Cobb was born and raised in Narrows, Georgia, a rural community northeast of Atlanta. When Cobb was trying to break into the big leagues, Grantland Rice was the Atlanta Journal's sports editor. Cobb would use aliases to send praise-filled letters to Rice, hoping to get noticed. Rice eventually published a column about Cobb, and the two later become friends.

BTW, Grantland Rice's own nicknames were Grant, Granty, Granny and Grantland Nice (because he was often lenient with the stars he covered)

Longtime ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman is another prolific creator of sports nicknames; for instance: Andre "Bad Moon" Rison, Bert "Be Home" Blyleven, Mike "Lego My" Gallego, etc.

Nickname Origins

How do nicknames originate? Here's one colorful example. In his heyday The Mick was baseball's most feared hitter. Not only did Mickey Muscles hit gargantuan home runs by the bushel, but he was as fast as the wind and hard to throw out. Because he hailed from a town called Commerce, he was sometimes called the Commerce Comet. Never before had major league baseball seen a player who was so incredibly strong and so blazingly fast. But our hero did have an Achilles Heel: the strikeout. And he couldn't hit fireballer Dick Radatz at all. Radatz once struck him out 12 times in 16 at-bats! Radatz was an intimidator who stood 6'6" and weighed north of 250 pounds. And so The Mick did the only thing he could possibly do under such trying circumstances. The famous switch hitter pulled a switcheroo. He dubbed his nemesis "The Monster." Of course there's no shame in being bested by a hulking monster, so Mickster the Trickster was instantly vindicated. Oh, and by the way, an "Achilles Heel" is a nickname for a fatal flaw that goes back the ancient Greeks and the battle of Troy. For history, etymology and trivia buffs, we have a section about the evolution of nicknames, immediately below.

Nickname Twins

Sometimes people end up sharing a nickname. Roy "Wrong Way" Riegels scored a touchdown in the 1929 Rose Bowl ... for the opposing team. But Douglas Corrigan went him one better (or worse) when in 1938 he accidentally crossed the Atlantic while trying to fly to California, and became forever known as "Wrong Way" Corrigan! Recently, Kellyanne Conway has earned the poetic nickname "Wrongway Conway."

Nickname Origins: A "Brief" History of Nicknames, Monikers and Sobriquets

The term "nickname" derives from the Middle English ekename, circa 1300. The Old English eaca means "an increase" so an ekename was an additional name, which makes perfect sense. Eventually the phrase "an ekename" became fused, with the "n" in "an" being kept and the "a" being dropped. It was probably pronounced "neek-name" at the time. Later the long "e" was shortened to an "i" and, viola!, we have "nickname."

The universe began with the "Big Bang" around 14 billion years ago. Some stars and planets have nicknames: Polaris is the North Star and the Pole Star; Sirius is the Dog Star; Betelgeuse is the Hand of Orion; the Pleiades are the Seven Sisters; our sun has been called Sol, Helios, Apollo and Phoebus; Mars is the Red Planet; Earth is the Blue Planet and Gaia; Venus is the Morning Star and the Evening Star.

Did you know that from 1781 to 1850 the planet Uranus was called George? Astronomer William Herschel named the planet Georgium Sidus ("George's Star") in honor of his patron King George the III.

The oldest earthly nicknames may be those assigned to prehistoric creatures: Tyrannosaurus Rex literally means Tyrant Lizard King; Bullockornis is the Demon Duck of Doom; Kaprosuchus is the BoarCroc; Cretoxyrhina is the Ginsu Shark; Smilodon is the Saber-Toothed Tiger; Oreopithecus is the Cookie Monster (a pun on "oreo")

Individual fossils are often given nicknames by their discoverers: Big Al the Allosaurus, Dolly the Dolichorhynchops, Gorgeous George the Daspletosaurus, Spike the Pentaceratops, Hellboy the Regaliceratops

The Epic of Gilgamesh is generally considered to be the oldest surviving great work of literature. Probably written over 4,000 years ago, the ancient poem employs nicknames. Gilgamesh is called the "Wild Ox." He defeats a giant called Humbaba "the Terrible." The city of Uruk is dissed and dismissed as "Uruk-the-Sheep-Enclosure." Utnapishtim, the original Noah, is called "the Faraway." He creates a giant ship called "The Preserver of Life" which he uses to save his family and animals from a global flood, releasing birds to determine when the waters have receded.

One of the oldest nicknames appears in the early pages of the Bible, in Genesis, where Nimrod is called "the Mighty Hunter." Interestingly, Nimrod may have been modeled after Gilgamesh just as Noah was obviously based on Utnapishtim. However according to the biblical account, Nimrod's descendents created Babylon's infamous Tower of Babel, so his reputation became tarnished. Many centuries later, after Bugs Bunny called Elmer Fudd a "nimrod" because Fudd fancied himself to be a "mighty hunter," the term came to mean "foolish and inept."

Other biblical nicknames: Jeremiah "the Weeping Prophet," David "the Shepherd King," Solomon "the Wise", the Virgin Mary, John "the Baptist," John "the Beloved Disciple," Simon "the Zealot," Paul "the Tentmaker," and Jesus "the Christ," "the Messiah," "the Lamb of God," "the Lion of Judah," "the Son of God," "the Prince of Peace," etc.

Homer (circa 800 BC) employed epithets in the Odyssey and Iliad. For example: Paris "the Magnificent," Ajax "the Great" and Ajax "the Lesser," "Great-Hearted" Odysseus, and "Swift-Footed" Achilles.

Hesiod (circa 700 BC) employed epithets in his Theogony: Zeus "the Aegis-Holder," Poseidon "the Earth-Holder," etc.

Thales (624-546 BC) was called the "Father of Philosophy."

Pythagoras (570-495 BC) was called the "Father of Numbers."

Herodotus of Halicarnassus (484-425 BC) was called the "Father of History" by Cicero.

Democritus (460-370 BC) was called the "Laughing Philosopher."

Socrates (470-399 BC) was called the "Gadfly" by his student, disciple and admirer Plato (428-348). Plato may have been a nickname meaning "broad" that allegedly was given to him by his wrestling coach. Plato nicknamed his student Aristotle (384-322 BC) the "Foal." Why? Well, foals have been known to kick their mothers when they've finished nursing! Aristotle became a tutor to Alexander III of Macedon (356-323 BC) who is known to most of the world as "Alexander the Great" (although he was known as "Iskander the Accursed" by some of the people he conquered!).

Caligula was a nickname; it means "Little Boot" in Latin. The nickname was given to the future Roman emperor by his father's troops a few years after his birth in 12 AD. Roman soldiers would later give Caligula the boot when they assassinated him in 41 AD, shortly after he declared that he wanted to be worshiped as a living god!

A Roman emperor known by his sobriquet was Julian the Apostate, who ruled from 361-363.

Charlemagne was a sobriquet; it means "Charles the Great" in French. His real name was simply Charles. He became king of the Franks in 768.

Speaking of France, champagne was called le vin du diable ("the devil's wine") because it sometimes made bottles explode.

The French term "villain" originally meant someone who lived or worked on a villa. But a few bad eggs apparently spoiled the whole bunch, at least reputation-wise.

The first king of England, Egbert, was called the Bretwalda or "Brit ruler." Egbert was a Saxon who united the kingdoms of Wessex, Kent, Mercia and Northumbria for the first time. He ruled from 802-839 and achieved the height of his power around 829.

The greatest of the Anglo-Saxon kings of England was unoriginally called "Alfred the Great." He ruled from 871-899.

Things became dicey for the Anglo-Saxon kings due to the indecisiveness of "Aethelred the Unready." He fled the island when a Dane named "Sweyn Forkbeard" invaded England in 1013. The Vikings definitely had the cooler nicknames:  Ivar "the Boneless," Sigurd "Snake Eye," Ulick "of the Heads" (apparently he liked to lop them off), Eystein "the Fart" (don't ask!). Who wouldn't want such catchy nicknames, so of course they caught on after the Vikings started raiding England! After all, one must keep up with the Joneses! Thus we will see English nicknames becoming more entertaining ....

Edmund Ironside didn't quite live up to his sobriquet. He came to the English throne in 1016 but died the same year.

Harold Harefoot was quick on his feet but didn't have much staying power, as he only ruled from 1035-1040.

Edward the Confessor was famously pious and commissioned the rebuilding of Westminster Abby. But he died without an heir in 1066 and the battle for his crown resulted in the Norman Invasion.

William I (1028-1087) was known as William the Conqueror after he won the crown of England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, but he was also called The Bastard. The chip may not have fallen far from the block because his father, Robert I of Normandy (1000-1035), was called Robert le Magnifique ("The Magnficent") and Robert le Diable ("The Devil"). But why didn't anyone think to combine his cognomens and call him "Robert the Magnificent Devil"?

Richard the Lionheart ruled England from 1189-1199, but spent much of time fighting abroad on Crusades.

Marco Polo aka "Il Milione" (the man of a million stories) was born in 1254 AD and traveled extensively in the Middle East and Far East, where he acquired his stories first-hand and by talking to the natives.

One of the oldest English commoner nicknames on record is quite colorful: Roger Fuckebythenavele appears in the Chester county court plea rolls from December 8, 1310. Even the Vikings would have a hard time topping that one!

When Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492, the nicknames "New World" and "Old World" were soon coined.

Elizabeth I was called Gloriana, "Good Queen Bess" and the "Virgin Queen." The state of Virginia derives its name from the latter. She ruled England from 1558-1603.

Queen Mary I, the sister of Elizabeth I, had a much darker nickname: "Bloody Mary." She ruled from 1553-1558.

Charles II was known as "The Merry Monarch" because he liked to party and had at least 13 mistresses. He ruled from 1660-1685.

One of the first major inventions of the so-called Industrial Revolution, the spinning jenny, was invented by James Hargreaves in 1764. While it has been claimed that the device was named after his daughter Jenny, there is no evidence that Hargreaves had a daughter by that name. "Jenny" may have been shorthand for "engine."

During the American Revolutionary War (1765-1783), British soldiers called rebellious colonists "Damned Yankees." The colonists called British troops "Lobster Backs" because of their bright red uniforms. The leaders of the Revolution became known as the American "Founding Fathers." But where did the odd term "Yankee" originate? It may derive from eankke, the Cherokee word for coward! Meanwhile, the mistresses of King George I were called the Maypole and the Elephant!

Before the French Revolution (1789-1799), there were two "estates" or power groups: the nobles and the clergy. Thus when the people began to demand a voice in government, they were called the "third estate." The Greek word demos means "the people" collectively, so advocates of the rights of the "little people" became known as Democrats. As the French people sought greater rights, their "Great Fear" resulted in a "Reign of Terror" or simply "The Terror." Nearly 20,000 people were called "enemies of the people" and lost their lives, many to a new device called the guillotine.

Later, Simon Bolivar led similar revolutions in South America from 1807-1830 and was called El Libertador ("The Liberator"). Bolivia was named after him.

The "locomotive" or "location mover" was a very important invention; the term was first used in 1814. Trains were given nicknames to advertise their speed advantages over other forms of transportation: Rocket, Comet, Catch-Me-Who-Can.

Since we're discussing the "evolution" of nicknames, let's note that Charles Darwin was called "Gas" by his friends because he did so many chemistry experiments. One of Darwin's leading opponents was Samuel Wilberforce, who was nicknamed "Soapy Sam." One of Darwin's chief defenders was T. H. Huxley, who became known as "Darwin's Bulldog." Darwin's masterwork On the Origin of the Species was published in 1859.

The Civil War (1861-1865) introduced a number of nicknames or helped increase their popularity: Dixie, Johnny Reb, Stonewall Jackson, Unconditional Surrender Grant, Old Fuss and Feathers, ironclad, carpetbagger, etc.

The period from 1870 to 1900 is known as the "Gilded Age."

Here is a brief history of professional wrestling nicknames and their colorful evolution, starting shortly after the Civil War ...

Evan "Strangler" Lewis was the first superstar professional wrestler, claiming the championship in 1883 with his famous stranglehold.
Martin "Farmer" Burns was the next superstar wrestler, winning the championship in 1895 and never losing a fall from 1890-1893.
In the 1920s the "Gold Dust Trio" with their champion Ed "Strangler" Lewis introduced body slams, suplexes and scripted theatrics to pro wrestling.
Ed Lewis was not related to the original "Strangler" but copied his nickname and signature move (something other wrestlers would also do).
Another gold-duster, Joseph "Toots" Mondt, was credited with inventing 60% of the holds and 90% of the finishing moves.
In the 1930s "Lord" Patrick Lansdowne (aka Duke Finnegan) would enter the ring wearing a velvet robe and doublet, accompanied by two valets. 
The Lord demanded that the British national anthem be played as he entered the arena; thus the "bad guy" or "heel" was born.
George Raymond Wagner aka "Gorgeous George" started his career by fighting for 35 cents at carnivals, then "wised up" ...
"Gorgeous George" aka "The Human Orchid" adopted the Lord's flamboyant capes, valets and "atomizer" (perfume dispenser/disinfectant).
Herman Gustav Rohde Jr. aka "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers was another "early adopter" of the Lord's pompous theatrics.
Ric Flair was the second "Nature Boy" and he copied Rogers' bleached blonde hair, strut and even his finishing move!
(For more colorful wrestling nicknames search this page for "wrestler" or "wrestling.")

Henry Ford produced the first Model T automobile in 1908. It was nicknamed the Tin Lizzie, the Leaping Lena and the Flivver.

Kaiser Wilhelm II and Tsar Nicholas II were longtime pen pals who called each other Willy and Nicky. One of their telegrams was signed "Your loving Nicky." But that was before Word War I, when they became mortal enemies. The "Great War" commenced in 1914. It was also called "The war to end all wars," but of course it didn't.

While George Herman Ruth was trying out for Baltimore Orioles owner Jack Dunn in 1914, some players took to calling the 19-year-old "Jack's newest Babe."

Nicknames coined or popularized during World War I include: shell shock, hush-hush, mockup, A-1, ace, dogfight, nosedive, joystick, ack-ack, blimp, zeppelin, U-boat, tank, blotto, draftee, pipsqueak, Tommy, Jerry, Fritz, Kraut, Huns, kaput, toot sweet, pillbox, bunker, trench warfare, trench mouth, no man's land, trip wire.

The so-called "Lost Generation" came of age during World War I and the "Roaring Twenties." The term "Lost Generation" was coined by Gertrude Stein and popularized by Ernest "Papa" Hemingway when he used it as an epigraph in The Sun Also Rises.

When Charles Lindberg became the first airplane pilot to fly nonstop across the Atlantic in 1927, he was hailed as Lucky Lindberg.

"Goon" comes from the Popeye comic strip and a character named Alice the Goon who first appeared on December 10, 1933. Alice the Goon was a brute who who stood eight feet tall. She caused controversy with protective mothers, who claimed her frightening appearance alarmed their children. Alice was therefore "toned down" in later appearances. But the term "goon" stuck. BTW, "thug" is a Hindi word meaning cheat or swindler. Thugs practiced Thuggee and would rob and kill travelers. The original thugs apparently belonged to a religious cult that worshipped the goddess of death and destruction and killed in order to please her.

During World War II (1939-1945), "Rosie the Riveter" became an iconic image of the American working woman.

Nicknames coined or popularized during World War II include: a-bomb, ammo, flak, AWOL, FUBAR, SNAFU, SOL, haywire, stinkeroo, bail out, brown-noser, chicken shit, chow hound, eager beaver, wash out, Mickey Mouse (trivial, petty), podunk, retread,  rookie, flyboy, dear John, roger that, roger wilco, flying fortress, beachhead, fascist, Nazi, blitz, blitzkrieg, ninety-day-wonder (an officer with three months of training), G.I., G.I. Joe, dogface, dog tags, mud eater (infantryman), civvies, Jap, jeep, pineapple (hand grenade), that's all she wrote, walkie-talkie, zombie.

The S. S. Minnow on Gilligan's Island was named after Newton "Newt" Minow, the FCC head who called television a "vast wasteland." The show's creator, Sherwood Schwartz, abhorred Minow and snidely named the useless boat after him. There was never an agreement as to whether Gilligan was a first or last name. Bob Denver, who played the character, suggested that Gilligan was a nickname created by the irate Skipper pronouncing the name "Gil Egan" too quickly! Skipper was definitely a nickname; the character's "real" name was Jonas Grumby. On a more somber note, the final day of filming the show's pilot was Friday, November 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. This is the reason there is an American flag flying at half mast while the Minnow leaves port in the first season's opening sequence.

In addition to being in our top ten list for his own nicknames, Muhammad Ali was a prolific creator of nicknames for his opponents. Unfortunately, the ones he came up with were less than flattering! For example: George Foreman "The Mummy," Joe Frazier "The Gorilla," Sonny Liston "The Big Ugly Bear," Oscar Bonavena "The Beast," Floyd Patterson "The White Man's Champion," Ernie Terrell "The Octopus," Buster Mathis "The Dancing Hippo," Ernie Shavers "The Acorn," Larry Holmes "The Peanut," George Chuvalo "The Washer Woman" and Leon Spinks "Dracula." Ali also called several boxers "Uncle Toms" for continuing to use his "slave" name, including Frazier, Patterson and Terrell.

Longtime ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman is another prolific creator of nicknames; for instance: Andre "Bad Moon" Rison, Bert "Be Home" Blyleven, Mike "Lego My" Gallego, etc.

When the US finally won its first Olympic gold medal in curling, it was called a "miracurl on ice."

Where did the term OK originate? Martin Van Buren was nicknamed "Old Kinderhook" because he was born in Kinderhook, New York. During his presidential campaign, Van Buren supporters carried OK signs, and the abbreviation became popular slang for "kinda good" or "not so bad."

The term "hooker" for a prostitute has been associated with a Civil War general, Joseph Hooker. "Fighting Joe" was a hard drinker and ladies' man who brought prostitutes along on his campaigns. His headquarters were described as being a combination of "bar-room and brothel." The prostitutes were derisively called "Hooker's Brigade." However, "hooker" had been used as early as 1845 in relation to prostitutes, so perhaps Fighting Joe only helped popularize the term. In any case, "hooker" certainly caught on, if you'll pardon the pun!

Skating's thrilling "axel" is named after Norwegian figure skater and speed skater Axel Paulsen. In addition to inventing his namesake jump, Axel Paulsen also invented the modern speed skate, with a metal blade attached to the boot.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar's patented shot had its own nickname: the "Skyhook." But Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal went him one better, because opponents' intentional fouls to keep him from scoring were nicknamed "Hack-a-Shaq."

Bollywood is a portmanteau derived from Bombay and Hollywood; there is no actual place called Bollywood.

Non-Government Nicknames

The Shutdown Kings forced 800,000 federal workers and over a million contractors to work without pay, or to stop working entirely. Were they concerned about what they did? Not at all! ...

Wilbur Ross de là Antoinette: "Let them eat cake—borrowed cake!"
Wilbur "Gloss" Ross: "800,000 workers is a third of a percent of the GDP, so it's not like it's a gigantic number."
Tone Deaf Donald Trump: "Many of these people who are not getting paid are totally in favor of what we're doing."
Tone Deaf Donald Trump: "The people on the receiving end will make adjustments. They always do."
Lara "Tiara" Trump: "It's a little bit of pain. We're behind you." (The filthy rich Trumps made the Shutdown sound like a reaming, which of course it was.)
Sebastian Gorka called Trump's shutdown performance a "master stroke." (Gorka failed to mention where the "stroke" was being delivered.)
Smirking Kevin Hassett: "They're better off." (According to Hassett, the shutdown was "better" than a paid vacation!)
Larry "New Low" Kudlow: "This is just a glitch. Thanks to the volunteers!" (People forced to work without pay are not "volunteers" but virtual slaves.)

There was plenty of Republican finger-pointing:

Republican Senator Ron Johnson exploded: "This is your fault, Mitch Muck-Con-Hell!"
Trump, the Wall Nut who never blames himself, rage-tweeted about his Aide de Kampf, Jared Kushner.
Lindsey Graham Cracker opined that not building the border wall would end Trump's presidency.
Breitbart proclaimed "Pelosi trumps Trump!" then asked "Where's Wall Dough?"
The Drudge Report said Trump is "walled in."
Rush "out on a" Limbaugh said Trump had promised him personally that he would shut down the government.
Only Sean "O'Scammity" Hannity expressed any confidence in Trump, saying he "holds all the cards" despite the way he folded an unplayable hand.

Chairman Ann Coulter, the new Acting President of the United States, called Trump the "Biggest Wimp" in the history of the presidency and pointed out that he had failed to deliver on the signature promise he had made every day for 18 months: to create a 2,000-mile-long wall and force Mexico to pay for it!

New, Trending and Rising Nicknames

These are our latest "nicknames in the news" ...

Rudy Giuliani: Rudy Ghouliani, Embalmer's Display Model (Stephen Colbert), Mulberry Street Dracula (Seth Meyers), Colludy Giuliani (Trevor Noah), Trump's TV Lawyer (Lawrence O'Donnell), Rudy the Red-Nosed Panderer, AmeriKKKa's Scariest Mayor, Trump's Scampaign Manager, Trudy, Broody, Lawyer-ish (SNL), Human Pinball Machine (former CIA Director Leon Panetta), Endless Barrage of Unforced Errors in Human Form (Michael R. Burch)

"All summer long, Rudy Giuliani has acted as if he's in a contest with Donald Trump to prove who the most manic 70-something from the outer boroughs really is. It started at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, where Giuliani raved and gesticulated about the podium like an Aztec priest offering up fresh beating hearts to Quetzalcoatl." (Brooks Kraft)

Manny Machado: Mannywood, Macho Man, The Baby-Faced Assassin (Adam Jones), M&M, Hakuna Machado, El Ministro de la Defensa
Bryce Harper: Harp, Bam Bam, Mondo, Big Kid, The Chosen One (Sports Illustrated, when he was 16)
Trevor Lawrence: Sunshine (after his lookalike Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass in the movie Remember The Titans)
Nick Foles: Mr. January, Unstoppable Playoff God (Rodger Sherman)
Cody Parkey: Mr. Magneto (Michael R. Burch)

Imagine how hard it would be to hit a 4-inch-wide NFL goal post with a kicked ball. Yet somehow Chicago placekicker Cody Parkey managed to do it five times in a single season! One sportscaster suggested there must be magnets involved, the way Parkey's kicks seem to head unerringly toward the uprights. 

Vladimir Putin: Vova, Vladula, Pale Moth (his KGB code name), The Kremlin's Grey Cardinal, The Acting President of the United States
Maria Butina: Red Sparrow, Agent 69, The Siberian Sphinx, The Siberian Lynx (pun on Russian "links")
Nancy Pelosi: Petunia, Nails (apparently, she can be soft and hard, as Trump is finding out)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Sandy, The Happy Warrior (Kerry Eleved), The Phenom (TIME)

Supreme Court Justice Nicknames

Old Bacon Face (Samuel P. Chase, who had a reddish complexion)
Scalito (Samuel Alito, who was characterized as a mini-me of Antonin Scalia)
The Lone Ranger (William Rehnquist, for his contrarian positions)
Hugo-to-Hell (Hugo Black, a judge known for his strict sentencing judge)
Brett Kavanaugh: The Hanging Judge (because he lets it all hang out in public), Kreepy Kavanaugh, Forrest Hump
Clarence Thomas nicknames: Uncle Tom, Gramps, Slappy, Anita's Bane
Ruth Bader Ginsberg: The Notorious RBG

The seemingly frail Supreme Court Justice didn't miss a day on the bench while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for colon cancer. Instead, she hired a personal trainer and was soon able to do 20 full pushups at age 80! Later, when Ginsberg had surgery for pancreatic cancer, she still didn't miss any bench time. At age 85 she broke three ribs and had part of her lung removed surgically, but once again she didn't miss any work. The Notorious RBG is one badass Supreme Court Justice!

But if Thurgood Marshall is called "Thoroughgood" that's not a nickname, but the first name he was born with!

The Trump Administration: Coup d'Tot (Michael R. Burch), Moscow on the Hudson, Staff Infection (Stephen Colbert), Monster's Ball (David Axelrod), Mire-a-Lago, ICE Capades, The Island of Misfit Toys (Steve Bannon), The Grifters (Valerie Plame), Trolls Galore (Hillary Clinton), Amoral Flying Monkeys (Keith Olbermann), The Alt-Right Swamp (Vogue), Tweety and the Twits, The Kremlin Gremlins, The Far Slide, Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne), Reign of Error, The Trump Freak Show (Vogue), The Hinternationalists (Michael R. Burch), Amateur Hour at the White House, Celebrity Presidential Apprentice, Hair Hitler and the Whigs, The White Supremacist House

Richard Wayne Penniman nicknames: Little Richard, Sizzlin' Hot Bacon from Macon, The Bronze Liberace, The Real King of Rock 'n' Roll, The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll (Penniman himself), The Architect, The Originator, The Innovator, The Emancipator, War Hawk, The Original Georgia Peach

Since Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy was filmed wearing an OAN t-shirt, he is the OAN Ranger and OANed by the Alt-Right. Before being linked with racists and conspiracy theorists, Gundy was most famous for his mullet, with nicknames like Mullet Man, Mane Man and Stillwater Shag.

Famous Nicknames of Inanimate Objects

Big Ben
The Sphinx
Stonehenge
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The White House
Capitol Hill
The House That Ruth Built (Yankee Stadium)
The Green Monster (Fenway Park's left field wall)
Wilson (the volleyball in the movie Cast Away)

Famous Nicknames of Groups and Organizations

Uncle Sam (US Federal Government)
Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association)
Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation)
Sallie Mae (Student Loan Marketing Association)
Big Blue (IBM)
Big Brown (UPS)
Needless Markup (Neiman Marcus)
Jet Set (rich people who move in fast circles)
Beautiful People (supermodels, actors/actresses, et al)
Nerds (introverts and the socially inept)
Dorks (less intelligent nerds)
Jocks (athletes)
Hippies (laid-back dropouts and nonconformists)
Hot Dogs (show-offs)
Deadheads (fans of the Grateful Dead)

Portmanteaus

Brangelina: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
TomKat: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Tay-Squared: Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner
Cash and Cary: Heiress Barbara Woolworth and Cary Grant
Billary: Bill and Hillary Clinton
Desilu: the actual name of the studio created by Desi Arnaz Jr. and Lucille Ball

Poetic Nicknames/Rhyming Nicknames/Alliterative Nicknames

Awesome Bill from Dawsonville (Bill Elliott)
The Round Mound of Rebound (Charles Barkley)
Flo-Jo (Florence Griffith-Joyner)
Prime Time, Neon Deion (Deion Sanders)
Hammerin' Hank Aaron
Earl the Pearl (Earl Monroe, Earl Strickland)
Stan "the Man" Musial
Hakeem "the Dream" Olajuwon
Clyde "the Glide" Drexler
"Cupid" Childs
Beaver Cleaver
Tricky Dick (Richard Nixon)
No Drama Obama (Barack Obama)
The Baltimore Ravens (inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem "The Raven")
Achilles Heel (inspired by Homer's famous poem "The Odyssey")

Real Names that Suited Their Owners

Oscar Wilde
William Wordsworth
Walter Camp (he ran the first football "camp")
Johnny Force (drag car racer)
Johnny Majors (a major football star)
Peerless Price (he was a peerless receiver who made a lot of money with his skills)
Tennys Sandgren (tennis player)
Dean Smith (the dean of basketball coaches)
Wolfgang von Trips (early Formula One driver)
Twig Zeigler (an out-on-the-limb funny car driver)
Will Power (his willpower helped him win the Indy 500)
Darrell Royal (football royalty in Texas)
Fielding Yost (a football coach who fielded winning teams)

Poetic Real Names

Early Wynn (great name for a pitcher; he also wrote a column called "The Wynn Mill")
John Donne
Rory McIlroy
Anais Nin
Maya Angelou
Sappho of Lesbos (from whom we get the terms "sapphic" and "lesbian")
Florence Nightingale
Madeline L'Engle
Dr. Seuss (the pen name of the also-poetic Theodor Seuss Geisel)
Elvis Presley
Marilyn Monroe (although she started out as Norma Jean Baker)
Gypsy Rose Lee
Voltaire (like a clear blue sky split by lightning)
Lewis Carroll
Rainer Maria Rilke
Percy Bysshe Shelley (the perfect name for a romantic poet)
Pablo Neruda
Langston Hughes
e. e. cummings
Sylvia Plath (her name means "forest path" but it was a very dark forest)
Evelyn Waugh
Ambrose Bierce
William Makepeace Thackeray
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Edgar Allan Poe
Anne Brontë 
Emily Brontë 
Charlotte Brontë 
Wilfred Owen
Dylan Thomas
Bob Dylan
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Janis Joplin
Ernest Hemingway
Ayn Rand
Agatha Christie
Danielle Steel
W. Somerset Maugham
Dashiell Hammett
Orson Scott Card
Miranda July
Anne Reeve Aldrich
Sidney Sheldon
Ogden Nash (for some reason, I always want to spell his last name Gnash)
Francine Prose (of their last name, her brother quipped, "Well, it could be Verse!")

Negro League Nicknames

"Mr. Sunshine" Ernie Banks (for his sunny disposition)
James "Cool Papa" Bell (he was cool under pressure)
Bob "Rope" Boyd (because he hit line drive "ropes")
Herbert "Rap" Dixon (too soon for that kind of rap, he was from Rappahannock) 
Arthur "Rats" Henderson (he was nicknamed after a prank involving a rat)
Sam "The Jet" Jethroe (he turned on the "jets" on the basepaths)
John Henry "Pop" Lloyd (because he offered guidance to younger players)
"Biz" Mackey (a catcher, he gave opposing hitters "the business" with nonstop banter)
Willie Mays, the "Say Hey Kid" (he actually said "Say hey" a lot)
John "Mule" Miles (he hit the ball as hard as a mule kicks)
Leroy "Satchel" Paige (he once worked as a porter hauling luggage)
Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe (he threw both games of a double-header)
Dick "Cannonball" Redding (he had a great fastball)
"Bullet" Joe Rogan (he had a blazing fastball, like "Bullet" Bob Feller)
"Turkey" Stearnes (he flapped his arms when he ran)
George "Mule" Suttles (fans called for the strongman to "Kick, Mule!")
"Cyclone" Joe Williams (also called "Smokey Joe" for his blazing fastball)
Jud "Boojum" Wilson (the sound his hits made hitting walls)

The Best Nicknames, Collectively Speaking

A group of flamingoes is called a FLAMBOYANCE.
An exultation or ascension of larks.
A pride of lions.
A bloat of hippos.
A ballet or lamentation of swans.
A murmuration of starlings.
A gaggle of geese.
A murder of crows.
A clamor of rooks.
A conspiracy of ravens.
An ostentation of peacocks.
A gatling of woodpeckers (who really do sound like Gatling guns in action).
A litter of puppies (and they really do litter!).
A horse's ass of politicians, perhaps, or a confederacy of dunces?

More Collectively Speaking Nicknames

Nicknames for Mascots and Strange Animal Rites and Superstitions

"Catfish Mojo" and "Catfish Magic" (catfish are thrown onto the ice at Nashville Predators games for good luck)
Blitz the Boston terrier leads a "Terrier Walk" parade before every Wofford College home football game.
The "Hook 'em Horns" hand gesture used at the University of Texas is inspired by a steer's horns.
Sir Big Spur, the rooster mascot of the South Carolina Gamecocks, serves as a "muse" to local artists.
A golden eagle nicknamed the War Eagle flies over Auburn University home football games.
The University of Georgia's bulldog mascots, all named Uga, are buried in marble vaults at the stadium when they die.
 
NOTE: Please don't be fooled by Smokey, the laid-back-looking blue tick coonhound who serves as the mascot for the University of Tennessee Volunteers. Smokey has a history of nipping opponents in preparation for the bloodletting they will experience on the field at the hands of players like Reggie "The Minister of Defense" White, "Hacksaw" Jack Reynolds, Doug "The Destroyer" Atkins and Peyton "The Sherriff" Manning! Unfortunately, Smokey X was not a fan of bad tuba playing, and had to be retired after biting the same UT tuba player in consecutive games!

The Worst Nicknames of All Time

Pinta, the nickname of one of Christopher Columbus's ships, means "Painted Lady" or "Prostitute" and contrasts with the Santa Maria (Saint Mary aka the Virgin)
Nina, the nickname of Columbus's third ship, probably derived from its owner's name, Nino, which as El Nino now means "Erratic Little Boy"
Utopia means "nowhere" in Greek; thus when Thomas More wrote about Utopia, he seems to have been saying it would never be found
Banana Republic was a nickname coined by O. Henry while he was hiding out in Honduras from charges of bank embezzlement
Banana Republican is a nickname ascribed to Donald Trump for acting like a third-world despot
The Nippon Ham Fighters, a Japanese baseball team
The Hiroshima Toyo Carp, a Japanese baseball team
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, an American minor league baseball team
Darren Puppa is a professional hockey player known as the Puppa Scoopa
Karl "Turd Blossom" Rove was so nicknamed by his boss, President George "Dubya" Bush
Constantine Copronymus the "Diaper Pooper" was a Byzantine emperor
"Droopy Drawers" Shimada Shigetaro was a Japanese admiral accused of brownnosing the Emperor
James II of England was called the "Shit" and the "Beshitten" (Séamus an Chaca)
"Booger" was a character played by Curtis Armstrong in The Revenge of the Nerds
John "Bluto" Blutarsky was a character played by John Belushi in Animal House
Eric "Butterbean" Esch was a professional boxer
Lester "the Molester" Hayes was a professional football player who "molested" opposing receivers
Paddy "Pantsdown" Ashdown was so named after having an affair with his secretary 
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was dubbed the "Underwear Bomber"
Alfonso IX of Leon was known as the "Slobberer"
Ragnarr "Hairypants" was a Viking chieftain
William "Gonorrhea" Guarnere was a WWII paratrooper who understandably preferred his other nickname "Wild Bill"
Walter "Furry" Lewis was a blues guitarist
"Fats" Navarro was a 1940s jazz trumpet player who was called both "Fat Boy" and "Fat Girl"
Patrick Hornqvist is an NHL player known as "Horny"
Rougned Odor is a baseball player known as "Stink"
Allen "Clever Piggy" Cunningham's nickname is a pun on the poker star's last name: cunning-ham
An ancient Duke of Normandy was known as Robert le Diable (Robert the Devil) 
Unfortunately we have not been able to confirm the rumor that George Washington was called Farthammer or Fart Hammer!

More Winning Nicknames

High Honorable Mentions: (Honest) Abe Lincoln, The Angelic Doctor (Thomas Aquinas), Joan d'Arc the Maid of Heaven, The Venerable Bede, Black Jack Pershing, Blackbeard (Edward Teach), Bluebeard (Fictional), The Blind Bard (Homer), The Boss (Bruce Springsteen), Braveheart (Robert the Bruce), Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane (Martha Jane Canary), Catherine the Great, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel), FDR, Geronimo, The Gipper (Ronald Reagan), JFK, LBJ, Madonna, Mata Hari (Spy), No Drama Obama, Old Hickory (Andrew Jackson), Pelé, Tiger Woods, The Velvet Fog (Mel Torme), The Virgin Queen (Elizabeth I), Wild Bill Hickok,

More Honorable Mentions: "Hammerin'" Hank Aaron, Lance "Bambi" Alworth, The Round Mound of Rebound (Charles Barkley), James "Cool Papa" Bell, Larry "Legend" Bird, The Big Dipper (Wilt Chamberlain), Joltin' Joe DiMaggio aka the Yankee Clipper, Einstein (Stephen Hawking, by his awed classmates), Chrissy "America's Sweetheart" Evert, Dr. J (Julius Erving), Harold "Red" Grange aka the Galloping Ghost, The Great One (Wayne Gretzky), Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Walter "Big Train" Johnson, Michael "Air" Jordan, Flo-Jo (Florence Griffith Joyner), The Left Hand of God (Sandy Koufax), Dick "Night Train" Lane, Rod "the Rocket" Laver, "Pistol" Pete Maravich, Beast Mode (Marshawn Lynch), Stan "The Man" Musial, The Golden Bear (Jack Nicklaus), Jesse "Black Magic" Owens, Leroy "Satchel" Paige, Walter "Sweetness" Payton, Richard "the King" Petty, Michael "Mr. Olympia" Phelps, Charlie Hustle (Pete Rose), The Empress of the Blues (Bessie Smith), "Give 'Em Hell" Harry S. Truman, The Logo (Jerry West), The Minister of Defense (Reggie White), The Human Highlight Reel (Dominique Wilkins), The Splendid Splinter (Ted Williams), Babe (Mildred Ella Didrikson Zaharias), Craig "Ironhead" Heyward

Unexpected Nicknames Part II

Grumors: "Grumors" are rumors that your underperforming football coach will soon be replaced by John Gruden!
Bra: The French term brassière means a child's bodice or vest; it was later shortened to "bra." Well, it does sound a bit classier than "over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder"!
England/Britain: No wonder the islanders want to Brexit! The name England derives from the Angles (Germans), while Britain derives from the Bretons (French)!
Sandwich: John Montague, the The Earl of Sandwich, loved to gamble so much that he often skipped formal meals and would eat cold leftovers served between slices of bread.
Hot Dog: In the early 1900s there were rumors that cheap Coney Island wieners contained heated dog meat. (And who knows, perhaps they did!)
Hamburger: No, hamburgers did not start out as ham sandwiches! Rather the name comes from Hamburg, Germany, where "Hamburg steaks" were served on bread.
Oppo pop: Not a soda, but the ability of a baseball player like Bryce Harper to hit with power to the opposite field.

Nickname Trivia: I once had the honor of publishing poems and photographs by Leonard Nimoy, better known to the world as Mr. Spock, or just Spock. At one time, Nimoy disliked being called Spock and in 1975 he even wrote a book titled I Am Not Spock. But then he had a change of heart toward his alter ego, and twenty years later, in 1995, he wrote another book titled I Am Spock. So according to Nimoy, he was both Spock and Not-Spock! And long before he became famous, his nicknames were Lenny and Dimples.―Michael R. Burch

Saints

Michael: The Archangel, Saint Michael, Captain of the Heavenly Hosts, Prince of the Archangels, Angel of Deliverance, Defeater of Satan, etc.
Michelangelo: Il Divino ("The Divine One"), The Father and Master of All Arts (he was a painter, sculptor, poet, architect and engineer)
Siddhārtha Gautama: Buddha ("The Enlightened One")
Jesus: Christ ("the Anointed One" or "Messiah"), The Prince of Peace, The Lion of Judah, The Lamb of God, The Son of God
Mary: the Blessed Virgin, the Virgin Mary
Muhammad: the Prophet, the Messenger of Allah, the Model of Conduct, the Honest, the Kind, the Trustworthy, the Beloved
Florence Nightingale (Nightingale was her real last name; her first name came from the city of her birth)
Jack Kevorkian: Doctor Death (he helped terminally ill patients who wanted to end their suffering)
Mother Teresa: The Saint of the Gutter
St. Therese of Lisieux: Little Flower
Mohandas Gandhi: Mahatma (Great Soul), Bapu (Father), Bapuji, Gandhiji, Spinner (Gandhi himself), Little Man (ditto), Upper House (ditto), The Father of India

Gandhi made up nicknames for himself and some of the people he corresponded with. Many of the nicknames were humorous endearments. (Gandhi once said, "If I had no sense of humour, I would long ago have committed suicide.") The only person Gandhi called "sir" in his letters was Leo Tolstoy. Tolstoy appears to have been a "spiritual father" of sorts for Gandhi, with his ideal of "simplicity of life and purity of purpose" with love as the "law of life" and the principle of non-violence. Gandhi called Albert Einstein "dear friend" although they never met. But what a meeting it would have been!

Sinners

Lucifer: the Devil, Satan, Mephistopheles, Beelzebub, Old Nick, Old Scratch, The Prince of Darkness, Diablo, Sam Hill, Bad Man, Little Horn (Trump?)
Nathan Bedford Forrest: Devil Forrest, the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan
Josef Mengele: Todesengel ("Death Angel" or "The Angel of Death")
Klaus Barbie: Butcher of Lyon
Irma Grese: Beast of Belsen, Beautiful Beast, Blonde Angel of Auschwitz, Hyena of Auschwitz
Ilse Koch: Beast of Buchenwald, Bitch of Buchenwald, Butcher Widow, Queen of Buchenwald, Red Witch of Buchenwald
Albert DeSalvo: The Boston Strangler
Jack the Ripper (real identity unknown)

NOTE: When someone asks "What the Sam Hill are you doing?" it's like asking "What the Devil are you doing?" because "Hill" is being used as a euphemism for "hell."

Naughty Nicknames

Sydney Biddle Barrows: The Mayflower Madam
Xaviera Hollander: The Happy Hooker
Mark Felt: Deep Throat (he was the source of the information that led to the Watergate investigation)
Linda Lovelace: Deep Throat (she starred in a porn flick that "borrowed" the naughty nickname)
Andrea Parducci: Little Oral Annie
Stormy Daniels (she says she can identify Trump's "junk")

Naughty Real Names

"Ugly" Johnny Dickshot
Pussy Galore (fictional)
Octopussy (fictional)
Misty Hyman
Ed Head
Rusty Kuntz
Pete LaCock
Dick Padden
Dick Passwater
Dick Pole
Dick Trickle
Ron Tugnutt
Cannonball Titcomb
Stubby Clapp
Harry Colon
States Rights Gist was so named because his parents "really believed in slavery"

Famous People Who Don't Need Nicknames Because Their Real Names Rock

World B. Free (basketball)
Metta World Peace (basketball)
Wonderful Terrific Monds III (baseball)
I. M. Hipp (a really with-it football player)
Richie Incognito (although he's hard to miss at 6-3, 324 pounds!)
Picabo Street (skier)
Coco Crisp (baseball)
Jamie Foxx (actor) and Jimmy Foxx (baseball star)
Urban Meyer (one of the more "urbane" football coaches)
Urban Shocker (the last Yankee pitcher to throw a not-so-urban spitter)
Austen Powers (basketball's International Man of Mystery)
Razor Shines (baseball)
Fat Lever (basketball)
Spud Webb (basketball)
Ha ha Clinton Dix (he laughs at wide receivers)
Majestic Mapp and Scientific Mapp (basketball-playing brothers)
God Shammgod (basketball)
God'sgift Achiuwa (basketball)
Yourhighness Morgan (football)
Sirvaliant Brown (basketball)
Just-In'Love Smith (basketball)
Lieutenant Wolfe Perry Jr. (basketball/actor)
Chief Kickingstallionsims Jr. (basketball)

Heroes Real and Mythical

Charles Lindberg: Lucky Lindy
Leif Ericson: Leif the Lucky
Christopher Columbus: Pilot of the Iberian Peninsula, Admiral of the Mosquitoes
Meriwether Lewis: Long Knife
John Charles Fremont: Pathfinder of the West
Daniel Boon: Happiest Among Mortals (Lord Byron)
Sir Francis Drake: Prince of Buccaneers
Vasco de Gama: Admiral of the Sea of India
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar: El Cid ("The Lord" or "The Master")
Henry "Hotspur" Percy (he would be made famous by Shakespeare)
Sir Lucan: the Butler
Sir Gawain: the White Hawk
Sir Lancelot du Lac ("of the lake")
Sir Galahad: the Perfect Knight
Merlin: Merlin the Magician, Merlin Wyllt ("the Wild")
King Arthur: the Once and Future King
Prester John (a mythical king sometimes sought by real kings for alliances)

Zeros

Frederick Cook: Prince of Losers
King Pyrrhus (his name is the source of our term "pyrrhic victory")
Henry Clay: The Great Compromiser (one of his "great" compromises was with slavery)
William Bligh: Breadfruit Bligh
The Aints (New Orleans Saints fans who put bags over their heads because their team lost so much)
Marvin Runyon: Carvin' Marvin (for slashing jobs at the Post Office)

Superheroes

Captain America
Wonder Woman
Superman, The Man of Steel
Superwoman
Superboy
Supergirl
Batman, The Dark Knight
Batgirl
Robin
Spiderman, Spider-Man, Spidey, The Webslinger
Spider-Woman
Wolverine
The Hulk, The Incredible Hulk

Honorable Mention: Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, Black Panther, The Flash, Flash Gordon, The Green Lantern, The Green Hornet, Green Arrow, Archangel, Cyclops, The Beast, The Thing, Human Torch, Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic, Aquaman, Storm, Rogue, Professor X, Iceman, Hawkeye, The Silver Surfer, Daredevil, Mon-El, Braniac, Nick Fury, Doctor Strange, The Phantom, Martian Manhunter, Deadpool, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Yoda, 007, Judge Dredd, Gambit, Spawn, Nightcrawler

Super Villains

The Joker, The Penguin, The Riddler, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Two-Face, Bane, Kingpin, Scarecrow, Lex Luthor, General Zod, Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, The Vulture, Magneto, Mystique, Sabretooth, Loki, Hela, Mr. Glass, Erik Killmonger, Doctor Doom, Darth Vader, Ming the Merciless, Ozymandias, Galactus, Venom, Juggernaut, Thanos,, Doomsday, Apocalypse, Carnage, The Antichrist aka Little Horn aka Donald Trump

NOTE: The French term "villain" originally meant merely someone who lived or worked on a villa. But a few bad eggs apparently spoiled the whole bunch, reputation-wise.

Strange Bedfellows

The rapper Fat Joe and neoconservative political analyst Bill Kristol aka Lil' Bill and Champagne Bill
Ike and Tina Turner
Sonny and Cher
Brangelina: Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie, as a couple

Duos, Trios, Quartets, Quintets, Sextets, Etc.
Laurel and Hardy
Abbot and Costello
Simon and Garfunkel were originally called Tom and Jerry!
The Righteous Brothers: Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley
The Carpenters: Karen and Rick
The Captain and Tennille
The Everly Brothers: Phil and Don
"Butch" Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Bonnie and Clyde
Batman the "Dark Knight" and Robin the "Boy Wonder"
The Bash Brothers: Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco
The Killer B's: Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and any other Houston Astros whose last names happened to start with the letter "B"
The M&M Boys: Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris hit 54 and 61 home runs, respectively, in 1961
The Woodies: Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde won 61 tennis tournaments as a duo
Hanz and Franz: the Tennessee Vols' muscular duo of Grant "Granite" Williams and Admiral Schofield
The Mitey Smites (Michael R. Burch) and The Mighty Mites: Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman

The Three Musketeers
The Three Stooges: Larry, Curly, Moe and Shemp (hey, that makes four!)
Huey, Dewey and Louie
The Big Three: the Boston Celtics' trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen
The Smurfs: three Washington Redskins wide receivers: Alvin Garrett (5-7), Virgil "Papa Smurf" Seay (5-8) and Charlie Brown (5-10)
The Bee Gees (Brothers Gibb): Barry, Robin and Maurice
Crosby, Stills and Nash (and sometimes Young)
Peter, Paul and Mary
Aha!, Beastie Boys, Blink 182, Cream, Destiny's Child, Green Day, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Muse, Nirvana, The Police, Run DMC, Rush, The Supremes

The Four Horsemen (of the Apocalypse)
Gang of Four
ABBA, The Carter Sisters, The Chi-Lites, Il Divo, The Four Tops, The Lennon Sisters, The Mamas and Papas, One Direction, Take That, The Weavers
* The Fab Four: the Beatles with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr
* The Pre-Fab Four: the Monkees (pre-fab because they were "fabricated" for TV)
* The Fab Five: Michigan's 1991 basketball recruiting class with Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson
* The Fierce Five: the 2012 US Olympic gymnastic team with Gabby Douglass, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber

(*) The Fierce Five was the Fab Five until Jalen Rose complained about plagiarism! But shouldn't they all be paying the Beatles royalties?

The Miles Davis Sextet with John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley
Allman Brothers Band, Blondie, Doobie Brothers, Kansas, Foo Fighers, Foreigner, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Pussycat Dolls, Styx, Whitesnake
Murderer's Row: the first six hitters for the 1926-1929 Yankees: Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri

Odd Couples and Unlikely Pairings

Nick: the Devil (Old Nick) and Santa Claus (Old St. Nick) ... also Santa sounds a lot like Satan!
The Body: Jesse Ventura (wrestler) and Elle Macpherson (supermodel)
Yogi: Yogi Bear (loveable but eccentric cartoon) and Yogi Berra (loveable but eccentric catcher)
Rocky: Bullwinkle's companion and the boxer played by Sylvester Stallone
Prince: the flamboyant Singer/Symbol/Slave and Prince Charles the nondescript Duke of Wales
Dwight D. Eisenhower was known as both Little Ike and Big Ike!
The Iron Chancellor: Otto von Bismarck and Angela Merkel
Boom Boom: Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi and boxer Ray Mancini who once killed another boxer (not intentionally) 
The Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra & Co.) and the Brat Pack (Robert Downey Jr. & Co.)
Trump the Flag Waver and Roseanne the Anthem Desecrator.

Wild Exaggerations

The King of All Media: Howard Stern
Humble: Donald Trump's choice for a Secret Service code name
The Thousand Year Reich (it was closer to the Ten Year Reich and it left Germany in ruins)
The Land of the Morning Calm: the Korean Peninsula
Ming the Magnificent

Monsters

Bigfoot, Sasquatch
Yeti, The Abominable Snowman
The Wolfman, Werewolf
King Kong
Godzilla
Mothra
Frankenstein
Dracula
The Mummy
Mr. Hyde aka Dr. Jekyll
The Creature from the Black Lagoon
Jaws

Rabble Rousers

Cleon: the Dog, the Watchdog of Athens, the Demagogue, the Politician
Peter the Hermit (he led a wild-eyed mob of gullible Christians to their doom during the First Crusade)
Benito Mussolini: Il Duce ("The Leader"), The Iron Prefect
Huey "Kingfish" Long
Joseph McCarthy: Joe, Tail-Gunner Joe, the Pepsi-Cola Kid, the Red Scare Monger
Donald Trump: Adolph Twitler, Hair Hitler, Cheeto Benito, Casino Mussolini (Samantha Bee)
Adolph Hitler: Fuhrer, Herr Wolf, Werwolf, Teppichfresser ("Carpet Pacer" or "Carpet Chewer" because he fretted and paced around so much as his grand plans disintegrated)

Winners and Losers: Moguls and Paupers

Charles VII: The Victorious (but only due to the heroism of Joan d'Arc; otherwise he was "pathetic, puny, timid and gloomy")
Jacob "the Rich" Fugger
Viscount Goderich: The Blubberer
William "Doc" Rockefeller (he started the family fortune as a conman selling herbal remedies!)
"Happy" Rockefeller (she was a happy baby, according to her nurse)
"Lady Bird" Johnson (she was as pretty as a lady bird, according to her nurse)
Cornelius Vanderbilt: The Commodore
Maximilian I of Germany: The Penniless
"Diamond" Jim Brady was a business mogul with an impressive jewelry collection (worth around $60 million in 2017 dollars)

Unexpected Nicknames Part III

Li Po: The Great Poet of Drunkenness
Willie Pep: Will o’ the Wisp (an unusual nickname for a boxer)
Sir Walter Raleigh: The Summer's Nightingale (Raleigh was a badass, but also a poet)
Jane Fonda: Hanoi Jane (she was accused of collaboration with the enemy during the Vietnam War)
Clifton Marlin: Coo Coo
Charles Bronson: Il Brutto ("the Brute"), Monstre Sacre� ("Holy Monster"�)
Louis XI: The Universal Spider
Imelda Marcos: The Steel Butterfly
Lyndon Baines Johnson: Light-Bulb Lyndon (because he kept turning off lights in the White House to save money!)
Richard M. Nixon: Tricky Dick, Gloomy Gus and Iron Butt (because he spent so much time sitting and reading books)
Napoleon: Corporal Violet, Tiddy-Doll, Little Boney, Old Puss in Boots, Fleshy, Napoleon Straw-in-the-Nose
Caligula: Little Boot
Donald Trump: Man-Baby (Jon Stewart), Terroristic Man-Toddler (Charles M. Blow), Widdle Donnie Whinydiaper, Little Donnie Diaperpants, Moron (Secretary of State Rex Tillerson), Amnesty Don (Steve Bannon), Archie Bunker (Steve Bannon), Bloviating Ignoramus (George Will), Pathological Liar (Ted Cruz), Delusional Narcissist (Rand Paul), The Turncoat (Sean Hannity), The Rollover (Ann Coulter), Golden Wrecking Ball (Sarah Palin), Donald the Bitch (Eminem), Racist Grandpa (Eminem), Creep Throat (Seth Meyers)

Unexpected Nicknames, Part IV

Sophocles: The Attic Bee, The Athenian Bee (because of his sweet style)
Democritus: The Laughing Philosopher
Herodotus: The Weeping Philosopher
Charlemagne: The Sleeping King
Leo Tolstoy: Sparky
Franz Kafka: Bubbles
Beverly Sills: Bubbles (because she was born with a spit bubble in her mouth)
Edgar Allan Poe: Sunny
Voltaire: The Great Pan, The Ape of Genius (Victor Hugo)
Oliver Goldsmith: The Inspired Idiot
Robert Walpole: The Grand Corrupter
Horace Walpole: The Autocrat of Strawberry Hill
Benjamin Disraeli: Dizzy, The Gay Lothario of Politics
Neville Chamberlain: The Coroner
Alexander the Great: The Madman of Macedonia
General George H. Thomas: Old Snow Trot
Theodore Hook: Ramsbottom (Don't ask!)

Famous Mascots

The Phillie Phanatic (well-named, he's the most-sued sports mascot)
The San Diego Chicken (the first mascot to out-star its team)
Mr. Met
Uncle Sam
The Jolly Green Giant
Tony the Tiger
Poppin' Fresh, the Pillsbury Dough Boy
The Geico Gecko
The AFLAC Duck
Mr. Clean
The Michelin Man

Common Nicknames

Ace, Amy, Andy, Art, Birdie, Bo, Bubba, Bud, Chip, Chuck, Evie, Honey, Hoss, Ike, John, Johnny, Kiki, Libby, Lottie, Lulu, Midge, Poppy, Queenie, Sally, Skip, Skippy
Alexandra (Alex, Andi, Sandy, Sandra, Xandra)
Catherine/Katherine (Cate, Cathie, Cathy, Karen, Kat, Kate, Kathie, Kathy, Katie, Kay, Kit, Kittie, Kitty, Rhynie, Rina,Terri, Terry, Trina )
Christine (Chris, Chrissie, Christy, Crissy, Ena, Ina, Kit, Kissy, Kris, Krissy, Tina, Xina)
Deborah (Deb, Debra, Debbie, Debby)
Edward (Ed, Eddie, Eddy, Ted, Teddy, Ward)
Elizabeth (Bess, Bessie, Bet, Beth, Betsy, Bitsy, Bettie, Betty, Eli, Eliza, Ellie, Elly, Elsie, Ibby, Izzy, Libby, Lisa, Lish, Liz, Liza, Lizbet, Lizbeth, Lizzie, Tess)
Henry (Harry, Hank)
James (Jack, Jamie, Jay, Jim, Jimmy, Jimbo)
Joseph (Joe, Joey)
Margaret (Daisy, Greta, Madge, Maggie, Marge, Margie, Margo, Meg, Midge, Peg, Penny)
Michael (Mike, Mick, Michel, Michelle, Mickey, Micky, Mikey)
Miriam (Mae, Mamie, Maria, Marie, Mary, Mattie, May, Mia, Mimi, Molly, Polly)
Peter (Pete, Petey)
Richard (Dick, Dicky, Rich, Rick, Ricky)
Robert (Bob, Bobby, Rob, Robby, Bert)
Stephen/Steven (Steve, Stevie, Steph)
Susan (Sue, Suzie)
Thomas (Tom, Tommy)
William (Bill, Billy, Will, Willy, Liam)

The Rock-Poetry Nickname Connection

The Beatles were once the Silver Beetles; the "a" in Beatles was their homage to the Beat poets: Allen Ginsberg, et al.
Bob Dylan is the stage name of Robert Zimmerman, who took his last name from the first name of the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.
The Rolling Stones and Rolling Stone magazine are both named after the Muddy Waters blues lyric "Rollin' Stone."
The Doors were named after the mystical English poet William Blake's "Doors of Perception."
Led Zeppelin were greatly influenced by the poetry and prose of J. R. R. Tolkien in their songs "Ramble On," "Misty Mountain Hop," "The Battle of Evermore," etc.
Steppenwolf were named after a novel by the German poet Hermann Hesse.
Supertramp were named after the title of a book by the Welsh poet W. H. Davies: The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp.
Steely Dan were named after a "prominent" sex toy in Naked Lunch by the Beat poet/writer William S. Burroughs.
Sixpence None The Richer took their name from a passage by the English poet/writer C. S. Lewis.
Moby took their name from the novel Moby Dick by the American poet/writer Herman Melville. 

Royals

Sweyn Forkbeard
Eric the Red
Charles the Bald
Edward the Confessor
Edward of Woodstock: Prince of Wales, The Black Prince
Frederick V of Bohemia: The Winter King
Edmund Ironside
Octavian: Princips or First Captain; also Augustus ("Majestic" or "Revered")
Constantine the Great

Modern Royals

Elizabeth II: Tillabet, Lilibet, Lilybet, Cabbage, Shirley Temple; also Gan-Gan and Gary (because her grandchildren had trouble pronouncing "grandmother")
Prince Harry is really Prince Henry Charles Albert David (he's the only British royal to use his nickname in public); also My Little Spencer (his mother), Ginger, Spike Wells, Officer Cadet Wells
Meghan Markle is really Rachel Markle; also Meg, Nutmeg, M&M, MM, Bean (her father), Flower (her mother), Sparkle
Princess Catherine: Kate, Poppet (by her husband, Prince William), Squeak (as a child by her family), Princess-in-Waiting (by her college classmates)
Prince William: Wills, Steve (in college, to avoid journalists), Wombat, William the Terrible, The Deep Thinker (the last three by his mother)
Prince George: The Little Grape (as a "baby bump" by his expecting parents), Georgie (Charles)
Princess Diana: Squidgy, Lady Di, Princess Di, Shy Di, Dynasty Di, The Queen of Hearts, The People's Princess, England's Rose, That Ridiculous Creature (Camilla Parker Bowles)
Prince Charles: Fred, The Looney Prince, Action Man
Camilla Parker Bowles: Gladys, Girl Friday, GF (by Charles), Gaga (by the royal grandchildren), The Rottweiler (Diana)

Royal Pains

Herod Agrippa (the Latin agrippa means "born feet first" or "contrary")
Bermudo II of León: Bermudo the Gouty
Wladyslaw I of Poland: Vladislaw the Elbow-High
Ethelred the Unready
Harold I of England: Harold Harefoot
George I of England: The Turnip Hoer
George III of England: Farmer George
Richard II of England: The Hog
Charles I of England: Baby Charles, The White King, The Saint, The Martyr, The Last Man (he was beheaded)
Charles II of England: Son of the Last Man, The Merry Monarch, The Mutton Eating Monarch, The Black Boy
Charles Edward Stuart: Bonnie Prince Charlie, The Young Pretender, The Young Chevalier
James I of England: The Wisest Fool in Christendom
Philippe I of France: The Amorous
Charles III of France: The Drunkard, The Simple
Maximilian I of Germany: The Penniless
Napoleon I of France: Le Petit Tondu ("The Little Shorn One"), The Little Gunner of Toulon, The Little Corsican, The Little General, The Emperor of Elba, The Horse Thief of Berlin
Napoleon II of France: The Baby Eagle, The Eaglet
Napoleon III of Franc: The Man of Sedan, The Little, The Small, Ratipol
Charles II of Spain: The Bewitched, The Accursed, The Little King, Lord Strut
Charles III of Spain: The Enlightened Despot
Charles XIV of Sweden: Sergent Belle-Jambe ("Sergeant Pretty Legs")

Generals and other Military Leaders

Attilâ: Attila the Hun, Flagellum Dei ("The Scourge of God"), The Terror of the World
Genghis Khan: the Great Khan ("Supreme Leader" or "Universal Ruler"), The Great Cham, Temüjin ("Iron"), The Mongol, The Butcher (of an estimated 35-40 million people)
Kublai Khan: the Great Khan, The Great Cham, Setsen Khan (the "Wise Khan" or "Wise Ruler"), Shizu ("Quiet/Clear")
William I of England: The Conqueror, Long Sword, The Bastard
Robert I of Normandy: Robert le Magnifique ("The Magnficent") and Robert le Diable ("The Devil")
Henry the Lion
Wu the Warlike
Erwin Rommel: The Desert Fox
Admiral Horatio Nelson: Cyclops, The Hero of the Nile
Winfield Scott: Old Fuss and Feathers
John "Black Jack" Pershing
George S. Patton: Ol' Blood-'n'-Guts (a nickname he rejected)
Robert E. Lee: Granny
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
Charles "The Hammer" Martel
Charlemagne: The Butcher of the Saxons, The Blessed, The Sleeping King, Charles the Great, King of the Franks
King Richard "The Lionheart"
Emperor Aurelian: Hand on Hilt
Sitting Bull (he was slow to anger and tried to avoid war)
Crazy Horse (his childhood name meant "Curly")
Napoleon I: The Corsican Sesostris, Modern Sesostris (Lord Byron―Napoleon's "dice were human bones"), Le Général Entrepreneur ("The Contractor General"), General Undertaker, The Corsican Fiend, The Corsican Ogre

Tyrants

Attilâ: Attila the Hun, The Scourge of God, The Terror of the World
Queen Mary I of England: Bloody Mary
Ivan The Terrible
Peter the Great
Catherine the Great (Russian czars were apparently either terrible or great!)
Vladimir Putin: The Pale Moth (his KGB code name)

Statesmen, Politicians and Pundits (see also Royals, Presidents)

Samuel Adams: The American Cato, Last of the Puritans
Benjamin Franklin: Ben, The American Socrates, The First American, Poor Richard, Silence Dogood (his first pen name), The Prophet of Tolerance, Old Iron Balls
William Pitt: Bottomless Pitt, The Great Commoner
Arthur Wellesley the Duke of Wellington: The Iron Duke 
Theresa May: The Maybot (for her robotic carriage and speech), Theresa Maybe, BDW (Bloody Difficult Woman), Mummy May, Theresa the Appeaser
Winston Churchill: Winnie, The British Bulldog, Copperknob (because he had red hair as a boy), Pug (his wife's pet name for him)
Tony Blair: Bambi, Bliar ("liar"), Tony Blur, Teflon Tony, America's Poodle
Vladimir Putin: Vova, Abaddon (the Angel of Death), Vladula, Pale Moth (his KGB code name), The Kremlin's Grey Cardinal, Blonde Bond, The Puppet Master
John Mitchell: The Big Enchilada (John Ehrlichman)
John McCain: McNasty
Rahm Emanuel: Rhambo
Jerry Brown: Governor Moonbeam
Steve Bannon: Darth Bannon, Loose Cannon Bannon
Melania Trump: Melanoma, Melania Antoinette (Michael R. Burch), The Slovenian Sphinx (Maureen Dowd), First Babe
Donald Trump Jr: Ponyboy, Chip Off the Old Blockhead, Fredo Corleone, Fraido (because like Fredo he's afraid of his father)
Eric Trump: Eric the Red, Eric the Brain Dead, Eric of Orange, Eric Idle, Sonny Corleone, Sonny-Boy
Ivanka Trump: Proxy Wife, First Lady-Daughter, Michael (after Michael Corleone, "the smart one" in the Godfather movies), Ivanka Tramp
Jared Kushner: Aide de Kampf (Michael R. Burch), Jared the Red, Jarring Jared,
Kellyanne Conway: Wrongway Conway (Michael R. Burch), Miss Misinformation, The Spin Mistress
Mitch McConnell: Koch Addict (Michael R. Burch)
Betsy DeVos: Cruella DeVile (Michael R. Burch)
Paul Ryan: Paul Ruin, Lyin' Ryan, Eddie Munster
Anthony Scaramucci: Deputy Dip-Pity-'Do, The Mooch, The Mooch-Smooch
Ben Carson: HUD Ornament (Michael R. Burch), Carsonoma
Mike Pompeo: Koch Addict, Koch Float, Koch Zero, Swampy, Creature from the Orange Lagoon
Tom Price: Sky-High Price and The Leer Jetter (after he spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on charter jets)
Elaine Duke: The Duke of Hurl and Duke Pukem (after she said hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico was "really a good news story" for the Trump administration)
Orrin Hatch: Orrin Goering, Orrin Moron, Orrin Boring, Borin' Orrin
Arlen Specter: Snarlin' Arlen
Mitt Romney: Mittens, The Romneybot, Plastic Man, Mittler (LGBT community), Multiple Choice Mitt 
Steve Mnuchin: Hedge Hog, PAC-man, No-Chin Mnuchin, The Foreclosure King
Gary Cohn: Sachs-man, The Goldman Sackman (Michael R. Burch), Cohn's Disease
Judge Roy More: Sludge Roy Moore, The Ten Commandments Judge (Sarah Palin)
Otto von Bismarck: Man of Iron, The Iron Chancellor
Angela Merkel nicknames: Kasi, Frau Nein, Frau Europa, Mutti ("Mommy"), Mein Madchen ("My Girl" by Helmut Kohl), The Iron Chancellor, The World's Most Powerful Woman
Margaret Thatcher: The Iron Lady, Attila the Hen, Maggie, The Milk Snatcher (because she denied free milk to schoolchildren), TBW (That Bloody Woman)
Anthony Weiner: Carlos Danger
Sean Hannity: Lumpy (Jon Stewart), Archbishop of Bullshit (Trevor Noah), Shammity, Sean Vanity, Sean O'Scammity (Michael R. Burch), Sean of the Brain Dead (Michael R. Burch), The Churnalist (Michael R. Burch)

Famous People Known by their Nicknames, Initials and/or Mononyms

Adele
Aesop
Ali
Aristotle
Basho
Beck
Beyoncé
Bird (saxophonist Charlie Parker)
Björk 
Bojangles (tap dancer Bill Robinson)
Bono
Buddha
Cher
Coco (Chanel)
Confucius
Dante
Diana
Dido
Elvis
Eminem
Enya
Erte
FDR
Fergie
Houdini (his name has come to mean "escape artist")
Iman
Jesus
Jewel
JFK
Liberace
Lorde
Madonna
Malcolm X
Marilyn
Martial
Meat Loaf
Michelangelo (his name has come to mean "the height of art")
MLK
Moby
Moliere
Muhammad
Napoleon
Nico
Oprah
Ovid
Picasso
Pele
Pink (aka P!nk)
Plato
Prince (aka The Symbol)
Rasputin (aka The Mad Monk)
Rihanna
Roland
RuPaul
Sade
Sappho
Seal
Shakespeare
Shakira
Slash
Socrates
Sophocles
Titian
Usher
Virgil
Voltaire

Famous People Known Primarily by their Nicknames, Epithets and/or Sobriquets

Alexander the Great (Alexander III of Macedon)
Genghis Khan (his name was Temüjin; Genghis Khan means something like "Oceanic Ruler")
Mahatma Gandhi (his first name was Mohandas; Mahatma means "Great Soul")
Julian the Apostate (the last non-Christian Roman emperor, he restored traditional Roman religions at the expense of Christianity)
Edward the Confessor (Edward I of England)
The Venerable Bede (the scholar Bede of Monkwearmouth and Jarrow, England)
Richard the Lionheart (Richard I of England)
Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV of Russia)
Bloody Mary (Queen Mary I of England)
Atatürk or Ataturk (Mustafa Kemal)
El Cid (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar; El Cid means "The Lord")
Robin Hood (Robin of Locksley or Sherwood, probably fictional, or perhaps the unlikely-named Fulk FitzWarin)
Friar Tuck (probably fictional)
Maid Marian (probably fictional)
Little John (probably fictional)
Little Richard (Richard Penniman)
Tiny Tim (Herbert Buckingham Khaur)
Tom Thumb (Charles Sherwood Stratton)
Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Tepes)
Lady Bird Johnson (because as a baby she was "cute as a lady bird")
The Red Baron (WWI ace Baron Manfred von Richthofen)
Deep Throat (W. Mark Felt)
Tokyo Rose (Iva Toguri D'Aquino, an Axis propagandist)
Mata Hari (the stage name of Margaretha Geertruida Zelle Macleod)
Mandiba: Nelson Mandela
Wolfman Jack (Robert Weston Smith)
Shoeless Joe Jackson (because he once played a baseball game barefoot)

Famous Hustler, Gambler, Card Shark, Pool Shark, Billiards and Snooker Nicknames

David "Chip" Reese (because the number one cash game poker player usually raked in the chips)
Thomas Preston: "Amarillo Slim" (a legendary poker player and proposition gambler)
Doyle Brunson: Texas Dolly, The Godfather of Poker, Big Papa
Johnny Moss: The Grand Old Man of Poker, Trinity (he won the Main Event three times)
Phil Hellmuth: The Poker Brat, Superbrat, The John McEnroe of Poker, The Bad Boy of Poker, Hell Mouth
Mike "The Mouth" Matusow (famous for his motor-mouth and his meltdowns)
Phil "Poison" Ivey: also The Tiger Woods of Poker, No Home Jerome (he gambled with a fake ID when underage)
Chris "Jesus" Ferguson (as famous for his long flowing hair and Christ-like appearance as his poker skills)
Allen "Clever Piggy" Cunningham (a pun on his last name: cunning-ham)
Johnny Chan: The Orient Express, Orangeman (he would use oranges to mask cigarette smoke at poker tables)
Phil "Unabomber" Laak (because he wears hoodies that make him look like the Unabomber)
Daniel Negreanu: Kid Poker
Walter "Puggy" Pearson
Stu Ungar: Stuey, The Kid
Dan Harrington: Action Dan
Norman "Hanging" Chad: also the Couch Slouch
Ralph Wanderone: Minnesota Fats (in the ultimate con, he stole his famous nickname from a character in the movie The Hustler!)
Frank Taberski: The Inexorable Snail (so-called because he played so slowly he drove his opponents to despair, or at least to drink)
Lou Butera: Machine Gun Lou (the anti-Taberski, he would shoot as fast as possible to win the money quicker)
Albert Frey: Peter Pan, The Magical Boy, The Boy Wonder (the first great American pool shark really did look like a fey Peter Pan)
Earl Strickland: Earl the Pearl, Little Earl, the John McEnroe of Pool
James "Cicero" Murphy (the Jackie Robinson of pool, he was the first African American to win a world championship)
Efren Reyes: The Magician, Bata (the Kid)
Billy "Cornbread Red" Burge
Louie Roberts: Saint Louie Louie
Cecil "Buddy" Hall: also The Rifleman
Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter
Irving "Deacon" Crane
Mike "Captain Hook" Sigel
Nick Varner: The Kentucky Colonel
Jeanette Lee: The Black Widow
Ewa Mataya Laurence: The Striking Viking
Allison Fisher: The Duchess of Doom
Joe Davis: Mr. Snooker, The Sultan of Snooker, Emperor Pot
Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Rocket, The Essex Exocet, The Magician, Maximum Man, Snooker God, The Genius, The Outlier, The Master Potter
Alex "Hurricane" Higgins
Mark Selby: The Torturer, The Punisher, The Leicester Jester, Mark the Shark, The Hoover, Sat-Nev Selby
Jimmy Snyder: Jimmy the Greek
Charles II: The Merry King (he was a notorious gambler)
Wild Bill Hickok (he died holding a pair of aces and a pair of eights, which was nicknamed the "Dead Man's Hand")
Alvin "Titanic" Thompson (he claimed to have murdered several men, but said they would have all agreed they deserved it)
Harold Worst: The Best (in one of the great ironies, Worst may have been the best pool player ever to pick up a cue!)

Wrestler and Wrestling Nicknames

Evan "Strangler" Lewis was the first superstar professional wrestler, winning the championship in 1883
Ed "Strangler" Lewis was not related, but borrowed the nickname and signature stranglehold in the 1920s
The "Gold Dust Trio" introduced flashy moves and scripted theatrics to professional wrestling in the 1920s
"Lord" Patrick Lansdowne aka Duke Finnegan was the original theatrical heel with flamboyant robes and "valets" in the 1930s
"Gorgeous George" aka "The Human Orchid" adopted the Lord's capes, valets and "atomizer" (perfume dispenser)
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers was another "early adopter" of the Lord's theatrics
Ric Flair was the second "Nature Boy" and he copied Rogers' bleached blonde hair, strut and even his finishing move!
Ric Flair was also called "Slick Ric" and "The Dirtiest Player in the Game"
Goldust is a nickname inspired by the Gold Dust Trio
"Superstar" Billy Graham
Hollywood Hulk Hogan rather obviously copied "Superstar" Billy Graham, down to the thinning peroxide locks
Jesse "The Body" Ventura
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
The Ultimate Warrior
Sgt. Slaughter
"Ravishing" Rick Rude
Jerry "The King" Lawler
Randy "Macho Man" Savage
"Iron" Mike Sharpe
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka
George "The Animal" Steele
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
"Adorable" Adrian Adonis
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan aka "The Weasel"
Jimmy "The Mouth of the South" Hart
Sting
Goldberg
Honky Tonk Man
The Iron Sheik
Black Jack Mulligan
Sid Vicious
"Bruiser" Brody
"Killer" Kowalski
Bruno Sammartino: The Living Legend, The Italian Superman
Harley Race: The King
"Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley: The King of Kings
The Undertaker: The Dead Man
Bret "The Hitman" Hart: The Excellence of Execution
Owen Hart: The King of Harts, The Blue Blazer, Nugget
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper: Hot Rod
Lex Luger: The Narcissist, The Total Package
Mick Foley: Mankind, Dude Love, Cactus Jack, The Hardcore Legend
Beth Phoenix: The Glamazon
Chris Jericho: Y2J, The Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla, The Man of a Thousand Holds
Chris Benoit: The Crippler
Rick Steiner: Dogface Gremlin
Scott Steiner: Big Poppa Pump, Superstar, Freakzilla, The Genetic Freak
Dustin Rhodes: Goldust, The Bizarre One, The Natural (in his younger days)
Shawn Michaels: HBK, The Heart Break Kid
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin: The Bionic Redneck
Randy Orton: The Viper, Apex Predator
John Cena: The Champ, The Prototype
Curt Hennig: Mr. Perfect
Batista: The Animal
Brock Lesnar: The Beast Incarnate
"Bam Bam" Bigelow: The Beast from the East
Rhyno: The Man-Beast, The War/Gore Machine
Kevin Nash: The Giant Killa, Diesel, Big Daddy Cool
Big Boss Man: The Giant
Vader: The Giant, The Mastadon
One Man Gang: The Giant, Akeem, The African Dream
Big Show: The Giant
Gorilla Monsoon: The Giant
Ernie Ladd: The Giant, Big Cat
"Big" John Studd: The Giant, The World's Largest Athlete
Kane: The Corporate Monster, The Big Red Machine of Destruction
Earthquake: The Giant, The Natural Disasters (when paired with Typhoon)
The Great Khali: The Giant, The Punjabi Playboy
"King Kong" Bundy: The Giant, The Walking Condominium, Butterball Bundy, The Round Mound of Sound (MRB)
Andre Rousimoff: Andre the Giant, The Butcher, Monster Eiffel Tower, The French Giant, The Eighth Wonder of the World, The Boss

Actors and Actresses

John Wayne: Duke
Charlie Chaplin: The Little Tramp
Clara Bow: The "It" Girl
Doris Day: The Professional Virgin
Charles Bronson: Il Brutto ("the Brute"), Monstre Sacre� ("Holy Monster"�)
Rita Hayworth: The Face, The Love Goddess
Maureen O'Hara: The Queen of Technicolor
Jean Claude van Damme: Muscles from Brussels
Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Governator (while he was Governor for California)
Dwayne Johnson: The Rock
Clint Eastwood: Squint
Al Pacino: Sonny, Weird Al Pacion
Robert De Niro: Bobby Milk (his childhood nickname), Robert DeWeirdo
Johnny Depp: Johnny Debt
Will Smith: The Fresh Prince, Will the Thrill, Smif
Sylvester Stallone: Sly
Bette Midler: the Divine Miss M (a nickname she acquired while performing at a gay bathhouse!)
Bruce Willis: Bruno
Mel Gibson: Mad Mel (he played Mad Max, then acted oddly in his personal life)
Hugh Jackman: Sticks (because he was so skinny as a boy that his legs looked like sticks)
Jennifer Lawrence: Nitro (her childhood nickname because she was so energetic)
Bella Thorne: Pickle (an affectionate nickname given her by Drew Barrymore)
David Arquette: Mr. Generous
Gene Autry: The Singing Cowboy
Roy Rogers: The King of the Cowboys
Dale Evans: The Queen of the West

Hosts, Emcees and Other Celebrities

Ellen DeGeneres: The White Oprah, Tilly Mint
Larry King: Captain Cameo
Johnny Carson: The King of Late-Night TV, Mr. Excitement, Carnac the Magnificent
Howard Stern: Howeird, Howie, How, Howchie, The Howard, The King of All Media
Rush Limbaugh: The Master Baiter

Comics, Comedians and Impressionists

Don Rickles: Mr. Warmth, Mr. Potato Head, The Merchant of Venom (Dean Martin), The Beast of Beverly Hills
Rich Little: The Human Xerox Machine (Dean Martin), The Man of a Thousand Voices
Robin Williams: Mork from Ork (a character he played that made him famous)
Will Rogers: The Cowboy Philosopher, Oklahoma's Favorite Son, Swill Rogers, Bill

Musicians and Singers, Rappers and Composers

Elvis Presley: The King, The King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis The Pelvis, Sir Swivel Hips, The Tupelo Tornado, Alan (his nondescript Graceland code name), The King of Western Bop, The Hillbilly Cat, The Memphis Flash
Michael Jackson: The King of Pop, MJ, Mike, Jacko, Wacko Jacko, Space Michael, The Gloved One, The Peter Pan of Pop, The Wiz
Ray Charles: The High Priest of Soul, The Genius of Soul, The Genius, Brother Ray
James Brown: The Godfather of Soul, The Godfather of Funk, Mr. Dynamite, The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business, Mr. Excitement
Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul, Lady Soul, Ree, Sister Ree, Auntie Ree-Ree (Whitney Houston)
Joan Baez: The Queen of Folk, Madonna, Joanie
Cher: The Queen of Camp, The Queen of Comebacks, The Queen of Reinvention, Goddess of Pop
Shakira: Queen of the World Cup (her song "Waka Waka" was the 2010 World Cup anthem)
Kylie Minogue: Pint-Sized Pop Princess, Pint-Sized Popster
Little Richard: The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll (himself), The Emancipator, The Innovator, The Architect
Prince Rogers Nelson: Prince, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, The Symbol, The Love Symbol, The Kid, Alexander Nevermind
Ozzy Osbourne: The Prince of Darkness, The Blizzard of Ozz, The Godfather of Heavy Metal
Justin Timberlake: The President of Pop (Broadway World)
Frank Sinatra: The Chairman of the Board, Ol' Blue Eyes, The Sultan of Swoon, Swoonatra, The Voice, La Voz
Madonna Louise Ciccone: Madonna, The Queen of Pop
Selena Quintanilla: Tejano Madonna
Ofra Haza: Israeli Madonna
Brenda Fassie: Black Madonna
Louis Armstrong: Satchmo
Usher: Mr. Entertainment
Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr.: The Big Bopper, J. P.
Bob Dylan: The Bard, Zimmy (his last name was Zimmerman), Zimbo, Blind Boy Grunt, The Voice of a Generation, The Voice of Protest, Bobby
Bruce Springsteen: The Boss, Doctor (his first nickname)
Eric Clapton: Slowhand, Guitar God
Jimi Hendrix: Guitar God, Buster (after his childhood hero Buster Crabbe aka "Flash Gordon"), Young Jimmy
David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust, Thin White Duke
Roy Orbison: The Big O, The Caruso of Rock
Mariah Carey: Mirage (because she skipped class so much she was hardly ever seen!)
Stevie Nicks: The White Witch
Paul Hewson: Bono, Bono Vox
"Uncle" Dave Macon: The Dixie Dewdrop, The Grand Ole Man of the Grand Ole Opry, The Grandfather of Country Music
Hank Williams Sr.: Luke the Drifter, The Hillbilly Shakespeare
Hank Williams Jr.: Bocephus
"Little" Jimmy Dickens: Tater (Hank Williams Sr.)
Don Williams: The Gentle Giant
Taylor Swift: Tater Tot (Brad Paisley), Swifty, T. Swizzle, Tay Tay, America's Sweetheart (The Sunday Times)
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black, The Undertaker, The Outlaw, J. R.
George Jones: The Possum
Kenny Rogers: The Gambler
Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter
Willie Nelson: Shotgun Willie
Merle Haggard: The Hag
George Strait: King George
Shania Twain: Woody (by her husband because her hairstyle reminded him of Woody Woodpecker!)
Bill Anderson: Whisperin' Bill
Jennifer Lopez: J. Lo
Sean Combs: Puff Daddy, Puff, Puffy, P. Diddy, Diddy
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.: Snoop Doggy Dogg, Bigg Snoop Dogg, Snoop Rock, The Doggfather
Christopher George Latore Wallace: Biggie, Biggie Smalls, The Notorious B.I.G.
Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff
Marion "Suge" Knight
Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
Lisa Lopes: Left Eye
Shawn Carter: Jay-Z
Trevor George Smith Jr.: Busta Rhymes
Marshall Mathers III: Eminem, M&M (his original stage name based on his initials), Em, Slim Shady, Bunny Rabbit, B-Rabbit
Morrissey: The Pope of Mope
Glen Campbell: The Rhinestone Cowboy
Mel Torme: The Velvet Fog
Jenny Lind: The Swedish Nightingale
Johann Strauss: The Waltz King
Blake Shelton: Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Toad (because he would bring toads home to his mother), Bwake (because Gwen Stefani's son had trouble pronouncing the letter "L")
Miley Cyrus: Miley (as a child she smiled so much she was "Smiley" but later the "S" was dropped and she changed her legal name accordingly)
Adam Levine: Sharky, Last Word Larry
Kelly Clarkson: Mouth of the South
Jennifer Hudson: JHUD, Jenny Kate
Chevel Shepherd: Country Tinkerbelle (Kelly Clarkson)

In the sections below, some presidents appear in multiple categories. For instance, George Washington and Andrew Jackson were heroes to most Americans, but not to the Native Americans they terrorized.

Artists

Jackson Pollock: Jack the Dripper
Andy Warhol: Drella
Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi: Botticelli ("Little Barrell")
Domenikos Theotokopoulos: El Greco ("The Greek")
Michelangelo de Merisi: Caravaggio (the name of his hometown)

Major Time Periods, Eras and Ages

The Big Bang (approximately 14 billion years ago)
The Stone Age (approximately 3.4 billion years ago)
The Dawn of Civilization (approximately 6,500 years ago)
The Bronze Age (approximately 3,000-1,200 BC)
The Iron Age (approximately 1,200-500 BC)
The Golden Age of Ancient Greece (approximately 500-0 BC)
The Pax Romana or "Roman Peace" (0-200 AD)
The Dark Ages or Middle Ages (approximately 200-1300 AD)
The Renaissance or Age of Discovery (approximately 1300-1650 AD)
The Reformation (1517-1615 AD)
The Age of Reason or Age of Enlightenment (1615-1815 AD)
The Industrial Revolution or Machine Age (1750-1910 AD)
The Age of Democracy or Age of Equality (1776-present)
The Gilded Age (1870-1900 AD)
World War I or "The Great War" or "The War to end all Wars" (1914-1918 AD)
The Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age (1920-1929 AD)
The Great Depression (1929-1939 AD)
World War II and The Holocaust (1939-1945 AD)
The Cold War (1945-1991 AD)
The Information Age/Digital Age and the Atomic Age (1945-present)
The Civil Rights Movement (1950-present)
The Space Age (1957-present)
The Multimedia Age (1987-present)
The Social Media Age (1996-present)
The Big Data Age (2001-present)

The Best Presidential Nicknames

The Father of His Country, The American Cincinnatus, The American Fabius, The Sage of Mount Vernon (George Washington)
The Colossus of Independence, Old Sink or Swim, The Atlas of Independence, Bonny Johnny, The Duke of Braintree (John Adams)
The Sage of Monticello, The Apostle of Democracy, The Pen of the Revolution, Apostle of the Constitution, The Man of the People, Long Tom, Long Loin (Thomas Jefferson)
The Father of the Constitution, The Sage of Montpelier (James Madison)
Old Man Eloquent, Publicola, The Abolitionist (John Quincy Adams)
The Great Emancipator, The Liberator, Abe, Honest Abe, Father Abraham, The Rail-Splitter, The Ancient One (Abraham Lincoln)
The Great Communicator, Dutch, The Gipper, The Lifeguard, Ronnie, Saint Ronnie, The Teflon President, Rawhide (Ronald Reagan)
The King of Camelot, Lancer (Lancelot), Jack, JFK (John F. Kennedy)
Give 'Em Hell Harry, General (Harry S. Truman)
Eagle, The Comeback Kid, The First Black President, The Rhodes Scholar, Political Genius (Bill Clinton)
No Drama Obama, Barry, Barry O'Bomber, Bam-Bam, Renegade (Barack Obama)
The Boss, King Franklin, The Squire of Hyde Park, New Deal Caesar, Houdini of the White House (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
Unconditional Surrender Grant, Uncle Sam Grant, United States Grant, U. S. Grant, United We Stand Grant, Old Three Stars (Ulysses S. Grant)
Old Kinderhook, OK, The Red Fox of Kinderhook, The Fox, The Little Magician, The Enhancer, The Great Manager, The Master Spirit, The American Talleyrand (Martin Van Buren)

Less Flattering Presidential Nicknames

Conotocarious ("Devourer of Villages" by Native Americans), Town Destroyer, Old Mutton Head, His Pomposity (George Washington)
Sharp Knife (by Native Americans, many of whom he forced to walk the Trail of Tears), King Mob, Caesar, King Andrew the First (Andrew Jackson)
His Roundity, His Rotundity, The Monarch (John Adams)
Mad Tom (Thomas Jefferson)
The Ripper, Old Foot in the Mouth, The Jelly Bean Man (Ronald Reagan)
The Madman of Massachusetts (John Quincy Adams)
Tricky Dick, Richard the Chicken-Hearted, Gloomy Gus, Iron Butt, The Mad Monk, The Fighting Quaker, Searchlight (Richard M. Nixon)
Tricky Trump, Agent Orange, Hair Hitler, Der Gropenfuhrer, The Trump of Doom, The Trumpster, The Donald, Mogul (Donald J. Trump)
Slick Willy, Slick Willie, Bubba, The Big Dob (Bill Clinton)
Dubya, Shrub, Bush Baby, Bush League, Bush Junior, Bush 43, Trailblazer, The Decider (George W. Bush)
His Fraudulency, Rutherfraud, President De Facto, The Usurper, Old 8 to 7 (Rutherford B. Hayes)
The Sphinx, That Madman in the White House, The Raw Dealocrat, Kangaroosevelt (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
His Accidency (John Tyler)
Martin Van Ruin, Machiavellian Belshazzar, Little Van, Little Matty, Matty Van, The Careful Dutchman, King Martin (Martin Van Buren)
The Human Iceberg, Kid Gloves Harrison, Grandfather's Hat (Benjamin Harrison)
Wobbly Warren, President Hardly (Warren G. Harding)
The Plodder, Polk the Mendacious (James K. Polk)
Ten Cent Jimmy, The Grand Turk, Old Buck, The Do-Nothing President (James Buchanan)
Uncle Cornpone, Rufus Cornpone, Uncle Rufus, Bullshit, Bull (Lyndon Baines Johnson, because of his lying)
Useless Grant (U. S. Grant)
Peanut, The Peanut Farmer, Jimmy, Deacon, President Malaise (Jimmy Carter)
Sleeping Beauty, Big Lub, The Big Chief, Mr. Malaprop, Taft the Blunderer (William Howard Taft)
The Drunkard (Franklin Pierce)
The Accidental President, The American Louis Philippe (Millard Fillmore)
The Accidental President, Passkey (Gerald R. Ford)
Sir Veto (Andrew Johnson)
The Napoleon of Protection (William McKinley)
Dutch, shorted from "fat little Dutch boy" (Ronald Reagan)
* His Obstinacy, Uncle Jumbo, The Stuffed Prophet, Old Veto, Grover the Good, The Beast of Buffalo, The Hangman of Buffalo (Grover Cleveland)

(*) Grover Cleveland was accused of rape, of having the woman he raped committed to a lunatic asylum, of having the child he fathered by the rape committed to an orphanage, and of marrying his legal ward who was 27 years his junior after having paid for her baby carriage!

Presidential Nicknames: The Strong and/or Silent or Talkative Types

Old Rough and Ready (Zachary Taylor)
The Rough Rider, The Bull Moose, The Lion, The Hero of San Juan Hill, The Trust Buster (Teddy Roosevelt)
Old Hickory, Old Tough, The Hero of New Orleans, The Old Hero, Mechanic Statesman (Andrew Jackson)
Young Hickory (James K. Polk, a protégé of "Old Hickory" Andrew Jackson)
Old Tippecanoe, Old Tip, Honest Ben, Hard Cider, The Cincinnatus of the West (William Henry Harrison)
Boatman Jim (James A. Garfield)
The Kansas Cyclone, Ike, Little Ike, Big Ike, Ugly Ike, General Ike, Scorecard, Providence (Dwight D. Eisenhower, known for his campaign slogan "We like Ike")
Silent Cal, Cool Cal, Cautious Cal, The Sphinx of the Potomac (Calvin Coolidge)
The Houdini of the White House, That Man (Franklin Delano Roosevelt)
The Schoolmaster, The Professor (Woodrow Wilson)
The Great Engineer, The Great Humanitarian, The Grand Old Man, The Chief, Bert (Herbert Hoover)
Old Man Eloquent (John Quincy Adams)
Timberwolf, Read My Lips Bush (George H. W. Bush, who vowed never to raise taxes, but did)

Soft and Fluffy Presidential Nicknames

Teddy (Theodore Roosevelt; the "teddy bear" was named after him)
Poppy, Old Pop, Papa Bush, Bush 41, Shrub (George H. W. Bush, to differentiate him from his son President George W. Bush)
Old Granny, General Mum (William Henry Harrison)
Old Granny (Rutherford B. Hayes)
Grover Good (Grover Cleveland)
Winnie, Sonny (William B. Harding)
Junie, Junior (Gerald R. Ford Jr.)
Little Jemmy, Little Johnny, Short Stack, His Little Majesty, Dolly's Husband (James Madison, who stood only 5'4" and weighed 100 pounds)
The Little Magician, The Enchanter, Little Matt, Pet of the Petticoats, The Mistletoe Politician (Martin Van Buren, who stood 5'6")
Little Ben, Grandfather's Hat (Benjamin Harrison, who stood 5'6" and was also the grandson of former President William Henry Harrison)
The Era of Good Feelings President, The Last Cocked Hat, The Last of the Crooked Hats (James Monroe)
Mr. Nice Guy, Jerry (Gerald Ford)
Prince Arthur, The Dude President, Gentleman Boss, The Walrus, Chet (Chester A. Arthur)
Elegant Arthur (James A. Garfield)
Handsome Frank (Franklin Pierce)
The Tennessee Tailor (Andrew Johnson)
Volunteer, Light Bulb Lyndon (Lyndon Baines Johnson, because he would go around turning off lights in the White House)
The Food Stamp President, The Great Pretender (Barack Obama)

Presidential Nicknames: Short and Sweet Initials Only

JQA (John Quincy Adams)
JFK (John F. Kennedy)
FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
TR (Teddy Roosevelt; he didn't have a middle name)
LBJ (Lyndon Baines Johnson)

Secret Service Code Names

Harry S. Truman: General
Dwight D. Eisenhower: Providence
John F. Kennedy: Lancer (related to Camelot and Lancelot)
Lyndon B. Johnson: Volunteer
Richard M. Nixon: Searchlight (more than a bit ironic)
Gerald Ford: Passkey
Jimmy Carter: Deacon (he taught Sunday School)
Ronald Reagan: Rawhide
George H. W. Bush: Timberwolf
Bill Clinton: Eagle
George W. Bush: Tumbler (also ironic)
Barack Obama: Renegade
Donald J. Trump: Mogul

First Lady Secret Service Code Names

Melania Trump: Muse
Hillary Clinton: Evergreen
Michelle Obama: Renaissance
Barbara Bush: Tranquility
Nancy Reagan: Rainbow
Jackie Kennedy: Lace

Scientists and Inventors

Thomas Alva Edison: The Wizard of Menlo Park, Tom, Al (his childhood nickname), Dot, Dash
Albert Einstein: The Dopey One (his childhood nickname was Depperte)
Roger Bacon: The Wonderful Doctor (Doctor Mirabilis)
Eratosthenes: Beta, Pentatholos

Eratosthenes' detractors considered him a "jack of all trades, master of none" and called him Beta because he was second-best at everything. His admirers, however, called him Pentathlos after pentathlon athletes with multiple skills.

Famous Explorers and Their Discoveries

Alexander "the Great" conquered parts of Central Asia and India circa 330 BC
Marco Polo aka "Il Milione" (the man of a million stories) was born in 1254 AD and traveled extensively in the Middle East and Far East
The nicknames "Silk Road" and "Spice Islands" suggest motives for explorations and discoveries to follow ...
Prince Henry "the Navigator" initiated the Age of Discovery circa 1415
"The Cape of Good Hope" aka "The Cape of Storms" was discovered in 1488 by Bartolomeu Dias
Cristoforo Colombo aka "Christopher Columbus" discovered the "New World" in 1492
Manuel "the Fortunate" expanded Portugal's overseas empire during his reign from 1495-1521
Giovanni Caboto aka "John Cabot" discovered North America in 1497
Vasco da Gama aka "The Admiral of the Indian Seas" was the first European to sail there in 1497
"America" was named after Amerigo Vespucci, even though he only reached the Americas in 1499
Vasco Núñez de Balboa discovered the western ocean in 1513 and named San Miguel Bay after the archangel Michael
Ferdinand Magellan optimistically named the new ocean Mar Pacífico ("Peaceful Sea") in 1521; hence the Pacific
The Amazon River was given its name after Francisco de Orellana reported pitched battles with female warriors in 1541
The Philippines was named in honor of King Philip II of Spain by Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos in 1542
James Cook aka "Captain Cook" discovered New Zealand (1769), Australia (1770) and almost Antarctica (1774)
Robert Peary nicknamed "Bert" and "Bertie" (by his mother) claimed to have reached the "North Pole" in 1909
Roald Admunsen aka "The Last Viking" reached the "South Pole" in 1911
Charles "Lucky" Lindbergh flew the "Spirit of St. Louis" in the first nonstop transatlantic airplane crossing in 1927
Amelia Earhart aka "Millie" and "Lady Lindy" was the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1928
Neil Armstrong aka the "Ice Commander" became the first man to walk on the moon in 1969
Edwin Eugene Aldrin aka "Buzz" was the second man to walk on the moon in 1969

Native American Nicknames

Smoking Squirrel (Mayan)
Animal Skull (Mayan)
Lady Six Sky (Mayan)
Curl-Nose (Mayan)
Huitzilopochtli (Aztec god, "Hummingbird on the Left" or "Southern Hummingbird")

Plagues and Diseases

Montezuma's Revenge (diarrhea)
Gripping of the Guts (dysentry)
Syphilis was called The French Pox, The Spanish Disease, The Naples Disease, The Chinese Disease, etc.
The Black Death (bubonic plague); also the Blue Sickness, La pest ("the Pestilence"), the Great Mortality

Famous Badasses: Roughs, Toughs, Cowboys, Cowgirls, Outlaws, Desperados, Gunslingers, Pirates, etc.

Our favorites in this hotly-contested category include: The Sundance Kid, Little Miss Sure Shot, Calico Jack, Wild Bill and Belle Starr.

William H. Bonney: Billy the Kid (he was born William Henry McCarty and also went by Henry Antrim), The Lincoln County Phantom
Christopher "Kit" Carson
William F. Cody: Buffalo Bill Cody
Phoebe Ann Mosey: Annie Oakley, Little Sure Shot, Little Miss Sure Shot, Watanya Cicilla (given to her by fellow performer Sitting Bull)
James Butler Hickok: Wild Bill Hickok
Martha Jane Canary: Calamity Jane (she was buried next to Wild Bill Hickok)
James McCall: Crooked Nose Jack, Broken Nose Jack (he shot Hickok in the back as he held "The Dead Man's Hand")
David Crockett: Davey, Hero of the Alamo, King of the Wild Frontier
Bass Reeves: The Invincible Marshall, The Original Lone Ranger (born a slave, he became the ultimate lawman, arresting 3,000 felons)
Isaac Parker: The Hanging Judge sentenced 79 men to death but did not personally believe in the death penalty
Haskay-bay-nay-ntayl: The Apache Kid inspired a Marvel Comics character with the same name

*John Henry Holliday: Doc Holliday (he was a dentist)
*Mary Katherine Haroney: "Big Nose Kate" was Doc Holliday's lover and sometimes sidekick
*Josephine Sarah Marcuse Earp: "Josie" aka "Sadie" was Wyatt Earp's flame and eventually his wife
*John Peters Ringo/Ringold: Johnny Ringo, The Ringo Kid, The King of the Cowboys
*Joseph Isaac Clanton: Ike Clanton
*William Brocius: Curly Bill Brocius, Arizona's Most Famous Outlaw (he was killed by Wyatt Earp)
*Bartholomew "Bat" Masterson
*James "Jim" Masterson
*Edward "Ed" Masterson
*Jack Johnson: Turkey Creek
*John Wilson Vermillion: Texas Jack Vermillion, Shoot-Your-Eye-Out Vermillion
*Luke Short: The Undertaker's Friend (he killed at least eight men, including the gunslinger "Longhair" Jim Courtright)

(*) Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Johnny Ringo, Ike Clanton, Curly Bill Brocius, Texas Jack Vermillion, Turkey Creek Jack Johnson, Luke Short and Josie Marcuse and Big Nose Kate all knew each other in Tombstone, Arizona. In their cases the Wild, Wild West lived up to its billing, with the most famous episode being the Gunfight at the OK Corral. Wyatt Earp said of Doc Holliday, "He was the most skillful gambler and the nerviest, fastest, deadliest man with a six-gun I ever saw." The Masterson brothers were all lawmen, with Bat Masterson being the most famous gunslinger and Jim Masterson not being far behind.

Frank James: Buck
Jesse James: Dingus
"Bloody" Bill Anderson
Thomas Coleman "Cole" Younger
Robert Ford: That Dirty Little Coward (he shot Jesse James in the back)
"Bushwhackers" were Confederate sympathizer like the James brothers who ambushed Union forces
"Little Dixie" was an area of Missouri with strong ties to the South

Frank and Jesse James were the sons of a Baptist minister; they never drank and Frank was known to quote Shakespeare while Jesse preferred to quote the Bible and never used foul language. But apparently "thou shalt not steal" and "thou shalt not kill" didn't entirely sink in. The James family never owned slaves but they were staunch supporters of the South. Frank joined Quantrill's Raiders and said that he loved William Quantrill at first sight, calling him "gallant" and a "demon in battle." Jesse joined later, at age 16, after he and members of his family were whipped viciously and his stepfather was hanged for not revealing Frank's whereabouts. Cole Younger was a captain in the unit. The James-Younger gang was made up of former Confederate bushwhackers. When the James brothers became outlaws, one of the banks they targeted was owned by Union General Benjamin "The Beast" Butler, so some of their crimes may possibly be seen as continuations of the Civil War. 

Seth Bullock:  Bad Man with a Gun, Deadwood Deadeye, Montana, Sloth, Last of the Pioneers, True Westerner, Finest of the Frontiersmen (Teddy Roosevelt)
Samuel Fields: The Nigger General (himself), The Sly-Coon, Senegambian, The Shakespearian Darkey (he was an outspoken voice for Deadwood's African-Americans)
John "King" Fisher
James Miller: Killer Miller, Deacon Miller, Deacon Jim
Tom Horn: Devil's Horn, Bushwhacker (a killer for hire, he allegedly killed 50 men including a 14-year-old), Talking Boy (Geronimo)
Robert "Clay" Allinson: The Shootist, The Man-Killer (Charles Siringo)
"Chunk" Colbert (killed by Clay Allinson, real first name unknown)
Francisco "Pancho" Griego (another gunslinger killed by Allinson)
John Wesley Hardin: Wes, Little Arkansas (he tried to join the Confederate army at age nine and claimed to have killed 42 men)
William Longley: Wild Bill, Ratting Bill, Bill Black (he was said to have killed 32 men before he was hanged)
Myra Maybelle Shirley: Belle Starr, The Bandit Queen
"Rowdy" Joe Lowe ran with the Sam Bass gang
Jefferson "Soapy" Smith witnessed the shooting of the outlaw Sam Bass as a boy, then became the "King of the Frontier Con Men"

** Robert Leroy Parker: Butch Cassidy (Butch because he worked as a butcher, Cassidy after his mentor Mike Cassidy), The Laughing Bandit, The Perfect Criminal
** Henry Alonzo Longabaugh: The Sundance Kid
** Harvey Logan: Kid Curry
** George Curry: Flat-Nose
** William "News" Carver (he was addicted to reading newspaper articles about the gang's exploits)
** William Ellsworth Lay: Elzy 
** Camilla Hanks: Deaf Charlie
** Laura Bullion: Della Rose, Desert Rose, Wild Bunch Rose, Thorny Rose (her epitaph) 
** Ben Kilpatrick: The Tall Texan
** "Laughing" Sam Carey has been called Wyoming's most dangerous desperado; it is not clear what he was laughing about
** Tom "Black Jack" Ketchum
** "Queen" Ann Bassett
** "Wild" Josie Bassett
** Ethel/Ethal/Eva/Rita Place: Etta

(**) Butch Cassidy, The Sundance Kid, Elzy Lay, News Carver, Deaf Charlie, Della Rose, The Tall Texan, Laughing Sam Carey, Flat-Nose Curry and Kid Curry were all members of the Wild Bunch and/or the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. George "Flat-Nose" Curry was a mentor to Kid Curry, but not a relative. (Harvey Logan adopted the surname Curry as did his brother Lonny.) While Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid allegedly tried to avoid killing, Kid Curry was accused of killing nine lawmen (some of whom he sought out for revenge) and two civilians. The Wild Bunch's hideouts even had nicknames: Robbers Roost and the Hole-in-the-Wall. The famous Hole-in-the-Wall Gang was actually a loose collection of whatever gangs and individuals happened to be hiding out there at the time. "Black Jack" Ketchum knew and rode with members of the Wild Bunch, but had his own gang. "Queen" Ann Bassett and "Wild" Josie Bassett were friends and sometimes lovers to the outlaws. Josie Bassett claimed that Butch Cassidy visited her after he had reportedly shot to death in Bolivia. Etta Place was Sundance's lover, a sure shot with a rifle, and the first woman to own land in Argentina. But she's so mysterious that no one knows her real first or last names, where she was born or raised, or what happened to her after the famous shootout in Bolivia.

"Cock-Eyed" Frank Loving
William "Bigfoot" Wallace fought for Texan independence, then became a Texas Ranger
"Long" John Long was once ambushed by Billy the Kid, but survived
"Rattlesnake" Dick Bartar was a notorious stagecoach robber
Charles Bolles: Black Bart the Poet (a "gentleman bandit," he left poetic notes when he robbed stage coaches)

*** William M. Doolin: Wild Bill Doolin, The Oklahoma Outlaw
*** George Newcomb: Bitter Creek
*** William Blake: Bill "Tulsa Jack" Blake
*** "Arkansas" Tom Jones
*** Oliver "Ol" Yantis
*** Richard West: "Little Dick West"
*** George "Red Buck" Weightman
*** "Dynamite" Dan Clifton was a member of the Doolin gang; aka "Dynamite" Dick Clifton

(***) Bill Doolin was a founder of the Wild Bunch and also rode with the Dalton Gang. He later formed his own gang called the Oklahombres who are now better known as the Doolin Gang. Like Butch Cassidy, Bill Doolin was generally well-liked and tried to avoid killing the locals. Clifton was called the "most killed outlaw in America" because bounty hunters kept turning in corpses claiming they were his after hacking off three fingers to match his missing digits!

"The Three Guardsmen" were lawmen who tried to bring the Doolin Gang to justice: Bill Tilgham, Chuck Madsen and Heck Thomas
Rose Dunn: The Rose of the Cimarron
**** William "Bill" Dalton
**** Gratton "Grat" Dalton
**** "Blackfaced" Charlie Bryant (he had gunpowder burns on his face)

(****) The Dalton Gang was so-called because the ringleaders were the Dalton brothers. Frank, Gratton, Bob and Emmet Dalton had all been lawmen, but didn't always get paid for their work. After Frank was killed in the line of duty in 1888, the other brothers switched sides and became outlaws. Bill Dalton rode with the Wild Bunch, not the Dalton Gang.

Levi Boone Helm: The Kentucky Cannibal
"Three-Fingered Jack" Gallagher
George Parrott: Big Nose George, Big Beak Parrott, George Manuse, George Warden
The Sydney Ducks were a group of Australian outlaws who operated in the San Francisco area; the were opposed by the Vigilantes
Zoro (fictional)
The Cisco Kid (fictional)
The Lone Ranger (fictional, but perhaps based on Bass Reaves, the Invincible Marshall)
Pecos Bill (fictional)
The Man With No Name (fictional)

William Kidd: Captain Kidd
John Rackham: Calico Jack
Edward Teach: Blackbeard
Bartholomew Roberts: Black Bart
Francis Drake: El Draque ("The Dragon")
Henry Every: Long Ben
Alvin Thompson: Titanic Thompson (a proposition gambler, he said that he killed five men, but they all would have agreed that they deserved it!)

Nicknames for Military Groups, Units and Forces

During the American Revolutionary War, civilian militia members were called "Minutemen" because they could be ready to fight on short notice.
The first Special Service Force was an elite American-Canadian commando unit in World War II known as the "Black Devils" because they smeared their faces with black boot polish.
During the invasion of Italy in 1943 the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment were called "Devils in Baggy Pants" by a German officer.
Tokyo Rose called the USS Lexington the "Blue Ghost" after the blue-hulled aircraft carrier and her crew kept "coming back to life" after having been reported as sunk.
Tokyo Rose was easily spooked and called three different American ships the "Grey Ghost."
The 9th Armored Division was called the "Phantom" unit by Germans during the Battle of the Bulge because it seemed to be everywhere.
German troops called the 28th Infantry Division the "Bloody Buckets" for their insignias and vicious fighting tactics during the Normandy Campaign.
American marines are called "leathernecks" and "jarheads." During WWII, German troops called them teufelhunden ("Devil Dogs").
Navy SEALs are called "frogmen."
Navy sailors are called "squids" and "swabbies" (because they swab the deck). 
Navy submariners are called "bubbleheads."
American army ground troops have been called "grunts," "ground pounders," "doughboys" and "dogfaces."
Members of the Coast Guard are called "coasties," "puddle jumpers" and "puddle pirates."
Air Force pilots are called "flyboys," "zoomies" and "top guns."

Nicknames for Ships, Planes and Weapons

The Walker Colt .44 revolver, the first "Six-Shooter," was named after Texas Ranger Samuel H. Walker.
The Colt .45 revolver was nicknamed the "Peacemaker" and the "Gun That Won The West."
Samuel Colt's factory was the first "Assembly Line," years before Henry Ford's.
The Smith & Wesson .38 is nicknamed the ".38 Special" and the "Widowmaker."
A cheap generic handgun is called a "Saturday Night Special."
"Tommy Gun" is the most common nickname of the Thompson submachine gun; it is also called the "Annihilator," among other things.
Davey Crockett's flintlock musket was nicknamed Betsy, Ol' Betsy, and Pretty Betsy.
Daniel Boone's rifle was called the "Tick Licker" because it was so accurate he could allegedly hit ticks with it.
The German MG42 machinegun was called "Hitler's Buzzsaw."
The American M-1 semi-automatic rifle was called "the gun that won the war" (i.e., WWII).
"Joyeuse" was the name of Charlemagne's sword.
"Excalibur" and the "Sword in the Stone" were the nicknames of King Arthur's sword.
El Cid's sword was called "Tizona," which roughly translates to "Fireball" in English.
The "Spear of Destiny," aka the "Holy Lance" and the "Lance of Longinus," was allegedly the spear used during the crucifixion.
The "Sword of Mercy" is considered to be one of the Crown Jewels and is used only to coronate Kings and Queens of England. 
"Old Ironsides" was the nickname given to the USS Constitution.
Battleships are called "dreadnoughts" after the first modern battleship, the HMS Dreadnought.
The Boeing B-29 is called the "Superfortress."
The Lockheed F-117 is nicknamed the "Nighthawk," "BatPlane," "Goblin" and "Ghost." It was also the first "Stealth Fighter."
The Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II has been nicknamed "Hog" and "Warthog."
The Harrier family of airplanes are nicknamed the "Jump Jet."
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was nicknamed the "Fork-Tailed Devil."
Variants of the F-15 have been called "Eagle," "Beagle" (Bomb Eagle), "Strike Eagle" and "Lawn Dart."
The F-22 has been called "Rapier," "Raptor" and "Lightning II."
The Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate has been called a "missile sponge."
Iraqi troops resisting the American advance in Desert Storm learned to fear the Apache helicopter and called it the "Black Death."
Iraqi soldiers who survived the first combat deployment of the Multiple Launch Rocket System called it the "Steel Rain."
"Little Boy" was the nickname of the uranium-based atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima; the plane that dropped it was nicknamed the "Enola Gay."
"Fat Man" was the name of the plutonium-based atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki; pray that it's the last such device we ever have to name!
"The Dead Hand" is a Russian "fail deadly" automated doomsday device designed to launch nukes without human controllers.
When asked what weapons would be used in World War III, Albert Einstein said he didn't know, but the next war would be fought with sticks and stones.

Gangster, Gangsta and Mobster Nicknames

Giuseppe Morello was the first mob boss to be called Capo dei capi ("the Boss of bosses")
Giuseppe Masseria aka "Joe the Glutton" and "Joe the Boss" was murdered by Lucky Luciano and Frank Costello
Umberto Valenti: The Ghost (a gunman suspected in 20 murders, he may have been killed by Lucky Luciano)
Charles "Lucky" Luciano; also Charlie, Charlie Lucky
Frank Costello aka "The Prime Minister of the Underworld" was the model for The Godfather movies
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel hated his nickname and was never called it to his face
Arthur Simon Flegenheimer: Dutch Schultz
Arnold Rothstein: The Brain
Owney Madden: The Killer
William "Big Bill" Dwyer
Tony Accardo: Big Tuna (he caught a 400 pound Tuna); also Joe Batters (for the way he handled a baseball bat)
"Fat Tony" Salerno
Joseph Burger: Joe "Jumbo" Burger (he weighed 390 pounds)
Carmine "The Bull" Agnello

Carmine Agnello's mistress covered a tattoo of his face with a tattoo of a bulldog, hence his nickname. Was it because Agnello was married to John Gotti's daughter, perhaps?

John Gotti: Dapper Don, Teflon Don
Israel Alderman: Icepick Willie
Marie Baker: the "Pretty Pants Bandit" would make her victims drop their pants before making her getaway!
Kate "Ma" Barker; she was born Arizona Clark
Leroy "Nicky" Barnes; also "Mr. Untouchable"
James Burke: Jimmy The Gent
Xie Caiping: Mama San, Godmother of the Chinese Underworld (she reportedly kept a harem of young male lovers)
Willie "The Rat" Cammisano
"Scarface" Al Capone; he was called "Snorky" by his friends; disgraced at Alcatraz, he was called "The Wop with the Mop"
Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik was the Capone underling who would make payoffs
Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll
Jack "Legs" Diamond; also "Clay Pigeon" because he was shot so many times!
"Gentleman" John Dillinger; also "The Jackrabbit" and "Public Enemy No. 1" (he was the first)
Pablo Escobar: Don Pablo, El Doctor, El Patron, El Senor
Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd
Jimmy "The Weasel" Fratianno
Carmine "The Cigar" Galante
Charlie "Monkey Face" Genker
Vincent "The Chin" Gigante; also "The Oddfather" because he wandered around in a bathrobe and slippers, mumbling and drooling
Charles "Cherry Nose" Gioe
Sammy "the Bull" Gravano
Virginia Hill: "The Flamingo" and "The Queen of the Gangster Molls" was played by Annette Bening in Bugsy
George "Machine Gun" Kelly
Opal "Mack Truck" Long; a member of John Dillinger's "Terror Gang," no one spouted this nickname to her face!
Thomas "Butterfingers" Moran was an adept pickpocket 
Lester Joseph Gillis, known as "Baby Face" Nelson, despised the nickname and called himself "Big" George despite standing only 5'4"
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow: Bonnie and Clyde
Tommy "The Butcher" Pitera
Salvatore Riina: Toto
"Pistol" Pete Rollack
Belle Siddons: Madame Vestal
Stephanie "Madame" St. Clair; also "Queenie"
Kazuo "The Bear" Taoka
Ciro "The Artichoke King" Terranova imported artichokes in addition to his mob activities
Orazio "The Scourge" Tropea
John "White Devil" Willis
Joaquin Guzman: El Chapo

Oddballs, Madmen and Serial Killers

Grigori Rasputin: the Mad Monk, the Black Monk, Rasputin
Jack the Ripper (identity unknown)
The Zodiac Killer (identity unknown)
Ted Kaczynski: the Unabomber
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab: the Underwear Bomber
Richard Reid: the Shoe Bomber
John Wayne Gacy: the Killer Clown
Timothy McVeigh: Noodles (bullies mocked him for being thin and unathletic)
Ted Bundy: Lady Killer, Campus Killer
Nannie Doss: the Giggling Granny, the Giggling Nanny, the Lonely Hearts Killer, the Jolly Black Widow
John George Haigh: the Acid Bath Murderer
Dennis Rader: the BTK Killer (BTK=Bind Torture Kill)
Dorothea Helen Puente: the Death House Landlady
Maxim Petrov: Doctor Death
Harold Shipman: Doctor Death
The Eyeball Killer (identity disputed; the killer removed his victims' eyeballs)
The Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run aka the Cleveland Torso Murderer (identity unknown)

Divines and Mystics

Jeanne d'Arc: The Maid of Orleans, La Pucelle (The Maid), Maid of Heaven, Little Joan (her childhood nickname)
Thomas Aquinas: Doctor Angelicus (The Angelic Doctor), Angel of the Schools, The Dumb Ox, Stupid Boy
John Bunyan: The Immortal Tinker, The Inspired Tinker
John the Apostle: The Beloved Disciple
Barnabas: The Son of Consolation

Some of the More Charitable and Chivalrous Types

William Douglas: The Flower of Chivalry
King Arthur: The Flower of Kings, The Once and Future King
Elizabeth I of England: Good Queen Bess, The Virgin Queen
Elizabeth II of England: Lilibet, Lilybet, Gan-Gan and Gary (because her grandchildren had trouble pronouncing "grandmother" just like non-royal children!)
Charles II of England: The Merry Monarch, The Mutton King
Charles VIII of France: The Affable

A Few Good Reasons Not to Mess Around with the Scots!

Kenneth McAlpin: The Conqueror
Donald II: The Madman, The Psycho
Malcolm I: The Murderous Red
Indulf: The Aggressor
Dub: The Vehement
Kenneth II: The Fratricide
Malcolm II: The Destroyer
Duncan I: The Diseased
Macbeth: The Red King (Bloody King?)
Lulac: The Foolish
Edgar: The Valiant
Alexander I: The Fierce
William I: The Lion, The Rough
*William Wallace: The Hammer and Scourge of England
*Robert the Bruce: Braveheart, The Hero King
Robert MacGregor: Rob Roy (the Scottish Robin Hood)

(*) Although the movie Braveheart is about William Wallace, it was actually Robert the Bruce who was the original Braveheart.

Continents and Such

Antarctica: The South Pole, The Great South Land, The White Continent, The Anti-Arctic (the literal meaning of Antarctica)
The Arctic: The North Pole, The Frozen Ocean, Thule (Pytheas of Massalia), The Northwest Passage (which was once mythical, but now exists thanks to global warming)
Australia: The Land Down Under, Oz, Terra Australis Incognita ("unknown southern land")
North and South America: The New World, The Americas, The Western World, The West, The Land Across the Pond
Europe: The Old World
Asia: The East, The Orient
Mesopotamia: The Middle East
Africa: The Dark Continent
Greenland: The Iceberg Capital of the World

NOTE: Was it fate? The literal meaning of Americus is "industrial leader."

Nations, Countries, Cities and People

England: Britannia, Albion, Dear Old Blighty, The Sceptered Isle, Land of Hope and Glory, Nation of Shopkeepers, John Bull, Brits, Limeys
United States: Uncle Sam, Yankees, Yanks, Rebs, Johnny Reb, The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, The Arsenal of Democracy
Canada: The Great White North, Canuks
Australia: The Land Down Under, Oz, Aussies
New Zealand: Middle Earth, The Land that Time Forgot, Aotearoa (Maori for "The land of the long white cloud")
Japan: The Land of the Rising Sun
China: The Dragon, The Red Dragon
North Korea: The Hermit Kingdom
South Korea: Land of the Morning Calm
Philippines: The Pearl of the Orient
Germany: The Fatherland, Teutons, Krauts, Jerries, Aryans
France: L'Hexagone
Switzerland: The Land of Milk and Honey
Italy: The Boot
Ireland: The Emerald isle, Hibernia, Róisín Dubh, Eire
Finland: The Land of a Thousand Lakes
Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice (i.e., of volcanoes and glaciers)
Chile: The Land of Poets
Peru: The Land of the Incas
Venezuela: The Land of Grace
Egypt: Om El Donya ("Mother of the World"), The Gift of the Nile
Iran/Iraq/Syria/Lebanon/Jordan/Palestine/Israel/Egypt/Cyprus: The Middle East, The Fertile Crescent, The Cradle of Civilization
South Africa: The Rainbow Nation
Côte d'Ivoire: The Ivory Coast
Rwanda: The Land of a Thousand Hills
Athens: The Cradle of Democracy
Rome: The Eternal City, The City of Love
Venice: Bride of the Sea, La Dominante, Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic, City of Water, City of Masks, City of Bridges, The Floating City, City of Canals
Florence: The City of Lilies, The Birthplace of the Renaissance
Paris: The City of Lights
Bucharest: Little Paris
Budapest: Pearl of the Danube
Prague: The City of a Hundred Spires
Geneva: The Peace Capital
Milan: The Fashion Capital
Dublin: The Fair City
Edinburgh: Auld Reekie
London: Old Smoke, The Big Smoke
Berlin: The Grey City
Toronto: Muddy York, Hogtown
Sydney: The Harbor City
Hong Kong: The Pearl of the Orient
Calcutta: City of Palaces, City of Love, City of Joy
Singapore: The Lion City ("Singa" means lion and "Pura" means city)
Beijing: The Forbidden City
New York/Manhattan: The Big Apple, Gotham, NYC
Boston: Beantown, The Olde Towne, The Hub, Titletown, The City of Champions
Cincinnati: Porkopolis, Queen City of the West
Philadelphia: The City of Brotherly Love, The Cradle of Liberty
Pittsburg: Steel City, Iron City, The 'Burgh, Blitzburgh
Chicago: The Windy City, Chi-Town, The City of Big Shoulders (from a Carl Sandburg poem)
Nashville: Music City, The Athens of the South, The Buckle of the Bible Belt, Smashville, Nashvegas
Los Angeles: The City of Angels, LA
San Francisco: Frisco, The City by the Bay, Golden Gate City, Fog City, The Paris of the West, San Fran, SF
Detroit: Motor City, Motown
New Orleans: The Big Easy
Denver: The Mile High City
Las Vegas: Sin City, City of Lights, The City that Never Sleeps, Glitter Gulch, The Entertainment Capital of the World
Dallas: The Big D
Minneapolis and St. Paul: The Twin Cities
Lima: The City of the Kings
Beirut: Paris of the Middle East
Palestine: The Holy Land
Jerusalem: The Holy City
Cairo: The Mother of the World

State Nicknames

Alabama: The Yellowhammer State
Alaska: The Last Frontier
Arizona: The Grand Canyon State
Arkansas: The Natural State
California: The Golden State
Colorado: The Centennial State
Connecticut: The Constitution State
Delaware: The First State
Florida: The Sunshine State
Georgia: The Peach State
Hawaii: The Aloha State
Idaho: The Gem State
Illinois: The Prairie State
Indiana: The Hoosier State
Iowa: The Hawkeye State
Kansas: The Sunflower State
Kentucky: The Bluegrass State
Louisiana: The Pelican State
Maine: The Pine Tree State
Maryland: The Old Line State
Massachusetts: The Bay State
Michigan: The Great Lakes State
Minnesota: The North Star State
Mississippi: The Magnolia State
Missouri: The Show Me State
Montana: The Treasure State
Nebraska: The Cornhusker State
Nevada: The Silver State
New Hampshire: The Granite State
New Jersey: The Garden State
New Mexico: The Land of Enchantment
New York: The Empire State
North Carolina: The Tar Heel State
North Dakota: The Peace Garden State
Ohio: The Buckeye State
Oklahoma: The Sooner State
Oregon: The Beaver State
Pennsylvania: The Keystone State
Rhode Island: The Ocean State
South Carolina: The Palmetto State
South Dakota: Mount Rushmore State
Tennessee: The Volunteer State, The Greenest State in the Land of the Free, Tennessee No Evil (Jon Stewart skit)
Texas: The Lone Star State
Utah: The Beehive State
Vermont: The Green Mountain State
Virginia: The Old Dominion State
Washington: The Evergreen State
West Virginia: The Mountain State
Wisconsin: The Badger State
Wyoming: The Equality or Cowboy State

Famous Conflicts

Nimrod the Mighty Hunter may have been associated with the Tower of Babel (circa 2000 BC) and seems to have opposed the Bible's Ancient of Days.
Alexander the Great kills Cleitus the Black, an officer who had once saved his life in battle, during a drunken quarrel in 328 BC.
William the Conqueror seizes the crown left by Edward the Confessor and becomes King of England by winning the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
While Richard the Lionheart is crusading in the Holy Land, Robin Hood and Little John must deal with the regent John and his goons, circa 1190.
The "Iron Duke" of Wellington defeats "The Nightmare of Europe" Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Isabella Marie "Belle" Boyd, the "Cleopatra of the Secession," spies for Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in 1862.
"Honest" Abe Lincoln puts Ulysses S. "Unconditional Surrender" Grant in charge of the Union armies in 1864.
Dr. Samuel Mudd's name does, indeed, become "mud" after he was accused of aiding the murderer of "Father" Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse defeat George Armstrong "Autie" Custer, who dies at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.
"Big Casino" Pat Garrett shoots and kills "Little Casino" William H. Bonney, better known as "Billy the Kid," in 1881. The two had been gambling buddies.
The "Untouchable" Eliot Ness brings Al "Scarface" Capone to justice in 1931.
Undertaker C. F. "Boots" Bailey has trouble embalming the bodies of "Bonnie and Clyde" (Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow) due to all the bullet holes in 1934.
"Ol' Blood-'n'-Guts" George S. Patton and "The Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel duel each other in North Africa, as the WWII tide begins to shift in 1942.
Deep Throat (W. Mark Felt) helps bring Tricky Dick (Richard M. Nixon) to justice in 1972.
"The King of Pop" Michael Jackson marries the daughter of "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" Elvis Presley in 1994, but they divorce in 1996.
Donald "Trump of Doom" replaces Barack "No Drama" Obama as president of the United States in 2016.
"Big Rocket Man" threatens to destroy "Little Rocket Man" and the rest of the world in 2017.

Team Nicknames and their Origins

The hulking Baltimore Ravens were nicknamed after a silly poem: "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.
The Cincinnati Reds were named after hosiery: they were originally the Red Stockings, then the Redlegs, then just the Reds (which caused problems during the "Red Scare" days!).
The St. Louis Cardinals were also named after hosiery when a female fan admired their leggings' "lovely shade of Cardinal."� 
The Red Sox and White Sox  were also named after hosiery, at least switching to "sox" from "stockings."
The Pittsburg Pirates adopted their nickname after they were accused of "piracy" for stealing players from other teams!
The Los Angeles Dodgers were originally the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers.
The Los Angeles Lakers were originally based in Minneapolis and Minnesota is the "land of a thousand lakes."
The Los Angeles Angels play in the "city of angels."
To this day, no one has any idea what Phillies are, or Hoyas, or Tar Heels, or Billikens, or Keydets, or Seawolves, or Purple Eagles!
Other inexplicable team names include The Stanford Cardinal (the color without an object?), The Minnesota Wild (wild what?), the Philadelphia Soul (do they all share one collective soul?), the Idaho Vandals, the TCU Horned Frogs, and the hands-down winner, the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs (a banana slug is ugly, oozy, slimy, repulsive ... eeek!).

Sports Franchise, Team, Squad and Group Nicknames

The Dream Team (the 1992 US Olympic basketball team with Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, et al)
The Big Red Machine (Cincinnati Reds, circa the 1970s with Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez)
The Cardiac Pack (Jim Valvano's North Carolina State Wolfpack beat the next team on this list, against all odds)
Phi Slamma Jamma (University of Houston basketball team with high-flying Clyde "The Glide" Drexler and company)
The Gashouse Gang (St. Louis Cardinals, circa the 1930s with brothers Dizzy and Daffy Dean)
The Purple People Eaters (Minnesota Vikings defensive line, circa the 1970s)
The Monsters of the Midway (Chicago Bears defense, circa the 1980s)
The Fearsome Foursome (Los Angeles Rams defensive line with Deacon Jones, Merlin Olson, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy)
The Steel Curtain (Pittsburg Steelers defense, circa the 1970s)
Men of Steel (Pittsburg Steelers)
Blitzburg (Pittsburg Steelers defense under zone blitz guru Dick LeBeau)
The Broad Street Bullies (Philadelphia Flyers, circa the 1970s)
Bad Boys (Detroit Pistons, circa 1980-1994 with Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, Dennis Rodman, John Salley,  et al)
Showtime Lakers (Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, Kurt Rambis, et al)
Black Sox (Chicago White Sox, after the 1919 scandal)
Rupp's Runts: the undersized 1965-66 Kentucky basketball team that made it to national championship game
The Doomsday Defense (Dallas Cowboys defense, circa the 1970s)
The No-Name Defense (Miami Dolphins defense, circa the 1970s)
Orange Crush (Denver Broncos defense)
The New York Sack Exchange (New York Jets defensive line, circa the 1980s)
Legion of Boom (Seattle Seahawks secondary)
Big Blue Wrecking Crew (New York Giants defense in their heyday)
The Over-the-Hill-Gang (Washington Redskins under George Allen, after he traded several draft picks for older players)
Hogs (Washington Redskins offensive line in its heyday)
Air Coryell (San Diego Chargers under pass-happy coach Don Coryell and quarterback Dan Fouts)
Texas's Tallest Fraternity (the same Houston basketball team with Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon, Drexler, et al)
Flames (Calgary)
Devils (New Jersey, at least they're honest!)
Grizzlies (Memphis)
Titans (Tennessee, the Titans were the original badass gods!)
Exotic Smashmouth (the Tennessee Titans' offensive style)
Predators (Nashville, because they found a sabertooth while digging the stadium's foundation!)
Aints (the New Orleans Saints, when they were the worst team in the NFL and fans were wearing bags over their heads)
Lastros (the Houston Astros when they lost a club-record 111 games in 2013)
Miracle Mets and Amazin' Mets (when the previously incompetent New York Mets became world champions in 1969)
America's Team (Dallas Cowboys)
Da Bears (Chicago Bears, a catchphrase made famous by SNL skits)
The Greatest Show on Turf (St. Louis Rams offense in its heyday)
The Splash Brothers: Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson
The Hamptons Five aka The Death Lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Kevin Durant (who was recruited in the Hamptons)

Great Plays, Games and Events that Acquired Nicknames

The "Miracle on Ice" occurred when an Olympic hockey team of American amateurs beat the heavily favored Soviet Union in 1980.
The first official "Hail Mary" pass was thrown by Roger Staubach (a Catholic quarterback) to implausibly win a 1975 NFL playoff game.

Staubach coined the popular football term when he explained: "I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary."

The "Immaculate Reception" was more like sheer dumb luck (and perhaps illegal), but the groovy nickname stuck.
Bobby Thomson's dramatic 1951 walk-off home run became "The Shot Heard 'Round the World."
Diego Maradona became "The Hand of God" when he punched the ball into the goal during the 1986 World Cup.
"The Play" saw Cal stun Stanford on a multiple-lateral kickoff return as the Stanford band took the field to toot victory!
Was the most famous boxing match the "Rumble in the Jungle" between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman?
Or perhaps the most famous boxing match was the "Thrilla in Manila" between Ali and Joe Frazier.
When Ali beat Sonny Liston the winning blow (or non-blow) was called the "Phantom Punch."
Gene Tunney beat Jack Dempsey in their 1926 heavyweight title fight with the aid of the "Long Count."
The Packers defeated the Cowboys in a frigid 1967 NFL Championship game known as the "Ice Bowl."
The 1988 NFC divisional playoff between the Bears and Eagles was called "The Fog Bowl."
The "Minnesota Miracle" ended with an improbable 61-yard TD pass as time expired.
The "Music City Miracle" involved a long lateral pass on a kickoff return with 16 seconds left on the clock.
John Elway led the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl with "The Drive" of 98.5 yards with time running out.
Nebraska's trickery in the 1984 Orange Bowl became known as the "Fumblerooski."
Dave Casper's TD catch in the second overtime of a 1977 AFC playoff game was called "The Ghost to the Post."
"The Phantom Spike" involved Dan Marino fooling the Jets by pretending to kill the clock.
"Merkle's Boner" happened when Fred Merkle failed to touch second base on a game-winning hit.
"The Game of the Century" took place when Nebraska beat Oklahoma in 1972.
"Catholics vs. Convicts" described the Notre Dame-Miami college football series in the late 1980s.
Babe Ruth's "Called Shot" may be the most famous "prediction" in the history of sports.
"The Shot" by Duke's Christian Laettner in the 1992 NCAA regional finals will never be forgotten.
Or "The Shot" may be Michael Jordan's soaring jumper over Craig Ehlo in the 1989 NBA playoffs.
Or now that I'm really thinking, "The Shot" may be Jordan's game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA championship game.
When Joe Montana and Dwight Clark connected for "The Catch," it marked the beginning of the 49ers dynasty.
The Golden State Warriors entered "Death Star Mode" when they activated a fifth NBA all-star, DeMarcus Cousins.
The "Heidi Game" might be called the "Heidi and Seek Game" because with a minute to play and the Jets leading the Raiders 32-29, NBC switched to the movie "Heidi." Football fans missed a 14-point explosion by the Raiders.

Athletes

Top Ten Athlete Nicknames

Wilt Chamberlain: Wilt the Stilt (because he was so tall), Goliath, the Big Dipper (the nickname he preferred; he had to dip his head to enter rooms), The Chairman of the Boards
Pete Rose: Charlie Hustle (because he ran to first base on walks and was an always fierce, fiery competitor)
"Pistol" Pete Maravich (because he was hot as a pistol and would "shoot from the hip" as a young basketball player)
Reggie White: The Minister of Defense (he was an ordained pastor and a defensive lineman)
Ted Williams: The Splendid Splinter, Toothpick Ted, Teddy Ballgame, The Kid, Thumper, The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Dominique Wilkins: The Human Highlight Reel (because of his spectacular moves and dunks), 'Nique
Joe DiMaggio: Joltin' Joe, The Yankee Clipper, Mr. Monroe
David "Skywalker" Thompson
Charles Barkley: The Round Mound of Rebound, Sir Charles Barkley, Shaq's Bane (Michael R. Burch), The Shaq Deflator (Michael R. Burch), Fat Boy (the Angolan basketball team), The Angolan Abuser, "Equal Opportunity Abuser" (David Robinson), Charles "International Incident" Barkley, The King of Controversy, The Ugly American, "The Life of Barcelona" (Magic Johnson), "The Pied Piper of Barcelona" (Magic Johnson)

The Greatest of the Great

Muhammad Ali: The Greatest, The People's Champion, Ali, The Champ, The Louisville Slugger, The Louisville Lip, The Lullable Lip, Gaseous Cassius
Wayne Gretzky: The Great One
Edson Arantes do Nascimento: Pelé, Dico, The Black Pearl, The King
Nadia Comaneci: Nana, Little Miss Perfect, The Perfect Ten
Jim Thorpe: Bright Path (his Native American name), The Greatest Athlete in the World (King Gustav V)
James Cleveland Owens: Jesse, Black Magic, The Buckeye Bullet
Usain Bolt: Lighting Bolt
Florence Griffith Joyner: Flo-Jo
Rod Laver: The Rocket
Christine Evert: Chris, Chrissy, Chrissy America, America's Sweetheart, Ice Maiden, Ice Princess, Ice Queen, Little Miss Cool, Little Miss Perfect, Poker Face, Remorseless
Stephanie Graf: Steffi, Fräulein Forehand
Serena Williams: Momma Smash, Serena Stoutarm, Meeka
George Herman Ruth: The Babe, The Bambino, The Sultan of Swat, The Colossus of Clout, The Caliph of Clout, The King of Crash, The Big Fellow, The Big Bam
Mildred Ella Didrikson Zaharias: Babe (because she hit five home runs in one game as a girl)
Sandy Koufax: The Left Hand of God
Michael Jordan: Air Jordan, His Airness, Money, Michael, MJ, Magic Jordan, Black Cat, Captain Marvel
Vincent "Bo" Jackson
Harold "Red" Grange: The Galloping Ghost (because he was so elusive and hard to find, much less tackle)
Michael Phelps: GOAT, Mr. Swimming, Superman, Mr. Olympics, Mr. Olympia, The Baltimore Bullet, The Flying Fish, The Pool Shark, Gold Rush, The Medal Monopolizer (MRB)
Jack Nicklaus: The Golden Bear (because he was "large, strong and blond")
Eldrick "Tiger" Woods
Richard Petty: The King
Willie Mosconi: Mr. Pool

After setting the football (soccer) world on fire in 1958, when he led Brazil to the World Cup championship, Pelé was declared a "national treasure" by Brazil's president, in order to keep him from leaving for richer nations. That, my friends, is true greatness!

Honorable Mention: Larry "Legend" Bird, "Dollar" Bill Bradley, Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins, George "The Iceman" Gervin, Darrell "Dr. Dunkenstein" Griffith, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, Allen "The Answer" Iverson, Karl "The Mailman" Malone, Peyton "The Sherriff" Manning, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Stan "The Man" Musial, Gary "The Glove" Payton, Walter "Sweetness" Payton, Oscar "The Big O" Robertson, Ozzie "The Wizard of Oz" Smith, David "Skywalker" Thompson, Marvin "The Human Eraser" Webster

Oddest Nicknames

Beer: In 1910, a player by the name of Beer played 10 games for the Lancaster Lanks of the Ohio State League
Dick Allen: Wampum Walloper (someone was apparently a fan of alliteration)
Shaun White: The Flying Tomato (because he has red hair and flies through the air a lot)
Adrian "Cap" Anson: Baby, The Marshalltown Infant, Old Man Anson, Pop, Papa, Pappy (see the note at the end of the "A" section)
Joe Hornung: Ubbo Ubbo (because that's what he would cry when he made a good play in the outfield)
Jimmy Wynn: The Toy Cannon (because he was short, but launched a lot of home runs)
Ron LeFlore: Twinkle Toes Boscoe (because of his speed)
Bill Dickey: The Man Nobody Knows (because he was a great player, but bland)
Arlie Latham: The Freshest Man on Earth (because of his pranks)
Urbain Jacques Shockor: Urban Shocker (his nickname was apparently created by a primitive spell checker)
Donald Stanhouse: Stan The Man Unusual (he carried a stuffed gorilla to games and would erupt into primal screams)
"Ugly" Johnny Dickshot (don't ask and we won't tell)
Greg Minton: Moonie, Moonman (he sunbathed in the nude and ended up with more "craters" than the moon!)
Andreaz "Greedy" Williams: Not because he's a DB greedy for interceptions, but because as a baby he was greedy for formula!
William Van Winkle Wolf: Chicken Wolf (with that name, did he really need a nickname?)
Cristiano Ronaldo: Crybaby (because as a boy he would cry when his teammates wouldn't pass him the ball)

Coaches

John Wooden: The Wizard of Westwood
Vince Lombardi: The Pope; he was also one of Fordham's "Seven Blocks of Granite"
Paul "Bear" Bryant
General Bob Neyland

Bear Bryant said he was glad when General Neyland retired because he never beat him in seven tries!

Bobby Knight: The General (not his actual rank), The Dark Knight
Arnold "Red" Auerbach
Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner
Steve Spurrier: Steve Spurious, The Mouth of the South, The Gator Baiter, Head Ball Coach, Head Game Coach (FOX)
Phillip Fulmer: Phil, The Anti-Spurrier (MRB)
William Swinney: Dabo (his younger brother called him "that boy" but struggled with the letters "t" and "y")
Mike Krzyzewski: Coach K, Eye Chart, Scrabble 
Phil Jackson: Action Jackson, The Zen Master, PJ, The Mop, Bones, Coat Hanger, Head 'n' Shoulders
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes
Glenn "Bo" Schembechler

Most Poetic Names

Knute Rockne
Dan Devine
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Dick "Night Train" Lane
Bernie Bierman
Bobby Bowden
Joe Paterno
Nick Saban
Dan Gable

Athlete Nicknames (in alphabetic order by last name)

[A]

Henry Aaron: Hank, Hammerin' Hank, Hammer, Bad Henry, Oh! Henry
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Lew, Cap, Murdock, Big Fella
John Abraham: The Predator
Joseph Addai: Live and Let Addai (coined by Chris Berman)
Troy Aikman: Iceman
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest, The People's Champion, Pretty Boy, Ali, The Champ, The Louisville Slugger, The Louisville Lip, The Lullable Lip, Gaseous Cassius, Cassius X (modeled after Malcolm X), Boxing's Poet Laureate, The Black Superman, The Black Adonis, The Prettiest Man in Sports (Ali describing himself)

One suspects that Ali coined many or most of his nicknames, but he did live up to them!

AJ Allmendinger: The Dinger, The Dinger of All Men (for bending fenders with his car)
Dick Allen: Crash, Richie, Wampum Walloper
Josh Allen: Hollywood
Ray Allen: Ray-Ray, Sugar Ray, Jesus Shuttlesworth
Grover Cleveland Alexander: Old Pete
Lance Alworth: Bambi
Lyle Alzado: Darth Raider, Three Mile Lyle, Rainbow (due to his mood swings), The Destroyer (he starred in a movie with that title)

Lyle Alzado played with the rage and fury of a "trapped water buffalo."

George Anderson: Sparky, Captain Hook
Paul Anderson: The Colossus, The Dixie Derrick, The Wonder of Nature, The World's Strongest Man, Mr. America, The Genial Giant
Adrian "Cap" Anson: Captain, Cap, Ada, Anse, Hoss, The Swede, Baby, The Marshalltown Infant, Old Man Anson, Pop, Papa, Pappy, Uncle, Unk

If Cap Anson's nicknames seem to be "all over the place," they actually make sense. He was called "The Marshalltown Infant" because he was the first white child born in the Iowa town. He was called "Baby" when he was young as a joke because he was very big for his day, at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. (Later in life, when he would complain to refs and umpires, his opponents would invoke the old nickname.) He was also called "Hoss" because of his size. He was called "Captain" and variations because he was a longtime captain of the Chicago Cubs. Because he played as a grizzled veteran, he was eventually called "Old Man Anson," "Pop," etc. by the younger players. The only nickname that didn't really fit him was "Swede," but then he did have light hair and ruddy skin and probably looked a bit Swedish. Also, he may have inspired the team name of the Chicago Cubs. When "Old Man Anson" finally retired in 1897 at age 45, the Chicago team was being called the "Remnants" and the "Orphans." What would the younger players do without the greatest hitter in baseball history to that point? Calling them the "Cubs" was more positive than the "Remnants" and "Orphans."

Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Greek Freak, Superman (Shaquille O'Neal), Godzilla, Eyechart, The Alphabet, Letter Bro (China)
Carmelo Anthony: Melo
Luis Aparicio: Little Louie
Luke Appling: Old Aches and Pains, Luscious Luke
Nate Archibald: Tiny
Tommy Armour: The Silver Scot
Douglas Atkins: Doug, The Strongest Man in the World, The Destroyer, King Kong, The Big Guy, Tiny, Oak Tree Arms

Doug Atkins was 6-8, 275 pounds in the 1950s, but he was also a high jump champion and a freakish athlete for his day.

George Atkinson: The Criminal Element
Stacey Augmon: The Plastic Man
Earl Averill: The Earl of Snohomish, The Rock

[B]

Mack Neal Babitt: Shooty Babbitt
Roberto Baggio: Il Divino Codino ("The Divine Ponytail")
Ernie Banks: Mr. Cub (very cool because he was the team's first black player), Mr. Sunshine
Frank Baker: Home Run Baker
Charles Barkley: The Round Mound of Rebound, Sir Charles, Prince Charles, Boy Gorge, The Crisco Kid, Chuck, Chuck Wagon, The Human Refrigerator, Leaning Tower of Pizza, Prince of Pizza, Pillsbury Dough Boy
Saquon Barkley: Say-Say (because he was such a quiet boy growing up)
"Long" Jim Barnes was one of golf's early superstars
Shaquil Barrett: Shaq, Shaq Diesel
Rick Barry: Miami Grayhound
Slingin' Sammy Baugh (he was one of the first great throwing quarterbacks)
Jose Bautista: Joey Bats
Mark Bavaro: Rambo
Elgin Baylor: Elg, Rabbit, Mr. Inside, Mr. Hangtime, Motormouth
Boris Becker: Boom Boom, Baron Von Slam
Chuck Bednarik: Concrete Charlie, The Sixty Minute Man

Chuck Bednarik was the last NFL player to play offense and defense full-time. Bednarik was nicknamed "Concrete Charlie" because he was as solid and tough as a concrete block. 

Bill "Ding Dong" Bell
James Bell: Cool Papa Bell
Severiano Ballesteros: Seve
Cam Bedrosian: Bedrock
Mark Belanger: The Blade (he was so thin, he resembled a blade of grass)
Cody Bellinger: Beilli, Cody Love, The Bellringer (Michael R. Burch), The Monster Masher (Michael R. Burch)
Brandon "Baby Giraffe" Belt (because of his odd gait when he runs)
Carlos "Trashcan" Beltran
Johnny Bench: The Binger Banger, Hench Ench, The Little General
Chief Bender
Lance Berkman: Fat Elvis, Big Puma
Lawrence Peter Berra: Yogi

Yogi Berra was the inspiration for the name of the famous cartoon character Yogi Bear. Their names became inevitably and irretrievably linked, to the extent that when Yogi Berra died, the Associated Press wire service announced the death of Yogi Bear to newspapers around the world! (Honest to God, no one can make these things up!) So how did Lawrence Peter Berra come to be called "Yogi" in the first place? Was he really a swami? No, but he used to sit cross-legged in the on-deck circle. One of his friends started calling him "Yogi" and the nickname stuck.

Eric Berry: The Fifth Dimension
Jerome Bettis: The Bus
Markus "Mookie" Betts
Chauncey Billups: Mr. Big Shot
Larry Bird: Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, The Great White Hope, The Baddest White Boy Ever (Jalen Rose), Uncle Larry, Kodak
Curt Blefary: Clank (Frank Robinson claimed it was the sound the ball made when it banged against Blefary's glove!)
Bert "Be Home" Blyleven (Chris Berman)
Wade Boggs: The Chicken Man (Boggs ate chicken before every game!)
Tyrone Bogues: Muggsy (at 5'3" he was the shortest NBA player of all time)
Oscar Bonavena: The Bull, The Beast (Muhammad Ali), Ringo (due to his haircut), The Argentine Strong-Boy
Barry Bonds: Barry Quite Contrary, The Hormone King, The Sultan of Shot, The Asterisk
Jordan Bone: The Flash
John Paul "Boof" Bonser
Bjorn Borg: Ice Borg
Jim Bottomley: Sunny Jim
Lou Boudreau: Old Shufflefoot, Handsome Lou, The Good Kid
Dennis Boyd: Oil Can Boyd (the "oil" was moonshine)
Brian Boyle: The Human Eclipse
Bill Bradley: Dollar Bill Bradley, The Secretary of State, Mr. President (he ran for president)
Milton Bradley
Shawn Bradley: The Enormous Mormon
Terry Bradshaw: The Blonde Bomber, The Guy Who Couldn't Spell "CAT"
Tom Brady: Tom Terrific (a nickname borrowed from Tom Seaver), Touchdown Tom, California Cool, The Kid, Tom Time (he still looks young at 43), Shady Brady (he has been known to ahem "massage" the rules), The GOAT, Alien Pegasus

Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce said, "There's aliens, there's Pegasus, and there's Tom Brady."

Cameron Brate: Cam, Harvard
Ryan Braun: The Hebrew Hammer
Drew Brees: Cool Brees, Hurricane Drew, Breesus
Alex Bregman: Alexander the Great, Iceberg (Michael R. Burch), A-Breg, The Human Vacuum Cleaner
Martin Brodeur: The Door, Brickwall, Satan's Wallpaper, Devilish Stopper, The Man, Brody, Uncle Daddy
Robert Brazile: Dr. Doom (the Hall-of-Fame linebacker was "both tracker and destroyer")
Lou Brock: The Rocket, The Running Redbird
Antonio Brown: AB, Mr. Big Chest
Mordecai Brown: Three Fingers Brown (he lost two fingers in a farm machinery accident)
"Downtown" Tim Brown: Touchdown Timmy, Mr. Raider
Joe "Jellybean" Bryant (the father of Kobe Bryant)
Gianna Bryant (the daughter of Kobe Bryant who died with him in a tragic helicopter crash): Gigi, Mambacita
Kobe Bryant: The Black Mamba, Employee #8, KB8, KB-24, Mr. 81, Kobe Wan Kenobe, Kob-Me, Ocho, Vino, Neo, Izzo, Showboar, The Dagger, The Lord of the Rings, The Eighth Wonder of the World

Kobe Bryant was lethal on the basketball court, hence his nickname The Black Mamba.

Kris Bryant: KB, Silk (Bryce Harper), King Kris (his wife)
Paul "Bear" Bryant
Walker Buehler: Ferris (after the title character of the movie Ferris Buehler's Day Off)
Kyle Busch: Rowdy, Shrub, Wild Thing, The Outlaw
Billy Butler: Country Breakfast (he weighed around 260 pounds during his baseball playing days)
Richard Butkus: Dick, The Enforcer, The Animal, The Maestro of Mayhem, The Robot of Destruction, The Midway Monster, A Sustained Work of Devastation (Steve Sabol)

Dick Butkus was one of the angriest, most ferocious, most menacing football players of all time. His favorite movie scene was a decapitated head rolling down a staircase! Butkus was accused of biting officials and even biting  opponents in the groin! Steve Sabol opined that "His career stands as the most sustained work of devastation ever committed on any field of sport, anywhere, any time."

Jimmy Butler: Jimmy Buckets
Samuel Byrd: Babe Ruth's Legs (because he pinch-ran for Ruth)

[C]

Migule Cabrera: Miggy
George Cafego: Bad News
Hector Camacho: Macho Camacho
Roy Campanella: Campy
Earl Campbell: The Tyler Rose, Earl the Pearl
Jose Canseco: The Chemist and (ironically) The Natural, Parkway Joe
Brian Cardinal: The Custodian (because of the way he cleans the glass)
Steve Carlton: Lefty
Gary Carter: The Kid
Vince Carter: Air Canada, Vinsanity, Half Man Half Amazing, VC, Old Man Vince
"Stormin'" Norman Cash: Norm
Dave Casper: Ghost, Space Ghost (puns on "Casper the Friendly Ghost")
Orlando Cepeda: The Baby Bull
Ron Cey: The Penguin
Wilt Chamberlain: Wilt the Stilt (because he was so tall), Goliath, the Big Dipper (he had to dip his head to enter rooms), Mr. 100, The Load, Record Book
Aroldis Chapman: The Missile
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.: Mr. KO, El León de Culiacán ("The Lion of Culiacán"), The Caesar of Boxing, The Legend
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.: Son of the Legend, The Legend Continues
Bradley Chubb: Tigger (because as a boy he was always bouncing around)
K.J. Choi: The Tank (due to his thickness and strength)
Walter "Cuckoo" Christensen
Jack Clark: Jack the Ripper
Will "the Thrill" Clark
Fred Clarke: Cap' (he was a player-manager at age 24)
Roger Clemens: The Rocket
Roberto Clemente: Arriba (fans cried ¡Arriba! when he came to bat), Sweetness, Momen (his family), El Howitzer (because of his powerful throwing arm), The Latino Bambino, Roberto El Magnifico, The Kid from Carolina, The Great One

Roberto Clemente, the first Hispanic player to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, was a proud, dignified man who did not like to be called Bob or Bobby, and did not like to be compared to other players. He once explained by saying, "For me, I am the best." He was a man of the common people. While his teammates attended an all-night party following the Pirates' World Series victory in 1960, Clemente walked the streets, thanking the fans for their support. He died in a plane crash while trying to deliver medicine and humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua, an act of bravery for which he received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.

Ty Cobb: The Georgia Peach (Grantland Rice)
Gordon "Mickey" Cochrane: Black Mike
Edward "Eddie" Collins: Cocky
Bartolo Colon: Big Sexy
Earle Combs: The Kentucky Colonel
Dave Concepcion: El Rey ("The King"), The Immaculate Concepción (Michael R. Burch)
Jimmy Connors: Jimbo, The Brash Basher of Belleville (Bud Collins)
Fred Couples: Boom Boom, Bam Bam
Bob Cousy: Cooz, The Houdini of the Hardwood
"Wahoo" Sam Crawford
Ben Crenshaw: Gentle Ben
Coco Crisp
Sidney Crosby: Sid the Kid, Captain Canada, Squidney, The Next One
"Candy" Cummings
Billy Cunningham: The Kangaroo Kid (because of his jumping ability)
Stephen Curry: Steph, Chef Curry, The Baby-Faced Assassin, Splash Brothers (with Klay Thompson), Cute God (China), Primary School Student (China), Threezus
Mike Curtis: The Animal
Brian Cushing: Brian Crushing (for his violent tackles)

[D]

"Bad" Bill Dahlen
John Daly: Long John, Wild Thing, The Lion
"Caveman" Johnny Damon
Sam Darnold: Flatline
Darryl Dawkins: Chocolate Thunder (Stevie Wonder!)
Lavonte David: Flash
Chili Davis
Eric "the Red" Davis (because he played for the Cincinnati Reds)
Glen Davis: Big Baby, Baby Shaq
Terrell Davis: TD (his initials, and he did score a lot of TD's)
Brian Dawkins: Weapon X, Wolverine
Darryl Dawkins: Chocolate Thunder
Andre Dawson: The Hawk
Jay Hannah Dean: Dizzy Dean, Diz, The Great Man
Bryson DeChambeau: Rainman (Tiger Woods), The Mad Scientist
Paul Dee Dean: Daffy Dean

Dizzy and Daffy Dean were brothers and teammates on the Saint Louis Cardinals. Dizzy Dean was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games. While "Dizzy" really did act dizzy at times, his brother's nickname was more of a media creation. Other colorful teammate nicknames included Dazzy Vance and Ducky Medwick.

Oscar de la Hoya: The Golden Boy
Jack Dempsey: The Manassa Mauler (Grantland Rice)
Bill Dickey: The Man Nobody Knows (because he was bland and somewhat aloof)
Pickles Dilhoeffer
Joe DiMaggio: Joltin' Joe, The Yankee Clipper
Marcel Dionne: Little Beaver
Mike Ditka: Iron Mike
Jasson Dominguez: El Marciano, "The Martian" (because of his otherworldly abilities at age 16)
Josh Donaldson: The Bringer of Rain
Tony Dorsett: TD, The Hawk
Clyde Drexler: Clyde The Glide
Don Drysdale: Big D
"Sir" Hugh Duffy
Tim Duncan: The Big Fundamental, Stone Buddha, Timmy
Roberto Duran: Manos de Piedra ("Hands of Stone"), No Mas
Kevin Durant: KD, The Slim Reaper, Durantula, The Snake, The Servant (Durant himself), Cupcake
Rinold "Ryne" Duren: The Blind Rhino (Michael R. Burch)

Ryne Duren wore super-thick glasses and terrified batters with his blazing fastball because they were afraid he couldn't see them.

Leo Durocher: The Lip, Lippy
Lenny Dykstra: Nails (for his hard-nosed playing style)

[E]

Dale Earnhardt Sr.: The Intimidator
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior, Junebug
Dennis Eckersley: Eck
Carl Edwards (pitcher): The String Bean Slinger, The Slim Reaper
Carl Edwards (race car driver): Flipper, Flipster, Flippster, Concrete Carl, Cousin Carl
Welton Claude Ehrhardt: Rube
Bill Elliott: Awesome Bill from Dawsonville
"Never Nervous" Pervis Ellison
Ernie Els: The Big Easy
Joel Embiid: JoJo, The Process
Julius Erving: Dr. J.
Eric "Butterbean" Esch
Darrell Evans: Howdy Doody
Dwight Evans: Dewey
Mike Evans: Godzilla
Johnny Evers: The Crab, Trojan
Christine Evert: Chris, Chrissy, Chrissy America, America's Sweetheart, The Ice Maiden, Ice Princess, Ice Queen, Little Miss Cool, Little Miss Perfect, Poker Face, Remorseless
Patrick Ewing: Big Pat, The Hoya Destroya

[F]

Ferris Fain: Burrhead, Cocky
Nick Faldo: Sir Nick, Foldo
Kenneth Faried: The Manimal
Brett Favre: The Gunslinger, Country
William Beattie Feathers: Beattie, Big Chief
Bob Feller: Rapid Robert, Bullet Bob, The Heater from Van Meter
Bob Ferguson: The Death of Flying Things (because of his great bare-handed defense), Fergy
Sid Fernandez: El Sid
Mark Fidrych: The Bird
Prince Fielder: Uncle Phil
Carlton Fisk: Pudge
Ryan Fitzpatrick: The Amish Rifle (because of his bushy beard)
Truman Fontell Flock (early NASCAR driver): Fonty Flock
Eric Floyd: Sleepy
Raymond Floyd: Pretty Boy Floyd
Nick Foles: Mr. January, Unstoppable Playoff God (Rodger Sherman), Big Dick Nick, Footlong Foles (don't ask!)
Darnell Ford: Disco Dan
Whitey Ford: The Chairman of the Board
George Foreman: The Black Colossus, Big George, The Heywood Giant, The Punching Preacher, The Mummy (Muhammad Ali)
Filip Forsberg: Scoresberg, Fil the Thrill, Filthy Fil, Fil'er Up Forsberg (MRB), Fil Up the Net (MRB), Prince Filip, Flip, Flipper, Fil-Upper, The Swedish Sorcerer
Ray Fosse: The Marion Mule
George Foster: The Destroyer (his ebony bat even had its own nickname: "The Black Death"), Yahtzee
Leonard Fournette: Button, Ferrari
"Nellie" Fox: Mighty Mite, Little Nel
Jimmy Foxx: XX, Double-X, The Beast
Joe Frazier: Smokin' Joe, The Gorilla (Muhammad Ali)
Walt Frazier: Clyde
Frankie Frisch: The Fordham Flash
Grant Fuhr: Coco (he was the first black hockey player to win the Stanley Cup and the first to enter the NHL Hall of Fame)

[G]

Mike "Lego My" Gallego (coined by Chris Berman)
Danilo Gallinari: Il Gallo (The Rooster)
James "Pud" Galvin (because he made batters look like pudding)
Phil Garner: Scrap Iron
Kevin Garnett: KG, The Kid, The Big Ticket (because so many people would pay to see him play)
Ralph Garr: The Roadrunner
Steve Garvey: Mr. Clean, Perfectly Groomed Garvey, The Matine Idol
Arturo "Thunder" Gatti
Lou Gehrig: The Iron Horse (due to his durability), Buster, Biscuit Pants, Columbia, Laruppin'
Charlie Gehringer: The Mechanical Man, G-Man
Jim Gentile: Diamond Jim
Cesar Geronimo: Chief (because he shared the name of the famous Native American war-leader)
George Gervin: The Iceman
Paul George: PG, PG13, King George, Playoff P
Bob Gibson: Hoot, Gibby
Josh Gibson: The Black Babe Ruth
Ken Giles: 100 Miles Giles (due to his high-velocity fastball)
Artis Gilmore: The A-Train
Jim Glasscock: Pebbly Jack
Lefty Gomez: Goofy
Maxi Gomez: The Bull
Carlos Gonzalez: CarGo
Dwight Gooden: Doc, Dr. K
Dee Gordon: Flash, Varis Strange, Flash Gordon Jr.
Joe Gordon: Flash, Super G, Wonderboy, Big Daddy
Tom Gordon: Flash
Leon Allen Goslin: Goose Goslin
Rich Gossage: Goose Gossage
Mark Grace: Amazing, Gracie, Little Hurt
Stephanie Graf: Steffi, Fräulein Forehand
Curtis Granderson: Grandyman
Harold Grange: Red, The Galloping Ghost (Grantland Rice), The Wheaton Ice Man
Jim Grant: Mudcat
Sonny Gray: Pickles
Elijah Green: Pumpsie (the first black player for the Boston Red Sox, in 1959)
"Hammerin'" Hank Greenberg: The Hebrew Hammer
Charles "Mean Joe" Greene

"Mean" Joe Greene lived up to his nickname, but his real name was never Joe; it was Charles. He was notorious for kicking players when they were down. He was ejected from a game in 1975 for repeatedly kicking a Cleveland player in the groin. So he was mean, but not Joe.

Wayne Gretzky: The Great One, The Great Gretzky, Gretz
Ken Griffey Jr: Junior, The Natural, The Kid
Blake Griffin: The Griffin, High Griffinition, Blake Superior, Carrot Hops, The Jambulance, The Beast, Flyin' Lion, Earthquake Blake, Blake the Quake, The Rim Reaper, Demolition Man, Fastbreak Blake
Darrell Griffith: Dr. Dunkenstein
Burleigh Grimes: Ol' Stubblebeard
Rob Gronkowski: The Gronk, Twinkle Toes (Bill Belichick), Beast Mode (Tom Brady), Cheerful Ogre (Deadspin), The Ogre Ballerina, Bobby Whiskers, Gronkitis (because his energy is so infectious)
Vladimir Guerrero: Vlad, Big Bad Vlad, Super Vlad, Vlad the Impaler, Big Vladdy Daddy
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Vladito, The Re-Impaler, The Beast (Chris Henderson)
Ron Guidry: Louisiana Lightning
Tony Gwynn: Captain Video, Mr. Padre

[H]

"Marvelous" Marvin Hagler
Jessie Haines: Pop
Jack Ham: The Hammer
Mariel Margaret Hamm: Mia, Mamma Mia!, Jordan, The Franchise
Casey Hampton: The Big Snack (he weighed up to 400 pounds)
Dan Hampton: The Danimal
Brad Hand: Slow Hand (Michael R. Burch), The Human Rain Delay, Brotein Shake
"Foxy" Ned Hanlon: The Father of Baseball
Anfernee Hardaway: Penny
James Harden: The Beard, El Chapo, Step Daddy, No D Harden, Porcelain Mamba (Chinese trolls)
Eugene "Bubbles" Hargrave
William "Pinky" Hargrave
Mike Hargrove: The Human Rain Delay (due to his time-consuming batting rituals)
Bryce Harper: Harp, Bam Bam, Mondo, Big Kid, The Chosen One (Sports Illustrated, when he was 16)
Ken "Hawk" Harrelson
Charles Leo Hartnett: Gabby, Old Tomato Face
John Havlicek: Hondo
Connie Hawkins: The Hawk
"Bullet" Bob Hayes (he set the 100 meters record at the 1964 Olympics, then became the NFL's fastest wide receiver)
Elvin Hayes: The Big E
Gordon Hayward: The Baby-Faced Assassin
Thomas Hearns: The Hitman, The Music City Cobra
Richie Hebner: The Gravedigger
Harry Heilmann: Slug (he was a hard-hitting slugger, but very slow!), The Horse
Mel Hein: Old Indestructible
Todd Helton: The Toddfather
Rickey Henderson: The Man of Steal
Ted Hendricks: The Mad Stork (at 6-7, he was very tall for a linebacker)
Tommy Henrich: The Clutch, Old Reliable
Derrick Henry: The Yulee Express, King Henry the Great, Oh Henry, Alpha Predator (Michael R. Burch), Absolute Beast Mode, Beyond Beast Mode, The Dixie Derrick, Dump Truck (Tony Dungy), El Tractorcito (The Little Tractor), Big Rig, One Man Convoy, Shocka (his boyhood nickname)

Derrick Henry is the Alpha Predator because of the way his braided ponytail sticks out of his helmet.

Travis Henry: Cheese
Felix Hernandez: King Felix
Tim Herron: Lumpy (his physique is not exactly chiseled)
Orel Hershiser: Bulldog
Craig "Ironhead" Heyward
Charlie Hickman: Piano Legs, Cheerful Charlie
Tyreek Hill: Cheetah
Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch
Ben Hogan: The Hawk
Condredge Holloway: That Artful Dodger

Condredge Holloway was the SEC's first black quarterback and the University of Tennessee's first black baseball player. He was all-SEC in football and an All-American in baseball. He set UT's record for the lowest interception rate by a quarterback, Bear Bryant said he was harder to tackle than any running back he ever saw, and he still holds the UT record for the longest hitting streak.

Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield
Harry Hooper: Hoop
Rogers Hornsby: The Rajah
Bernard Hopkins: The Executioner
Joe Hornung: Ubbo Ubbo
Paul Hornung: The Golden Boy
Frank Howard: Hondo, The Capital Punisher
Ryan Howard: Big Piece
Gordon Howe: Gordie, Mr. Hockey
William Ellsworth "Dummy" Hoy
Oscar de la Hoya: The Golden Boy
Al Hrabosky: The Mad Hungarian, Hungo
Carl Hubbell: King Carl, The Meal Ticket
Bobby Hull: The Golden Jet
Brett Hull: The Golden Brett (a pun on his father's nickname, above)
Jim Hunter: Catfish Hunter
Jalen Hurts "So Good"

[I]

Pete Incaviglia: Inky, Oops (he was a notoriously poor defensive outfielder)
Happy Iott: Happy Jack, Biddo
Monford Merrill Irvin: Monte, Mr. Murder
Frank Isbell: Bald Eagle
Raghib "The Rocket" Ismail
Qadry "The Missile" Ismail (he was very fast, like his brother)
Allen Iverson: The Answer, A.I., Jewlz, The Third Degree

[J]

"Shoeless" Joe Jackson (he once played a baseball game without shoes because he had boils on his feet)
Mark Jackson: Action Jackson
Reggie Jackson: Mr. October (because he came through in baseball's playoffs and World Series)
Travis Jackson: Stonewall
Vincent Edward Jackson: Bo, Bo Knows, Boar, Wild Boar
Derwin James: Pooh Bear (because as a baby he was "hairy and plump" according to his mother)
LeBron James: King James, The Akron Hammer, The L-Train, The Chosen One, LBJ, LeBrag, LeBrat, LeBum, LeDecision, Bron Bron, Crab Emperor (China), Little Emperor
Lionel "Little Train" James
Atiwit "Jazz" Janewattananond
Fergie Jenkins: Fly
Derek Jeter: The Captain, Captain Clutch, Mr. November (in 2001, due to the 9-11 attacks, the World Series was pushed back to November)
Sam "The Jet" Jethroe
Miguel Jimenez: The Mechanic, The Most Interesting Golfer in the World, Crime (he had a reputation of paying caddies poorly, and "Crime doesn't pay!")
Billy "White Shoes" Johnson
Calvin Johnson: Megatron
Earvin "Magic" Johnson: Tragic Buck, EJ, The Deejay

Earvin Johnson was first called "Magic" as a 15-year-old basketball star at Everett High School. He was given the nickname by a sportswriter who saw Johnson notch 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists. Johnson's mother, a devout Christian, thought the nickname was blasphemous.

Vinnie Johnson: The Microwave
Jimmie Johnson: The Great White Shark
Randy Johnson: The Big Unit
Walter Johnson: The Big Train (Grantland Rice), Old Barney, Big Swede, Sir Walter, Gentle Johnson
Andrew Johnston: Beef
Adam Jones: Pacman
Andruw Jones: Druw, The Curacao Kid, Andruw the Great [Michael R. Burch, coined 11/28/2023], Baseball Jones [pun on Basketball Jones]
David "Deacon" Jones
Ed "Too Tall" Jones
Ronald "Popeye" Jones
"Sad" Sam Jones
Maurice Jones-Drew: Pocket Hercules
Michael Jordan: Air Jordan, His Airness, Money, Michael, MJ, Magic Jordan, Black Cat, Captain Marvel, The GOAT, Superman
Ralph "Shug" Jordan
Adrian "Addie" Joss: The Maestro of Twirlology, The Human Hairpin
Aaron Judge: The Judge, All Rise, Judge Dredd, Judge Dread, The Final Judgement

Yankee Stadium is now known as The Judge's Chambers!

Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice

[K]

Kasey Kahne: Ol' Blue Eyes
Al Kaline: Mr. Tiger, Salty, Line
Alex Karras: The Mad Duck
Jevon Kearse: The Freak
Jim "Machine Gun" Kelly
Willie Keeler: Wee Willie
Travis Kelce: Junior Gronk, Zeus
Charlie Keller: King Kong
George Kelly: High Pockets
Shawn Kemp: The Reign Man
Matt Kenseth: The Brat
Clayton Kershaw: Kersh, The Claw, Captain Hook
"Bad" Brad Keselowski
Jason Kidd: J-Kidd, Ason Kidd, The Engine, Mr. Triple Double
Harmon Killebrew: Killer
David Kingman: King Kong
Chuck Klein: The Hoosier Hammerer
Andrew Knapp: Knapp Time
Dalton Knecht: Connect (Michael R. Burch)
Brooks "The Aura" Koepka (Michael R. Burch)
Mike "Captain Crunch" Kolen
Sandy Koufax: The Left Hand of God
Toni Kukoc: The Croatian Sensation, The Pink Panther

[L]

Guy Lafleur: The Flower, Le Démon Blond
Bill Laimbeer: The Prince of Darkness, Darth Vader, The Black Hat, Street Thug, Ax Murderer
Napoléon Lajoie: Nap, Larry Lajoie, The Frenchman
Jack Lambert: Count Dracula in Cleats
Daryle Lamonica: The Mad Bomber
Jake LaMotta: The Raging Bull
Harold Landry: Honor
Dick "Night Train" Lane

Due to his fear of flying, Dick Lane road a night train to away games while the rest of the team flew.

Arlie Latham: The Freshest Man on Earth
Trevor Lawrence: Sunshine (after his lookalike Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass in the movie Remember The Titans)
Rod Laver: The Rocket
Bill Lee: Spaceman
Ron LeFlore: Twinkle Toes Boscoe
Mario Lemieux: The Magnificent One, Le Magnifique, Super Mario
Ivan Lendl: Ivan the Terrible
Kawhi Leonard: The Klaw, The Claw, Whi (his teammates), Sugar K (Shaquille O'Neal), KawhiBot
"Sugar" Ray Leonard (after "Sugar" Ray Robinson)
Dion Lewis: Jitterbug
Bob Lilly: Mr. Cowboy
Gene "The Machine" Littler
Kenny Lofton: The Mayor of Cleveland
Ernie Lombardi: The Schnozz
Evan Longoria: Longo
Jared Lorenzen: Hefty Lefty, The Pillsbury Throwboy, QBese, The Abominable Throwman, Round Mound of Touchdown, Battleship Lorenzen, He Ate Me
Davis Love III: 3D, Trip
Kevin Love: K-Love, Kevlar, Love Goddess (China, because he "plays soft")
J. R. Smith: Psychotic Blade (China, because his scoring is so unpredictable)
Hirving Lozano: El Chucky (because as a boy he would scare other kids)
Charles "Red" Lucas: The Nashville Narcissus (because he was a blooming star)
Greg Luzinski: The Bull
Marshawn Lynch: Beast Mode

[M]

Manny Machado: Mannywood, Macho Man, The Baby-Faced Assassin (Adam Jones), M&M, Hakuna Machado, El Ministro de la Defensa
Connie Mack: The Tall Tactician
Gary Maddox: The Secretary of Defense, The Minister of Defense

Sportscaster Harry Kalas paid tribute to Maddox, saying: “Two thirds of the earth is covered by water. The other third is covered by Garry Maddox.”

Greg Maddux: Mad Dog, The Professor (perhaps the most contradictory nicknames of all time)
Patrick Mahomes: Showtime, Throwtime (Michael R. Burch), Throw Jackson (pun on Bo Jackson), Top Gun, The Kansas City Cannon, KC Masterpiece
Karl Malone: The Mailman (because he always delivered)
Moses Malone: The Chairman of the Boards, Big Mo
Ray Mancini: Boom-Boom
Peyton Manning: The Sherriff
Mickey Mantle The Mick, Muscles, the Commerce Comet, The Switcher
John Manziel: Johnny Football
Pete Maravich: Pistol Pete, Top Gun, Colt 44 (he averaged 44 points per game in college), The Basketball Android, The Human Basketball, Mr. Floppy Socks, The Magician, The Ultimate Showman
Marcus Mariota: Super Mario, The Flyin' Hawaiian, Saint Marcus
Clifton "Coo Coo" Marlin
Russell Martin: Russell Le Muscle (he's a sturdy French-Canadian catcher)
Richard "Rube" Marquard
Doug Martin: Muscle Hamster (because he was short but strong)
Tyrann Mathieu: Honey Badger, The Landlord because he owns his territory),
Eddie Matthews: Eddie Mattress
Christopher "Christy" Mathewson: Matty, Big Six, Husk, The Christian Gentleman, The Gentleman's Hurler
Edwin "Banjo" Matthews
Willie Mays: The Say Hey Kid
Walter "Rabbit" Maranville
Shawn Marion: The Matrix (because of his athleticism)
Baker Mayfield: Bake, Brass Balls Baker, Home Run Baker, Broadway Baker, The Wildcard, Halfbaked, Crotchgrabber, Six-Foot Jerk
Ted "Hound Dog" McClain
Willie McCovey: Stretch
Andrew McCutcheon: Cutch, Clutch
John McEnroe: Johnny Mac, McBrat, SuperBrat, Mac the Strife, Big Mac, Mighty Mouth, The Incredible Sulk
Darren McFadden: Run DMC
Anthony "Booger" McFarland
John McGraw: Little Napoleon
Fred McGriff: Crime Dog
Kevin McHale: The Black Hole
Calvin Coolidge Julius Caesar Tuskahoma McLish: Cal
Steve "Mongo" McMichael
Steve "Air" McNair
Joe Medwick: Ducky
"Dandy" Don Meredith: Mr. Cowboy
Lionel Messi: Leo, King Leo the Great, The Messiah, The Magician, Little Genius, Idolo ("Idol"), Messi the Magnificent, Messidona, La Pulga ("The Flea"), La Pulga Atomica ("The Atomic Flea"), Football Demon, LM7 (for his seven Ballon d’Or awards), GOAT, Alien, Magical Mercurial Messi, Ankara Messi

Words commonly used to describe Lionel Messi include: superhuman, unbelievable, alien, magic, magical, mercurial, genius

Mark Messier: Moose, The Messiah, The Captain, Satan
Phil Mickelson: Lefty, Phil the Thrill, FIGJAM (short for F* I'm Good, Just Ask Me!), The Ageless Wonder
George Mikan: Big Mike, The Magnificent, Mr. Basketball
Darko Milicic: The Human Victory Cigar
Scott Miller: Scotty, Scooter
Ten Million (perhaps that many guesses what his parents were on when they conceived him?)
Greg Minton: Moonie, Moonman
Johnny Mize: The Big Cat
Paul Molitor: The Ignitor, Molly
Wonderful Terrific Monds
Earl Monroe: Earl the Pearl, Black Magic, Black Jesus, Thomas Edison (because he was so inventive)
Joe Montana: Joe Cool, The Comeback Kid, Golden Joe, Bird Legs
Colin Montgomerie: Monty, Mrs. Doubtfire (there is a decided resemblance)
Helen Wills Moody: Little Miss Poker Face (Grantland Rice)
Archie Moore: The Old Mongoose
Earl Moore: Steam Engine in Boots
Joe Morgan: Little Joe
Randy Moss: Freak, The Mossiah (pun on "messiah")
Mike "Moose" Moustakas
Max Muncy: Mad Max, Max Overdrive, Munce
Stan Musial: The Man, Stan the Man, Stan the Man Unusual

[N]

Rafael Nadal: Rafa, Rafi, El Nino, King of Clay, Spain's Raging Bull
Bronislaum "Bronko" Nagurski
"Broadway" Joe Namath; also Mr. Pantyhose
Larry Nance: The High Ayatolla of Slamola
Steve Nash: Two Time
Ilie Nastase: Nasty (the pro tennis Code of Conduct was created due to his bad behavior)
Martina Navratilova: Ex-Czech
Byron Nelson: Lord Byron
Quenton Nelson: Earl Grey (because he "teabags" opponents)
Hal Newhouser: Prince Hal
Charles Augustus Nichols: Kid Nichols
Phil Niekro: Knucksie
Ray "Wildman" Nitschke
Greg Norman: The Great White Shark
Dirk Nowitzki: Dirty, Tall Baller from The G, Dirk Diggler, German Wunderkind
Jusuf Nurkic: The Bosnian Beast
Joe Nuxhall: Nuxy

[O]

Michael Oher: Blind Side
Shohei Ohtani: Double Trouble, Shoh-Time, The Big Oh! (Michael R. Burch), Oh-Oh, Shogun of Swat, The Nippon Assassin, Stone Buddha, Uncanny Ohtani (Michael R. Burch)

During 2021 spring training, Shohei Ohtani threw a 102 mph pitch, hit a 468-foot homer, and batted leadoff due to his incredible speed.

Christian Okoye: The Nigerian Nightmare
Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon: Little Moses
Shaquille O'Neal: Shaq, Shaq Diesel, Shaq Daddy, Shaq Fu, Big Aristotle, The Big Baryshnikov, Big Fella, The Big Maravich, The Big Shamrock, Wilt Chamberneezy, Superman, Manny Shaquiao, MDE, LCL
John "Buck" O'Neil
Jim O'Rourke: Orator Jim
Robert Gordon Orr: Bobby Orr, Number 4, The Fabulous Number 4
David Ortiz: Big Papi
Melvin Thomas Ott: Mel, Master Melvin

[P]

Leroy Robert Paige: Satchel Paige
Arnold Palmer: Arnie, Bull, The King (and his fans even had a nickname: Arnie's Army)
Dave Parker: Cobra
Tony Parker: The French Frier, The Fiery Francophile, The Parisian Torpedo
Robert Parrish: The Chief
Freddie Patek: The Flea, The Cricket (at 5'5" he was the shortest MLB player of his era)
Danica Patrick: Honey Badger, Old Man (crew chief Tony Gibson), Babe (ditto), Princess Sparkle Pony (Richard Petty), Chicago (Aaron Rogers)

The "Danica Double" is the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 (her last two races before retiring).

Chris Paul: CP3, The Point God
Billy Paultz: The Whopper
Gary "The Glove" Payton (because of his skintight defense): GP
Walter Payton: Sweetness
Pele (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) nicknames: Pele, O Rei ("The King"), King Pele, The Immortal Pele, Dico, Perola Negra (the "Black Pearl")
Herb Pennock: The Knight of Kennett Square
Willie Pep: Will o’ the Wisp
Tony Perez: Big Dog, Big Doggie, Mr. Clutch, The Mayor of Riverfront Park
Joe Perry: The Jet
Michael Dean Perry: The Ice Box
William Perry: The Refrigerator, The Fridge

William Perry and Michael Dean Perry were brothers, with matching nicknames due to their girth.

Richard Petty: The King
Michael Phelps: GOAT, Mr. Swimming, Superman, The Baltimore Bullet, The Flying Fish, The Pool Shark, Gold Rush
Billy "the Kid" Pierce
Paul Pierce: The Truth
Scottie Pippen: Pip, Scott, Robin
Gary Player: The Black Knight, Finest, Laddie
Jake "the Snake" Plummer
Troy Polamalu: The Flyin' Hawaiian, The Samoan Head Hunter, The Tasmanian Devil
Bernard Pollard: The Bonecrusher, Crushboy, Patriot Killer
Yves Pons: Air France
Kristaps Porzingis: KP6, Godzingis, The Unicorn
Ian Poulter: Poltergeist, Poulter Heist, Poults, The Postman (because he always delivers), Match Play Ninja, Tiddlywinks
Bob Prince: The Gunner (for his rapid-fire sports commentary)
Joel Przybilla: Ghostface Przybilla, Vanilla Gorilla, Joel Dolla-Dolla-Billa, White Kong 
Yasiel Puig: The Wild Horse (coined by Vin Scully to describe Puig's reckless baserunning)
Albert Pujols: The Machine, MV3 (for three MVP awards), El Hombre ("The Man"), Prince Albert, Sir Albert, Phat Albert, Big Al
Carles Puyol: Lionheart, Tarzan, Superman

[Q]

Kevin Quackenbush: Quack
Wellington Hunt Quinn: Wimpy
Dan Quisenberry: Quiz

[R]

Dick Radatz: The Monster (Mickey Mantle, because Radatz stood 6'6" and weighed 230-260 pounds)
Charles Radbourn: Charley, Old Hoss
Tim Raines: Rock (he lived up to his nickname by stashing a cocaine rock in his uniform; he would slide headfirst to avoid breaking it!)
Willis Reed: The Captain
Harold Reese: Pee Wee Reese
Bryant "Big Country" Reeves
Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds

Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds took a hacksaw to his car and cut it in half  after his previously-unbeaten University of Tennessee football team lost 38-0 to Ole Miss!

Maurice Richard: The Rocket
Henri Richard: The Pocket Rocket (Maurice Richard was his older and bigger brother, hence the "pocket")
Oscar Robertson: The Big O
David Robinson: The Admiral (he played basketball at Navy)
Jerry Rice: World, Flash 80, The San Francisco Treat, The GOAT, Gentleman Jerry, The Man with the Hands
Sam Rice: Man O' War (because he was fast, like the famous racehorse)
Jerome "Pooh" Richardson
John Riggins: The Diesel (because he ran over defenders like a semi), Riggo, The Rig
Cal Ripken Jr.: The Iron Man
Andre "Bad Moon" Rison (Chris Berman)
Mariano Rivera: Mo, The Sandman
Eppa Rixey: Jephtha (because of his southern drawl)
Phil Rizzuto: Scooter
Oscar Robertson: Mr. Triple Double, The Big "O"
Loren Roberts: Boss of the Moss
Brooks Robinson: Hoover, Mr. Hoover, The Human Vacuum Cleaner, The Hit Robber
David Robinson: The Admiral (he served in the U.S. Navy)
Nate Robinson: Krypto-Nate
"Sugar" Ray Robinson
John "off his" Rocker (Michael R. Burch), Rockhead
Dennis Rodman: The Worm, Dennis the Menace, Oddman
Alex Rodriguez: A-Rod, A-Roid, A-Fraud
Chi Chi Rodriguez
Charles "Bullet Joe" Rogan
Wayne "Tree" Rollins
Cristiano Ronaldo: Crybaby (because as a boy he would cry when teammates wouldn't pass him the ball)
Pete Rose: Charlie Hustle (because he ran to first base on walks)
Al Rosen: The Hebrew Hammer
Josh Rosen: Chosen Rosen, J-Chosen
Ken Rosewall: Muscles, The Little Professor, The Magician
Big Roethlisberger: Big Ben
Charles "Red" Ruffing
Paul Runyan: Little Poison (due to his killer short game)
Adolph Rupp I: The Bluegrass Baron, The Man in the Brown Suit
Adolph Rupp II: Herky
Adolph Rupp III: Chip
Bill Russell: Russ, The Secretary of Defense, Mr. 11 Rings
George Herman Ruth Jr.: Babe Ruth, The Babe, The Bambino, The Great Bambino, The Sultan of Swat (Grantland Rice), The Colossus of Clout, The Caliph of Clout, The King of Crash, The Big Fellow, The Big Bam, The Wizard of Whack, The Wazir of Wham, The Maharajah of Mash, The Rajah of Rap, The Behemoth of Bust, The Blunderbuss, The Mammoth of Maul, The Mauling Mastodon, The Mauling Monarch, The Mauling Menace, Modern Beowulf, The Wali of Wollop, The Prince of Pounders, The King of Swing, The Titan of Terror, The Terrible Titan, Jidge (his teammates), The Sachem of Slug, Herman the Great, Doc Thor (Grantland Rice) and a "bolt-heaving" Jupiter (Grantland Rice)

While George Herman Ruth Jr. was trying out for Baltimore Orioles owner Jack Dunn in 1914, some players took to calling the 19-year-old "Jack's newest Babe."

Matt Ryan: Matty Ice
Nolan Ryan: The Ryan Express (he passed the Big Train), The Exorcist (Dick Sharon said: "He's baseball's exorcist; he scares the devil out of you!")
Marc Rzepczynski: Scrabble, Eye Chart

[S]

Johnny Sain: The Man of a Thousand Curves (because his curveball had such movement)
Bret Saberhagen: Geisha Boy (a reference to a 1958 Jerry Lewis movie), Sabes
Chris Sale: Stickman, The Condor, The Conductor (because he punches tickets), Fire Sale (Michael R. Burch, because he brings the heat)
John Salley: Spider, Long Tall Salley, Mr. May (for his playoff performances)
"Pistol" Pete Sampras
Gary Sanchez: Kraken (after Brian Cashman said that he hoped to "unleash the Kraken")
Ryne Sandberg: Ryno
Deion Sanders: Prime Time, Neon Deion
Pablo Sandoval: Kung-Fu Panda
Gene Sarazen: The Squire
Gale Sayers: The Kansas Comet, Galloping Gale
Ray Schalk: Cracker
Max Scherzer: Mad Max
Mike Schmidt: Schmitty, Iron Mike, Captain Cool
Admiral Schofield: The Abs-olute Machine, Clutch
Tom Seaver: Tom Terrific, The Franchise
Dick Selma: Mortimer Snerd (after the ventriloquist's dummy)
Donnie Shell: The Torpedo
Razor Shines
Urbain Jacques Shockor: Urban Shocker
Al Simmons: Bucketfoot Al
Andrelton Simmons: Simba, Simon
O. J. Simpson: Juice, The Juice, OJ
Vijay Singh: The Big Fijian
Mike Singletary: The Samurai
George Sisler: Gorgeous George
Enos Slaughter: Country
"Crazylegs" Craig Smith
James "Bonecrusher" Smith
Ozzie Smith: The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz
John Smoltz: Smoltzie, Marmaduke (after the comic strip dog)
Sam Snead: Slammin' Sam, Slammin' Sammy, The Slammer, Nude Knob
Brandt Snedeker: Sneds
Edwin Snider: Duke Snider, The Silver Fox
Tim Spooneybarger
Kenny "Snake" Stabler (after he scored a touchdown on a long, winding run)
Craig Stadler: The Walrus
Kevin Stadler: The Smallrus (because he's not as big as his father, the Walrus)
Donald Stanhouse: Stan The Man Unusual, Fullpack (Earl Weaver)
Willie Stargell: Pops
Daniel Staub: Rusty, Le Grand Orange
Roger Staubach: Captain America, Captain Comeback, Roger the Dodger
Norman Stearnes: Turkey
Kordell "Slash" Stewart
Payne Stewart: Knickers, Avis (because he finished second so often)
Tony Stewart: Smoke
John Stockton: Stock
Dick Stuart: Dr. Strangeglove, Stonefingers (Hank Aaron), The Ancient Mariner ("he stoppeth one of three")

Dick Stuart led his league in errors for seven years in a row. He had an error in his first game and it was all downhill from there. His rookie season Stuart led the NL in errors despite only playing 64 games. Bill James named him the worst fielding first baseman of all time. Stuart himself might not disagree, as he often recounted how 30,000 Pittsburgh fans once gave him a standing ovation for snaring a windblown hot dog wrapper!

P. K. Subban: Subbanator, Turtle, Denzel, The Ice Breaker (The New Yorker)
Ryan "Doesn't Suck" Succop

For three seasons (2015-2017), Succop, the former "Mr. Irrelevant," was "Mr. Perfect" with a 100% success rate on 56 consecutive field goal attempts of 50 yards or less.

Bob Suffridge: Suff, Suffer, Fridge
Tyler Skaggs: Swaggy, T-Swaggs, Swaggy-T
Noah Syndergaard: Thor (because of the long, flowing blond hair and perhaps because his last name ends like "Aasgard")

[T]

Ryan Tannehill: Tannethrill, after leading the Titans to three come-from-behind victories in his first four games as a starter
Jack Tatum: The Assassin, Felonious Punk
Lawrence Taylor: LT
Patsy Tebeau and Pussy Tebeau (their parents either hated them or had "A Boy Named Sue" thing in mind!)
Bill Terry: Memphis Bill
Frank Thomas: The Big Hurt
Isiah Thomas: Zeke, Tuss, Baby-Faced Assassin
Jim Thome: Big Jim, Thomer, The Thomenator, Popeye, Mr. Incredible, The Pride of Peoria, Mr. High Socks
David Thompson: Skywalker
Klay Thompson: Buddha (China), Soup God (China)
Dickie Thon (thank goodness there is no ending "g")
Jim Thorpe: Bright Path (his Native American name), The Greatest Athlete in the World (King Gustav V)
"Marvelous" Marv Throneberry
Cannonball Titcomb
James "Lights Out" Toney
Karl-Anthony Towns: Special K, Big KAT
George "The Brute" Trafton
Robert "Tractor" Traylor
Harold Joseph Traynor: Pie Traynor
Lee Trevino: Supermex, The Merry Mex
Mike Trout: The Millville Meteor, Halo Man, The Archangel, The Supernatural, The WAR Lord (Michael R. Burch), King of Kings, Trouty
Martin Truex Jr.: True Excellence, hashtag #Truexcellence, The Clam Prince of New Jersey
Troy Tulowitzki: Tulo
Justin "Red" Turner (for the the bright bushy beard, perhaps?); also Ginger Werewolf, Raking Redhead, Heavy Metal Amish Leprechaun
"Iron" Mike Tyson

[U]

Johnny Unitas: Johnny U, The Golden Arm, Mr. Clutch
Wes Unseld: The Wide U
Gene Upshaw: Uptown Gene, The Governor, Mean Gene
Melvin Upton Jr.: B. J., Bossman Junior (his father Manny was nicknamed "The Bossman")
Justin Upton: J-Up, Just In Time Upton, The Justice

[V]

Jim Valvano: Jimmy V, Mr. Optimism, Destiny's Darling
Charles Arthur Vance: Dazzy
Joseph Floyd Vaughan: Arky (he was born in Arkansas)
Zolio Versalles: Zorro
Shane Victorino: The Flyin' Hawaiian, The Energizer Bunny
Guillermo Vilas: The Young Bull of the Pampas

[W]

George Edward Waddell: Rube Waddell
Gordon "Duck" Waddle
Dwayne Wade: Flash, D-Wade, Wow, Father Prime, Pookie
Jeremy Wade: The Extreme Angler, Fisher King
Johannes Peter Wagner: Honus, Hans, The Flying Dutchman, Honus the Hittite (by Grantland Rice, with a pun on "hit")
"Big Ben" Wallace (a bell would toll when he entered the game, like the famous London clock)
Russell Wallace: Rusty
"Big" Ed Walsh
William Theodore Walton III: Bill, Big Red, The Big Redhead, Crash, Always Lost, Uneasy Rider, Mountain Man (Brent Musberger)
Darrell Waltrip: Dee Dubya, Jaws
Lloyd Waner: Little Poison
Paul Waner: Big Poison
Hines "Psycho" Ward (Tunch Ilkin described Ward as "tougher than woodpecker lips.")
Lon Warneke: The Arkansas Hummingbird
John Montgomery Ward: Monte
Tom Watson: Huck, Huckleberry Dillinger
Ricky Watters: Running Watters
Anthony "Spud" Webb (despite standing only 5'7", he won the 1986 NBA slam dunk contest)
Marvin Webster: The Human Eraser
"Iron" Mike Webster
Wes Welker: The Slot Machine (he was a leading slot receiver of his day), Smurf 1
David Wells: Boomer
Jerry West: The Logo, Mr. NBA, Mr. Clutch, Mr. Outside, Mr. Inside, Zeke from Cabin Creek, Tweety Bird, The West Virginia Long Rifle (Michael R. Burch)
Joe West: Cowboy Joe, The Singing Cowboy
Russell Westbrook: Russ, Beastbrook, The Brodie
Pernell Whitaker: Sweet Pea
Devon White: Devo
Dwight White: Mad Dog
Randy White: The Manster
Reggie White: The Minister of Defense (he was an ordained pastor and a defensive lineman)
Shaun White: The Flying Tomato, The Animal (the flame-red Muppet drummer), Snow God, Future Boy, The Egg, Big Wendy
Dominique Wilkins: The Human Highlight Reel (because of his spectacular moves and dunks)
Fred Williamson: The Hammer
Billy Williams: Sweet Swingin’ Billy from Whistler
Carnel "Cadillac" Williams
Grant Williams: Granite (Michael R. Burch), The Mid-Post Monster, The Beast from East Tennessee, Hercules, Superman I (Admiral Schofield is Superman II), Pedigree
"Gloomy" Gus Williams
Mitch Williams: Wild Thing
Ted Williams: The Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame, The Kid, Thumper, The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived
"No Neck" Walt Williams
Lewis "Hack" Wilson
William Van Winkle Wolf: Chicken Wolf (did he need a colorful nickname, really?)
Howard Ellsworth Wood: Smoky Joe Wood

Smoky Joe Wood threw a fastball so hard it smoked, hence his nickname. A pitching prodigy, at age 22 he went 34-5 with a 1.91 ERA. He remains seventh all-time with a 146 ERA+ and had 117 wins by age 25. After a serious injury cost him two years, he came back as an outfielder and hit .283 for his career. He hit .366 at age 31, drove in 92 runs at age 32, then retired. Other than Babe Ruth, there has never been anyone like Smoky Joe Wood.

John Wooden: The Wizard of Westwood
Eldrick Woods: Tiger Woods, The Big Cat, Rajah (Michael R. Burch), Urkel, Mr. T, Righty
Rod Woodson: Hot Rod
Early Wynn: Gus, Burly Early
Jimmy Wynn: The Toy Cannon (because he was short, but launched a lot of home runs)

[X]

Xavier McDaniel: The X-Man

[Y]

Carl Yastrzemski: Yaz
Christian Yelich: Yeli, The Kid, Young Yeller
Moses J. Yellowhorse: Chief Yellow Horse (a Pawnee, he was the first full-blooded Native American to play major league baseball)
Peter Rudolph York: Rudy
Eddie Yost: The Walking Man

Eddie Yost was called the "Walking Man" because he seemed to always be on base, despite lacking power and being an average hitter. Yost retired with a higher on-base percentage than "sexier" hitters known for getting on base like Rod Carew, Honus Wagner, Tony Gwynn and Wee Willie Keeler.

Denton True Young: Cy Young (because his fastball was like a cyclone!)
Jack Youngblood: The John Wayne of Football

When famous tough guy Jack Younblood told his doctors and trainers he was going to play on a broken leg, one said: "You're crazier than a sprayed roach!"

Ross Youngs: Pep
Robin Yount: The Kid

[Z]

Don Zimmer: Popeye (because of his bulging biceps)
Henry Zimmerman, Heinie, The Great Zim
Ryan Zimmerman: Zim, The Z-Man, Mr. Walk-Off
Ben Zobrist: Zorilla, Zobi Wan Kanobe, Zo, Zobe, Ben-zee, Z-man, Zobo
Fuzzy Zoeller

BASEBALL NICKNAMES

Shohei Ohtani Nicknames: Double Trouble, Showtime Ohtani, Shoh-Time, Shotime, Sho-K, The Big Sho, The Big Oh! (Michael R. Burch), Oh-Oh, Shogun of Swat, Show-Guns of Swat, The Nippon Assassin, Stone Buddha, Uncanny Ohtani (Michael R. Burch), GOATani, Brotani, The Say Hei Kid, Ohtani Insanity, Shohei The Way, Sho-Hei the Money (Michael R. Burch), Babe Ruth (J.D. Martinez), Babe Ruth Redux, Bambino Jr., Sho-Nuff, The Sho-Stopper, Hei Day (pun on Hey Day), The Baseball Unicorn

Martin Dihigo: El Maestro, El Inmortal ("The Immortal")

Martin Dihigo is the Missing Link of great two-way baseball players between Babe Ruth and Shohei Ohtani. In 1937 as a rookie in the Mexican Leagues, he batted .387, won the batting title, and went 18-2 as a pitcher, with a microscopic ERA of 0.90. Buck Leonard, known as the “Black Lou Gehrig,” said, “You can take your Ruths, Cobbs, DiMaggios, just give me Dihigo. He was the best ballplayer of all time, black or white.” The great Johnny Mize and former Dodgers general manager Al Campanis agreed.

Mike Trout: The Millville Meteor, Halo Man, The Archangel, The Supernatural, The WAR Lord, King of Kings, Trouty
Albert Pujols: La Maquina (The Machine)
Anthony Rendon: Tony Two Bags
Pablo Sandoval: Kung Fu Panda
Juan Soto: Childish Bambino
Noah Syndergaard: Thor
Clayton Kershaw: Kersh, The Claw, Captain Hook
Aaron Judge: The Judge, All Rise, Judge Dredd, Judge Dread, The Final Judgement
Ryan Braun: The Hebrew Hammer
Bryce Harper: Bam Bam
Yasiel Puig: Wild Horse
Jose Altuve: Gigante, El Pequeño Gigante (The Little Giant)
Aroldis Chapman: The Cuban Missile
Nelson Cruz: Boomstick
Jason Kipnis: Dirtbag
Willians Astudillo: La Tortuga (The Tortoise)
Javier Báez: El Mago (The Magician)
Pete Alonso: Polar Bear
Fernando Tatis Jr.: El Niño (The Kid)
Rafael Devers: Carita (Babyface)
Carl Edwards Jr.: Stringbean Slinger
Randy Arozarena: El Cohete Cubano (The Cuban Rocket)
Brandon Belt: Baby Giraffe
Francisco Lindor: Mr. Smile

NFL Playoff and Super Bowl Nicknames

Derrick Henry: The Yulee Express, The Yulee Bulldozer, King Henry the Great, Oh Henry, Alpha Predator (Michael R. Burch), Absolute Beast Mode, Beyond Beast Mode, The Dixie Derrick, Dump Truck (Tony Dungy), El Tractorcito (The Little Tractor), Big Rig, One Man Convoy, The Bellcow, Shocka (his boyhood nickname), King Henry Rules

Derrick Henry is the Alpha Predator because of the way his braided ponytail sticks out of his helmet.

Ryan Tannehill: Tannethrill
Aaron Rodgers: A-Rod
Travis Kelce: Baby Gronk, Zeus
Patrick Mahomes: Post Mahomes, Kermit (because his voice is "froggy"), Showtime
Russell Wilson: The Professor, The Magician, Houdini
Lamar Jackson: Smiley Face
Deshaun Watson: Rook
Marshawn Lynch: Beast Mode
J.J. Watt: The Milk Man, J.J. Swatt
Adrian Peterson: All Day, Purple Jesus
Drew Brees: Breesus
DeAndre Hopkins: Nuk
Kirk Cousins: Captain Kirk
Julian Edelman: Minitron, Hoodlum (after he was arrested for jumping up and down on someone's hood)

Baseball Nicknames

Tyler Skaggs: Swaggy, T-Swaggs, Swaggy-T
Mike Trout: The Millville Meteor, Halo Man, The Archangel, The WAR Lord, King of Kings, Trouty

ANGELS in the OUTFIELD, INFIELD and on the MOUND?

On July 12, 2019 we may have seen the most amazing and mysterious baseball game ever played. This was the game in which every Angel wore number 45 in honor of their lost teammate, Tyler Skaggs. In Mike Trout's first at-bat, he hit a 454-foot homer. That's 45 forwards and backwards! The Angels scored 7 runs in the first inning, the number of heavenly perfection. Tyler was 27, in his 7th season in the majors, and his record was 7-7. But that's just the beginning. In the Angels' first home game since Tyler passed away, pitchers Taylor Cole and Felix Pena threw a combined no-hitter. According to STATS, it was the first combined no-no in California since July 13, 1991, the day Tyler Skaggs was born. The Angels scored 13 runs, which might seem unlucky, but not so. In this case, 7 and 13 go together perfectly, because 7*13=91 and Tyler was born on 7/13/91. As Trout told reporters: "Tyler's birthday is 7/13. Tomorrow. They'd tell you to rewrite this script to make it more believable if you turned this in!" (And because the game started at 10pm EST, by the time it ended, it actually was Tyler's birthday for most of the world.) Tyler's mother Debbie threw out the first pitch, and it was a perfect strike. We all know how rare that is. Cole and Pena almost threw a perfect game, but faced 28 batters, one more than the minimum. A tiny flaw? No, because it was Tyler's 28th birthday. "This is all for him," Pena said in Spanish after the game. "I feel like we have an angel looking down on us." Did this wonderfully mysterious game just confirm that our departed loved ones are watching over us, and that all is well with them? Trout reflected everyone's amazement: "I'm speechless. This is the best way to honor him." Popular hashtags included #goosebumps #wow #45 #Skaggs#45 and #RIP45.

2019 World Series Nicknames

The Washington Nationals easily sweep the world nickname series!

Max Scherzer: Mad Max, Blue Eye, Brown Eye
Stephen Strasburg: Stras, The Silent Assassin (Kurt Suzuki)
Patrick Corbin: Patty Ice
Anthony Rendon: Ant, Tony Two-Bags
Juan Soto: Childish Bambino, The Chosen Juan, Soto Pacheco, Juanjo
Trea Turner: Triple Trea, Triple T, T³
Adam Eaton: Spanky
Victor Robles: Vic
Matt Adams: Big City
Ryan Zimmerman: Zim, Zimm
Gerardo Parra: Baby Shark, El Yolo
Howie Kendrick: Truck
Michael A. Taylor: Miggy
Anabel Sanchez: Sanchie
Daniel Hudson: Huddy
Wander Suero: The Animal
Kurt Suzuki: Zuk, Zook
Yan Gomes: Gomer
Sean Doolittle: Obi-Sean, Doc, Doooo
Tanner Rainey: Rainman
Brian Dozier: BullDozier
Gerrit Cole: Chef G
Justin Verlander: JV
George Springer: Horhay
Jose Altuve: Tuve
Alex Bregman: A-Breg
Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman: The Mighty Mites and The Mitey Smites (Michael R. Burch)

Super Bowl LIII Nicknames

Greg "The Leg" Zuerlein
Jared Goff: Mr. Perfect 1
Chris Hogan: Mr. Perfect 2, Smurf 8
Phillip Dorsett: Simba, Smurf 7
Patrick Chung: Ka-Chung!, Smurf 6
Sony Michel: Michelangelo, Sony Runman, Smurf 5
Stephon Gilmore: The Silent Assassin, Smurf 4
James White: Sweet Feet, Smurf 3
Rex Burkhead: T-Rex, Smurf 2
Julian Edelman: Jules, Minitron (Tom Brady), Slottie Pippen, The Energizer Bunny, Squirrel, Smurf 1
Bill Belichick: BB, Granny, The Hoody, Dr. Doom (because every bad play spells doom), Papa Smurf (he's 5-11)
Rob Gronkowski: The Gronk, Twinkle Toes (Bill Belichick), Beast Mode (Tom Brady), Cheerful Ogre (Deadspin), Bobby Whiskers
Tom Brady: Tom Terrific, Touchdown Tom, California Cool, The Kid, Shady Brady, The GOAT, Alien Pegasus

Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce said, "There's aliens, there's Pegasus, and there's Tom Brady."

Tour de France Nicknames

The summits of Peyresourde—Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque—are known as the "Circle of Death"
Geraint Thomas: G, Super G, G-Man, G-Force, The Cardiff Giant, The Cardiff Comet
Thomas Dumoulin: The Butterfly of Maastricht, The Dominator, Doomoulin Rogue (Michael R. Burch)
Primoz Roglic: Primo, Optimus Pime, Ski (he's a former professional ski jumper)
Chris Froome: Froomey, Fromage, The White Kenyan
Egan Bernal: Champion and Spirit of Fire (the meanings of his first name according to his mother), Jody
Dan Martin: Danny Boy
Mark Cavendish: Cav, The Manx Missile, The Manxman
Vincenzo Nibali: The Shark of Messina
Andre Greipel: The Gorilla of Rostock
Peter Sagan: The Hulk, The Terminator, Wolverine
Nairo Quintana: The Scarab (because a diminutive scarab beetle can lift many times its own weight)
Fabian Cancellara: Spartacus
Bernard Hinault: The Badger
Luis Ocana: The Cannibal
Eddy Merckx: The Cannibal
Miguel Indurain: Miguelon, El Rey (The King), Big-Mig
Lance Armstrong: The Boss
Jan Ullrich: Ulle, Der Kaiser
Charly Gaul: The Angel of the Mountains
Frederico Bahamontes: The Angel of Toledo
Robert Gesink: The Condor of Varsseveld
Alberto Contador: El Pistolero, Bertie
Thor Hushovd: The God of Thunder, The Grimstad Buffalo
Cadel Evans: Cuddles
Bob Roll: Bobke
Baden Cooke: Cookie, The Cookie Monster
Manuel Beltran: Triki (Spanish for "Cookie Monster")
Tom Boonen: Tornado Tom
Ivan Basso: Ivan the Terrible
Greg Lemond: Fat Greggy, Le Monster

U.S. Open Nicknames

Brooks "The Aura" Koepka (coined by Michael R. Burch due to Koepka's confident demeanor); also Cupcake (due to a tee announcer's mispronunciation of his last name)
Dustin Johnson: DJ, The Cheetah (by Nick Watney for Johnson's long, lean build and unique gait)
"Bubba" Watson (when he was born his father nicknamed him after Bubba Smith because he had a chubby face)
Phil Mickelson: Lefty, Hefty, Phil the Thrill, FIGJAM (short for "F*** I'm Good, Just Ask Me!"), Phil Phuk-Up
Patrick Reed: Captain America
Donald Trump: Captain Shamerica

British Open Nicknames

The British Open is called "The Open" either because it was the first, or because Brits are snooty golf imperialists!
Carnoustie is called "CarNasty" because it's so brutal to play (it once reduced a young Sergio Garcia to tears)
Tommy Armour: The Silver Scot
Sir Nick Faldo: Foldo and Nick the Prick (in his younger days), The Machine and Sir Nick (after his game and manners improved)
Rory McIlroy: Rors, Wee Mac, The Intimidator (by Greg Norman and Tiger Woods, the latter perhaps facetiously)
Jordan Spieth: The Golden Child (after he called a hole-in-one in the air)
Xander Schauffele: Shuffle, Killing Me Schauffele (SHOFF-lee rhymes with "softly"), Radar (because he flies under it)
Justin Rose: The Dude (because he calls everyone "dude"), Rosey
Francesco Molinari: Chico
Edoardo Molinari: Dodo
Gene Sarazen: The Squire
Louis Oosthuizen: Shrek
Tom Watson: Huck, Huck Finn, Huckleberry Dillinger
Jack Nicklaus: The Golden Bear
Eldrick "Tiger" Woods
Greg Norman: The Great White Shark
Ernie Els: The Big Easy

Other Golf Nicknames

K.J. Choi: The Tank (due to his thickness and strength)
Atiwit "Jazz" Janewattananond

NBA Playoff Nicknames

Kawhi Leonard: The Klaw, The Claw, Whi (his teammates), Sugar K (Shaquille O'Neal), KawhiBot
Kyle Lowry: K Low, The Bulldog, Big Booty
Pascal Siakam: Spicy P, P Skills, Rock'em Siakam, Turbo Paschal, Hi Flyin' Siakam
Norman Powell: Stormin' Norman
Jeremy Lin: Linsanity, Lintastic, Super Lintendo
"Downtown" Danny Green
Fred VanVleet: Fred Van Fleet, Van Elite
Serge Ibaka: The Serge Protector, Air Congo, Iblocka, Chewbaka
Marc Gasol: Gasoline, Wendigo, Big Spain
When Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol play together, they are the Spanish Aramada
Andre Iguodala: Iggy
Draymond Green: DrayMagic
DeMarcus Cousins: Boogie 
Kevin Durant: KD, The Slim Reaper, The Durantula, The Snake, The Servant (Durant himself)
Stephen Curry: Steph, Chef Curry, The Baby-Faced Assassin, Cute God (China), Primary School Student (China)
Seth Curry and Klay Thompson: The Splash Brothers
The Hamptons Five aka The Death Lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Kevin Durant (who was recruited in the Hamptons)
Rudy Gobert: The Stifle Tower
Nikola Jokic: The Joker
Nik Stauskas: Sauce Castillo (due to a closed caption mistranslation)
Kenneth Faried: The Manimal
Kristaps Porzingis: Porzingod, Unicorn, Zinger
Jimmy Butler: Jimmy G. Buckets
Karl-Anthony Towns: Special K, Big KAT
Anthony Davis: AD, The Brow, High Brow, The Human Levee, Nawlins Negator 
Russell Westbrook: Brodie, Little Fury, Little Rage, Westbeast, Bestbrook, Beastbrook
Blake Griffin: The Griffin, High Griffinition, Blake Superior, Carrot Hops, The Jambulance, The Beast, Flyin' Lion, Earthquake Blake, Blake the Quake, The Rim Reaper, Demolition Man, Fastbreak Blake
Damian Lillard: Dame, Big Game Dame
Chris Paul: CP3
Paul George: PG, PG13, King George, Playoff P
Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Greek Freak, Superman (Shaquille O'Neal), Godzilla, Eyechart, The Alphabet, Letter Bro (China)
Jusuf Nurkic: The Bosnian Bear
Joel Embiid: The Process
James Harden: The Beard, El Chapo, Step Daddy, No D Harden, Porcelain Mamba (Chinese trolls), Scoring Talisman
Brook Lopez: Splash Mountain, Bropez
Jamal Murray: Maple Curry
LeBron James: King James, The Akron Hammer, The L-Train, The Chosen One, LBJ, LeBrag, LeBrat, LeBum, LeDecision, Bron Bron, Crab Emperor (China)

World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Nicknames

A straight flush is a winning hand. A straight-faced flush is when you don't give it away. (Michael R. Burch)

Sylvain "Hold On" Loosli
Joe "The Kid" Cada
John Cynn: The King of Cynn City, The Original Cynner, MagicJohnCynn
Tony Miles: Tony Smiles (although he complained it sounded like something his mother would make up!)
Alex "The Lynx" Lynskey
Aram Zobian: Aggro Aram (for his aggressive style)
Ryan Riess: Riess the Beast
Phil Hellmuth: The Poker Brat, Superbrat, The John McEnroe of Poker, The Bad Boy of Poker, Hell Mouth
Phil "Poison" Ivey: also The Tiger Woods of Poker, No Home Jerome (he gambled with a fake ID when underage)
Chris "Jesus" Ferguson (as famous for his long flowing hair and Christ-like appearance as his poker skills)
Allen "Clever Piggy" Cunningham (a pun on his last name: cunning-ham)
Johnny Chan: The Orient Express, Orangeman (he would use oranges to mask cigarette smoke at poker tables)
Phil "Unabomber" Laak (because he wears hoodies that make him look like the Unabomber)
Daniel Negreanu: Kid Poker
Scotty Nguyen: The Train, The Prince of Poker
Mike "The Mouth" Matusow (famous for his motor-mouth and his meltdowns)
Greg Raymer: Fossilman
David "Chip" Reese (because the number one cash game poker player usually raked in the chips)
Thomas Preston: "Amarillo Slim" (a legendary poker player and proposition gambler)
Doyle Brunson: Texas Dolly, The Godfather of Poker, Big Papa
Johnny Moss: The Grand Old Man of Poker, Trinity (he won the Main Event three times)
Walter "Puggy" Pearson
Stu Ungar: Stuey, The Kid
Dan Harrington: Action Dan
Bobby Baldwin: The Owl
Darvin Moon: The Moonman, Moonshine, Moonbeam, Darvin Gump, The Luddite Logger
Norman "Hanging" Chad: also the Couch Slouch

2019 NFL Draft Nicknames

Kyler "The Future" Murray (Johnny Manziel)
Nick Bosa: Bosanova (the "new" Bosa since his brother Joey preceded him)
Quinnen Williams: Big Baby (because he's shy and soft-spoken)
Andraez "Greedy" Williams (the perfect nickname for a cornerback)
*Squally Canada
Jalen "Thundering" Hurd (Michael R. Burch)
Jervontius "Bunchy" Stallings
Shyheim Devonte "Shy" Tuttle
Devin "Motor" Singletary
Abdurrahman "Rock" Ya-Sin
Dexter Lawrence: Hulk
*Clifton Duck
Tyshun "Deebo" Samuel 
Marquise "Hollywood" Brown
Elijah "Real Deal" Holyfield (a nickname he shares with his famous father, heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield)

(*) These are apparently real names!

2019 March Madness Nicknames

NCAA Tournament nicknames: March Madness, The Big Show, Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, Terrific Two

Unusual team nicknames: Virginia Cavaliers (also Wahoos, Hoos and Cavs), Texas Tech Red Raiders, UC Irvine Anteaters, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Oregon Ducks, Vermont Catamounts, St. Louis Billikens, Purdue Boilermakers, North Carolina Tarheels, Iowa Hawkeyes, Ohio State Buckeyes, Duke Blue Devils, Arizona State Sun Devils, Virginia Tech Hokies, Iona Gaels, Michigan State Spartans, Northern Kentucky Norse

Jarrett Culver: Jarring Jarrett, The Lubbock Springbok (he has a 41" vertical leap)
De'Andre Hunter: Dr. Dre
Ty Jerome: Milk (because he was often the only white player on NY courts)
Carsen Edwards: The Human Torch, The Human Flamethrower (because he lights up the basket), C-Boogie (his father)
Zion Williamson: Zanos (pun on Thanos), The Rim Wrecker, Mount Zion
R. J. Barrett: The Canadian Assassin, Maple Jordan, Maple Mamba, Ducky Jr.
Cameron Reddish: Cam, The Prince
Rui Hachimura: The Hatchet
Fletcher Magee: Stretcher (he either stretches defenses with his threes, or sends fans out on stretchers by going 0-12)
Manute Bol: The Sudanese Swatter, The One-Manute Man, Nute
Bol Bol: Minute Manute (because he's merely 7'2" and his father was 7'7")
Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield: The Smash Brothers, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Hans & Franz, The Matchup Nightmares, Superman I and II

"If we played man-to-man for 40 minutes, Grant Williams might have had 60," Florida coach Mike White said. "And we might have all fouled out, including me."

Jordan Bone and Jordan Bowden: Pair Jordan (pun on Air Jordan)
Kyle Alexander: Stylin' Kyle, Alexander the Great, The Gazelle
Lamonte Turner: La Monte Carlo (because he's a high stakes shooter)
Yves Pons: Air France
Temetrius Jamel Morant: Ja, The Truth
Paul Jamaine Washington Jr.: P. J.
B. J. Taylor: Big Shot Barry
Elhadji Tacko Sereigne Diop Fall: Taco (at 7'6" with a standing reach of 10'5" he can dunk flat-footed, or with the tiniest of hops)

2019 Spring Training Nicknames

Mike Trout: The Millville Meteor, Halo Man, The Archangel, The WAR Lord, King of Kings, Trouty
Manny Machado: Mannywood, Macho Man, The Baby-Faced Assassin (Adam Jones), M&M, Hakuna Machado, El Ministro de la Defensa
Bryce Harper: Harp, Bam Bam, Mondo, Big Kid, The Chosen One (Sports Illustrated, when he was 16)
Juan Soto: Childish Bambino (he hit 22 homers as a teenager for the Washington Nationals)
Corey Kluber: The Klubot
Ramón Laureano: Noodles (due to a Ramen habit), Lazer Ramón (a pun on Razor Ramon and a tip of the hat to the lasers he throws from center)

2017 World Series Nicknames

Jose Altuve: Tuve, El Gigante (Altuve's a giant with a bat in his hands, despite standing a diminutive 5'6" )
Cody Bellinger: The Bellringer (I refused to use "CodyLove" and came up with this one instead―MRB)
Carlos Beltran: Ivan, Señor Octubre (because of his postseason success, a la Reggie Jackson's "Mr. October")
Yu Darvish: Whirling Darvish (MRB)
Evan Gattis: Bull (because of his bullish build and strength)
Ken Giles: 100 Miles Giles (because of his 100-mph heater)
Adrian Gonzalez: A-Gon, El Titan
Marwin Gonzalez: Margo
Curtis Granderson: The Grandyman
Clayton "The Claw" Kershaw
Lance McCullers: Snap Dragon 1 (because of his snappy curve)
Collin McHugh: Snap Dragon 2 (ditto)
Charlie Morton: Ground Chuck (because he induces so many ground balls)
Yasiel Puig: The Wild Horse (coined by Vin Scully to describe Puig's energetic and reckless baserunning)
Josh Reddick: Red Dawg
Justin "Red" Turner (for the the bright, bushy beard, perhaps?); also Ginger Werewolf, Raking Redhead, Heavy Metal Amish Leprechaun
Chase Utley: The Silver Fox

Super Bowl LII Nicknames

Nick Foles: Saint Nick, Nicky Six, The Bubblegum Assassin (Michael R. Burch)
Jay Ajayi: Jay Train
Torrey Smith: The Microwave King (for his dunking skills)
Zach "So Good It" Ertz
Tom Brady: Tom Terrific, Touchdown Tom, California Cool, The Kid, The GOAT (Greatest of All Time), Shady Brady
Rob Gronkowski: Gronk, Twinkle Toes (Bill Belichick), Beast Mode (Tom Brady), Cheerful Ogre (Deadspin), Bobby Whiskers (because of his sparse facial hair)
James Harrison: Mr. Monday Night, Silverback, Deebo
Chris Hogan: Mr. Perfect, Smurf 8
James White: Sweet Feet, Smurf 7
Brandin Cooks: Cookie, Archer, Lightning, Smurf 6
Dion Lewis: Jitterbug, Little Dirty, Smurf 5
Rex Burkhead: T-Rex, Smurf 4
Danny Amendola: Danny Playoff, Little Cowboy (Julian Edelman), Smurf 3
Julian Edelman: Minitron, Slottie Pippen, The Energizer Bunny, Squirrel, Smurf 2
Wes Welker: The Slot Machine (he was a leading slot receiver of his day), Smurf 1 (the original)

The Best Nicknames Coined by Chris Berman

Sammy "Say It Ain't" Sosa
Andre "Bad Moon" Rison
Albert "Winnie the" Pujols
John "I Am Not a" Kruk
Moises "Skip to My" Alou
Mike "You're In Good Hands With" Alstott
AJ "Touchy" Feely
Eric "Sleeping with" Bienemy
Delino "Decoconut" Deshields
Mike "Lego My" Gallego
Joseph "Live and Let" Addai
Bert "Be Home" Blyleven
Scott "Supercalifragilisticexpiali" Brosius

Sweet Pea

Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker had one of the all-time great nicknames, and one of the most unlikely for his savage art. But he was known to be sweet and generous outside the ring. As a boy his nickname was "Sweet Pete" but a sportswriter transposed it and "Sweet Pea" stuck and took over. Whitaker was an Olympic gold medalist who won world championships in four professional weight divisions and is considered to have been one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time. He was The Ring's best boxer, pound-for-pound, from 1993-1997, and was also named the 10th best boxer of the last 80 years by the publication. Whitaker's pro record (40-4-1) is very impressive, especially considering the champions he fought. Furthermore, many boxing experts were convinced that he decisively won disputed matches against Jose Luis Ramirez, "Son of the Legend" Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya. The Ramirez decision has been called a "disgrace" and ranks high on various lists of the worst decisions in boxing history. Chavez had trouble finding Whitaker, who threw 153 more punches and landed nearly 100 more. The cover of Sports Illustrated claimed in "angry caps" that Sweet Pea had been "ROBBED!" Whitaker—in what he called a "shutout"—left De La Hoya bloodied and a poll of ringside writers agreed that he was the winner. Sweet Pea did not suffer a decisive loss until the end of his career. His "hit and make them miss" style would later be emulated by a moderately successful pugilist named Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Whitaker had beaten Roger Mayweather, Floyd's uncle, in a 1987 match.) Unfortunately, Pernell Whitaker died at age 55 after being hit by a car in Virginia Beach.

Game of Thrones Nicknames

Can we determine the Game of Thrones victors by the number of nicknames they've been given? If so, the first five characters stand out ...

Brandon Stark: Bran, Bran the Broken, The Three-Eyed Raven, The Little Lord, Rightful Lord of Winterfell, Prince of Winterfell, The King of the Six Kingdoms, King of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Realm, The Wild Wolf, The Winged Wolf, The Lame Wolf, The Broken Wolf, Cripple
Arya Stark: Lone Wolf, Wolf Girl, Arry, Arya Underfoot, Arya Horseface, Lumpyhead, Lumpyface, The Ghost of Harrenhal, Weasel, Rabitkiller, She-Wolf, Wolf Bitch, Squab, Salty, Cat of the Canals, Blind Beth, The Blind Girl, Blood Child, No One, Dead Girl, Ugly Girl, Stickboy, Nymeria, Nan, Mercedene, Mercy, The GOAT of GOT (after she took out the Night King in the Battle of Winterfell)
Jon Snow: The White Wolf, Lord Snow, King Crow, The Crow-come-over, The Bastard of Winterfell, The Snow of Winterfell, The Prince that was Promised, The Black Bastard of the Wall
Tyrion Lannister: Imp, Halfman, Small Man, Boyman, Little Shit, Dwarf, Yollo, Hugor Hill, Bastard, Freak, Creature, Monster, Giant of Lannister, Lord Tywin's Doom, Lord Tywin's Bane, No-Nose, Redhands, Lion, Whoreson, Twisted Little Demon Monkey, Gift, Kinslayer, Kingslayer
Daenerys Targaryen: Stormborn, The Unburnt, Queen Across the Sea, Queen Across the Water, The Silver Queen, Silver Lady, Dragon Queen, Mother of Dragons, Dragonmother, Breaker of Chains, Slayer of Lies, Daughter of Death, Dany, Mhysa, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, The Princess that was Promised, The Mad Queen
Jaime Lannister: The Kingslayer, Oathbreaker, The Lion of Lannister, The Young Lion, Goldenhand, The Golden Man, Goldfinger, Cripple
Cersei Lannister: The Lioness, The Mad Queen
Samwell Tarly: Ser Piggy, Lady Piggy, Lord of Ham, Sam the Slayer

Honorable Mention: Sandor Clegane (The Hound), Gregor Clegane (The Mountain), Sansa Stark (Little Bird), Robb Stark (Young Wolf), Benjen Stark (Coldhands), Catelyn Stark (Lady Stoneheart), Joffrey Baratheon (The False King, The Illborn, The Young Usurper), Gendry Baratheon (The Bull), Stannis Baratheon (The Prince that was Promised), Ramsay Bolton (The Bastard of Bolton), Roose Bolton (The Leech Lord), Olenna Tyrell (The Queen of Thorns), Loras Tyrell (The Knight of the Flowers), Garlan Tyrell (Garlan the Gallant), Jorah Mormont (The Andal), Jeor Mormont (The Old Bear), Brienne of Tarth (Brienne the Beauty), Melisandre (The Red Woman), Theon Greyjoy (Reek, The Turncoat), Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger), Oberyn Martell (The Red Viper), Wylis (Hodor), Walton (Steelshanks), Barristan Selmy (Barristan the Bold), Arthur Dayne (The Sword of the Morning), Ser Brynden Tully (The Blackfish), Varys (Spider), Ser Davos Seaworth (The Onion Knight), Brynden Rivers (Lord Bloodraven), Aegor Rivers (Bittersteel), Hot Pie

Wimbledon Nicknames

Serena Williams: Momma Smash, Serena Stoutarm, Meeka, ReRe
Venus Williams: Queen V
Venus and Serena Williams: Sisters Sledgehammer (Bud Collins)
Rafael Nadal: Rafa, Rafi, El Nino, King of Clay, El Matador, Spain's Raging Bull
Roger Federer: Rog, King Roger, The Swiss Maestro, Fed-ex, Fed-Express, Darth Federer
Novak Djokovic: Djoko, Nole, The Serbinator
Andy Murray: Muzza
Margaret Court Smith: The Arm, Mighty Maggie (Bud Collins)
Evonne Goolagong: Sunshine Supergirl (Bud Collins)
Billie Jean King: BJK
Stephanie Graf: Steffi, Fräulein Forehand
Gabriela Sabatini: Divine Argentine, Pearl of the Pampas
Martina Hingis: Swiss Miss
Martina Navratilova: Ex-Czek
Christine Evert: Chris, Chrissy, Chrissy America, America's Sweetheart, Ice Maiden, Ice Princess, Ice Queen, Little Miss Cool, Little Miss Perfect, Poker Face, Remorseless
Jimmy Connors: Jimbo
Rod Laver: The Rocket, Firebird (Bud Collins)
John McEnroe: Johnny Mac, McBrat, SuperBrat, Mac the Strife, Big Mac, Mighty Mouth, The Incredible Sulk
Bjorn Borg: Ice Borg, Iceman, The Angelic Assassin
Andre Agassi: The Las Vegas Kid, The Punisher
Pete Sampras: Pistol Pete
Boris Becker: Boom Boom, Baron von Slam
Ivan Lendl: Ivan the Terrible, The Terminator
Ilie Nastase: Nasty
Andy Roddick: Rocket Man

World Cup Nicknames: Football/Soccer Greats

Megan Rapinoe: Pinoe
Alex Morgan: Baby Horse, AMorgs
Rose Lavelle: SBR, Sweet Baby Rose, Twinkletoes (Michael R. Burch)
Carli Lloyd: Car, Carl, Carlos, Captain America
Crystal Dunn: Dunnie, Crys
Lindsey Horan: Linds, Loomie, The Great Horan
Julie Ertz: Jules, JJ (she was Julie Johnston before marrying NFL star Zach Ertz)
Tobin Heath: Tobs, Toby, Harry
Becky Sauerbrunn: Broon, Reba
Alyssa Naeher: Lyssa, Silent Assassin
Ali Krieger: Kriegs, Warrior Princess
Allie Long: La Gringa, Harry, Alza, AL, Loomie
Christen Press: Chris, Pressi, CP
Sam Mewis: Sammy, Panic Petunia, MewTwo
Morgan Brian: Plankton (because she was small as a child), Bean, Moe, Miss M
Kelley O’Hara: KO, KOH, Kevin, Super Sub, Frat Daddy
Emily Sonnett: Bodycheck, Sonny, Frat Daddy Jr.

Marta Vieira da Silva: Pelé con faldas and Pelé de saias (Pelé with skirts), Lady Pele, Raina (Queen), The Queen of Soccer
Birgit Prinz: The Princess of Soccer
Sam Kerr: Superwoman, Killer Kerr, The Smiling Assassin (Michael Lynch)
Sisleide Lima do Amor: Sissi
Christine Sinclair: Sincy
Fran Kirby: Mini Messi
Dzsenifer Marozsan: Maro 
Amandine Henry: The Animal
Khadija Shaw: Bunny
Lilian Parr: Lily
Mariel Margaret Hamm: Mia
Michelle Akers: Mufasa
Brandi Chastain: Hollywood (before the bra bit)
Hope Solo: Fox in the Box
Abby Wambach: Abs, Babs, Mary
Amy Rodriguez: A-Rod

Edson Arantes do Nascimento: Pelé (Miracle), O Rei (The King), Dico, The Black Pearl
Diego Maradona: El Pibe de Oro (The Golden Boy), The Hand of God, El Diego, El Pelusa (Fluffy Hair), El Dios (God), Cosmico (Cosmic)
Lionel Messi: The Messiah, The Magnificent Messi, Messidona, La Pulga Atomica (The Atomic Flea), Leo, The Magical Mercurial Messi, GOAT
Ronaldo: Il Phenomeno or O Fenomeno (The Phenomenon), R9, Big Ronaldo, The Original Ronaldo
Ronaldinho: The One Man Show, Little Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo: CR7, Rocket Ronaldo, El Comandante, O Robo (The Robot), Crybaby (because as a boy he cried when he didn't get the ball)

Hey, what's with all the Ronaldos? Brazilian players sometimes switch monikers. The first Ronaldao was "big Ronaldo." Another became Ronaldinho, meaning "little Ronaldo." When another Ronaldinho came along, he was called Ronaldinho Gaucho. Eventually, the first Ronaldo left the Brazilian national squad, so the first Ronaldinho became Ronaldo, while Ronaldinho Gaucho became Ronaldinho!

Zinedine Zidane: Zizou
Antoine Griezmann: Grizou (a nickname he rejected because of the comparison to Zizou)
Paul Pogba: Il Polpo Paul (Paul the Octopus), La Pioche (The Pickaxe)
Kylian Mbappé: Donatello (the Mutant Ninja Turtle, not the famous artist)
Hugo Lloris: Saint Lloris, The Supreme Sweeper-Keeper
Harry Kane: The HurriKane, Golden Boy (his teammates), Harry Potter (because he's a soccer wizard), Mr. Touch, The Monster, The Sensational Handful
Luis Suarez: El Pistolero (The Gunslinger), El Conejo (The Rabbit)
Eusébio: The Black Panther
Robert Moore: Bobby, Tubby, Fatso (he was overweight as a boy)
Franz Beckenbauer: Der Kaiser (The Emperor), Die Lichtgestalt (The Figure of Light)
Johan Cruyff: El Flaco, The Flying Dutchman, Rembrandt, Jopie, Pythagoras in Boots, Cruijffie 
George Best: The Fifth Beatle, El Beatle, Bestie, Georgie, Geordie, The Belfast Boy
Alfredo Di Stéfano: Saeta Rubia (Blond Arrow)
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: Neymar, Ney, Mars, O Joia (The Gem), Juninho (Junior), Janayy (?)
Roberto Baggio: Il Divino Codino (The Divine Ponytail)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: The Baby-Faced Assassin
Stuart Pearce: Psycho
David James: Calamity James
Papa Bouba Diop: The Wardrobe
Givanildo Vieira de Sousa: Hulk
Gilberto Silva: The Invisible Wall, The Invincible Wall
Lev Yashin: The Black Spider
Arthur Antunes Coimbra: Zico, The White Pele, King Arthur
Michael Platini: Le Roi (The King), Platoche (?), La Platine (?)
Ferenc Puskas: The Galloping Major, Öcsi (Buddy, or "beloved younger brother")
Miroslav Klose: Salto-Klose (Somersault-Klose)
Just Fontaine: Justo (he holds the record from the most goals in a single World Cup, with 13 in "just" 6 games)
Gerd Muller: Der Bomber (The Bomber), Kleines dickes Müller ("short fat Müller")
Garrincha: The Little Wren, The Joy of the People
Marcos Evangelista de Morais: Cafu, Il Pendolino ("The Express Train" or "The Commuter")
Mohamed Salah: The Egyptian Messi
David Beckham: Golden Balls, Spice Boy, Becks, DB7, Dave, The Bender
Tommy Lawrence: The Flying Pig (because he was heavy for a goalie but could still go airborne; in his last international appearance he collided with the crossbar and was knocked out!)
Donald Trump: World Schlupp

Football/Soccer Team Nicknames

Blue lions, anyone?

England: The Three Lions
Iran: Shirane Pars (The Lions of Persia)
Senegal: Les Lions de la Teranga (The Lions of Teranga)
Morocco: Atlas Lions
South Korea: Asian Tigers
France: Les Bleus (The Blues), The Maginot Line
Argentina: La Albiceleste (The White and Sky-Blues)
Japan: Samurai Blue
Sweden: Blagult (The Blue and Yellows)
Belgium: Les Diables Rouges (The Red Devils)
Spain: La Furia Roja (The Red Fury)
Switzerland: Rossocrociati (The Red Crusaders)
Mexico: El Tri and El Tricolor (The Tricolors)
Brazil: Selecao (The Selection), Canarinho (Little Canary)
Tunisia: Les Aigles de Carthage (The Eagles of Carthage)
Australia: The Socceroos and The Matildas
Egypt: The Pharaohs

Masters/PGA/Golf Nicknames

Eldrick "Tiger" Woods is now "Captain Comeback" and "The Comeback Kid"
Brooks "The Aura" Koepka (coined by Michael R. Burch due to Koepka's confident demeanor), Brooks Cupcake, Major Koepka (because he does so well in majors), Hulk, Hogan Squared

"He's built like Hulk Hogan and swings like Ben Hogan. I don’t know how you're going to beat this guy. There's something about him in major championships that you almost can't get your arms around."— Brandel Chamblee

Rory McIlroy: Rors, Wee Mac, The Intimidator (by Greg Norman), Celtic Tiger (because he 'rors' like a tiger?)
Gary Woodland: Woody, Woodie
Dustin Johnson: DJ, The Cheetah
Adam Scott: Scotty, Great Scott
Jordan Spieth: The Golden Child
Justin Rose: The Dude (because he calls everyone "dude"), Rosey
Justin Thomas: Radar
"Bubba" Watson (his father nicknamed him after Bubba Smith because he had a chubby face)
Phil Mickelson: Lefty, Hefty, Phil the Thrill, FIGJAM (short for "F*** I'm Good, Just Ask Me!"), Phil Phuk-Up
Xander Schauffele: Shuffle, Killing Me Schauffele, Radar (because he flies under it), Scrabble, Eyechart
Francesco Molinari: Chico
Bryson DeChambeau: Rainman (Tiger Woods), The Mad Scientist
Rickie Fowler: Big Dick Rick
John Rahm: Rahmbo
Louis Oosthuizen: Shrek
Henrik Stenson: The Ice Man
Brandt Snedeker: Sneds
Ernie Els: The Big Easy
Sergio Garcia: El Nino, The Bull
Patrick Reed: Captain America
Donald Trump: Captain Shamerica, Mr. Mulligan, Pele (by his caddies, because he keeps kicking golf balls back onto fairways)

2022 NFL DRAFT NICKNAMES AND ACTUAL NAMES

Malik Willis: Magic Malik (Michael R. Burch), Music City Malik
Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner
Snoop Conner
Sincere McCormick
Ikem Ekwonu: Ickey, Lick 'Em Ikem Ekwonu (Michael R. Burch)
Quindarious "Smoke" Monday
Zonovan "Bam" Knight
Brock Purdy: Mr. Irrelevant

New and Trending Nicknames

Jalen Rose's nickname for Larry Bird tickled me:

Larry Bird: Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, The Great White Hope, The Baddest White Boy Ever (Jalen Rose), The White Magic, Uncle Larry

Derek Henry: The Bulldozer-Ballerina, Tractorcito (The Little Tractor)
The Washington Doormats: Proposed nickname for the currently nameless Washington Football Team
Mitch McConnell: Mitch Muck Con Hell, Lamar's Flame

Mitch Muck Con Hell was reduced to tears when Lamar Alexander resigned from the Senate. But did he ever shed a tear for the 275,000 Americans who have died during the pandemic, as he, Trump, Alexander the Pate, and other Republican senators worked feverishly (pardon the pun) to deprive still-living Americans of their healthcare while having no replacement for Obamacare?

Phil Mickelson nicknames: Lefty, Hefty, Phil the Thrill, FIGJAM (short for F*k I'm Good, Just Ask Me!), Phil Phuk-Up

The best golf nicknames today: Louis Oosthuizen aka Shrek, Charles Howell III aka Chucky Three Sticks, Eldrick "Tiger" Woods, Rory McIlroy aka Rors and Wee Mac, Dustin Johnson aka The Cheetah (coined by Nick Watney due to Johnson's long, lean build and unique gait), "Bubba" Watson (nicknamed after Bubba Smith because as a baby he had a chubby face), Jordan Spieth aka The Golden Child (after he called a hole-in-one in the air), Xander Schauffele aka Shuffle and Killing Me Schauffele (SHOFF-lee rhymes with "softly"), Justin Rose aka The Dude (because he calls everyone "dude"), Brooks "The Aura" Koepka (coined by Michael R. Burch due to Koepka's confident demeanor) but also Cupcake (due to an announcer's mispronunciation of his last name), Patrick Reed aka Captain America, Donald Trump aka Captain Shamerica

The best golf nicknames of yore: Jack Nicklaus aka The Golden Bear, Lee Trevino aka The Merry Mex, Gene Sarazen aka The Squire, Tom Watson aka Huck Finn and Huckleberry Dillinger (because of the way he rubs out the competition), Greg Norman aka The Great White Shark, Tommy Armour aka The Silver Scot, Sir Nick Faldo was Foldo and Nick the Prick in his younger days and is now The Machine, Fred Couples aka Bam Bam, Ernie Els aka The Big Easy, Arnold "Arnie" Palmer even gave a nickname to his fans in "Arnie's Army"

More Donald Trump Nicknames

Q: What do you call it when a Man-Baby takes over the American government?
A: Coup d'Tot.

Tiny Hands Trump uses the world's smallest pen and desk to sign his latest dictatorial proclamations. The women pictured are nannies beseeching the Boy Blunder to take a nap and stop bullying the world, but Man-Baby Trump will have none of that!



Trump's nannies applaud as the Terrible Tyke learns to operate a pen with his teeny-tiny fingers. The Brooklyn Brat is certainly proud of his "big boy" accomplishment. But so far no one has been able to potty-train his mouth!

Check out our newest nickname pages for Badass Ruth Bader Ginsburg aka The Notorious R.G.B. and Secretary of Dead-ucation Betsy DeVos aka Cruella DeVile and DeVil DeVos.

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