nickname

1 of 2

noun

nick·​name ˈnik-ˌnām 

1

: a usually descriptive name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to a person, place, or thing

2

: a familiar form of a proper name (as of a person or a city)

nickname

2 of 2

verb

nicknamed; nicknaming; nicknames

transitive verb

1

: misname, miscall

2

: to give a nickname to

nicknamer noun

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History of Nickname

It might look like nickname is a compound noun formed by adding nick and name together, but the actual history of this word is a bit more complicated. It was formed by metanalysis, or the changing of the division of words based upon how they sound together. In this case, the Middle English word eke, meaning “also” or “in addition,” was joined with name to form ekename—literally, “also-name,” used for a secondary or unofficial name in the late Middle Ages. Over time, an ekename became a nickname presumably because eke had become less familiar as a word. Needless to say, nick in this case doesn’t mean “also” or anything else, it just represents a comfortable and familiar alternative to the word’s original spelling.

Synonyms

Noun

• alias
• byname
• cognomen
• epithet
• handle
• moniker
• monicker
• sobriquet
• soubriquet
• surname

Examples of nickname in a Sentence

Noun

His mother gave him the nickname “Winky” when he was a baby.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson got his nickname from the way he handled a basketball.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Suzanne was a guest on an episode of Curtis' Good Friend podcast, where the two discussed their bond and explained their nicknames. —Makena Gera, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024

Searching for a way to attract tourists and boost the economy, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce came up with a catchy nickname for the desert oasis — Valley of the Sun — and tapped five business leaders to form a committee to promote the area through a sporting event. —Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024

The question has to do with Havana Syndrome — the nickname given to a group of debilitating symptoms first thought to be experienced by U.S. personnel posted to Havana in 2016. —The Editors, National Review, 2 Apr. 2024

At times her image and her nickname — the Baroness with the brush — superseded her art. —Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Massachusetts State Police said that Roscoe, a nickname for Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot, accompanied the department’s bomb squad in early March to respond to a situation involving an armed barricaded suspect. —Jody Serrano / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024

Women were derided with vulgar nicknames and viewed as whores deserving of violence. —Amy Dubois Barnett, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024

The deer was commonly seen feeding in a potato field by locals, and the nickname stuck. —Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2024

By 1928, however, Boll had grown tired of her nickname. —Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024

Verb

Adoring fans nicknamed Reese the Bayou Barbie—a wink to her signature long lashes, cascading hairstyles, bold manicures, and unapologetic love of fashion. —Leah Faye Cooper, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2024

The temperamental 18,000-pound Disneyland dragon – mockingly nicknamed Murphy by fans after Murphy’s Law – has a troubled history of malfunctions and breakdowns stretching back more than a decade. —Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 30 Mar. 2024

Ashley, now 13 years old, is the mother of an 8-month-old baby boy nicknamed Peanut. —Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024

Rafiki loves to play hide and seek (this adorable guy is nicknamed Houdini) and loves to jump on tall perches. —The Arizona Republic, 22 Mar. 2024

The team nicknamed it the 'Godzilla shark' for its features resembling Godzilla. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024

Apple has also been testing its own large language model — codenamed Ajax — and a chatbot nicknamed Apple GPT; however, the technology isn’t up to par with its rivals’ offerings, Bloomberg reported. —William Gavin, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024

Elizabeth, nicknamed Ba, was born in 1806, the oldest of 12 children. —Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Mar. 2024

The new moon this month rises a few weeks before its corresponding full moon, nicknamed the Worm Moon, which is predicted to peak on March 25 this year. —Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English nekename additional name, alteration (resulting from misdivision of an ekename) of ekename, from eke eke, also + name name

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

nickname

1 of 2 noun

nick·​name ˈnik-ˌnām 

1

: an often descriptive name (as "Shorty" or "Tex") given in addition to the one belonging to an individual

2

: a form of a proper name (as "Billy" for "William") used by family or friends

nickname

2 of 2 verb

: to give a nickname to

Etymology

Noun

Middle English nekename "an additional name," from the phrase an ekename (misunderstood as being a nekename), from eke "something added on" and name "name"

Word Origin

The Middle English word eke meant "something added on." An ekename was therefore an added name given to a person or place. Many people who heard the phrase "an ekename," however, thought they were hearing "a nekename." Because of that confusion over the course of many years, the word ekename became nekename. Later changes in spelling have given us the modern word nickname.