nicknaming
Assigning informal names
Nicknaming is giving someone or something an informal name in place of or alongside the proper one.
The practice ranges from affectionate to mocking: The nicknaming of politicians by the press can be brutal.
Parents nicknaming children, teammates nicknaming each other, and cities acquiring nicknames all follow the same impulse toward informality or characterization.
Adopted false name
- handlePart for gripping
- monikerInformal designation for someone
- sobriquetDescriptive informal name
- epithetDescriptive tag for someone
pseudonym · byname · cognomen · tag · label · screen name · username · codename
Cleverly humorous
- cleverShowing mental quickness
- punningExploiting double meanings
- whimsicalPlayfully fanciful or erratic
- quirkyIdiosyncratically unusual
humorous · silly · lighthearted · creative · inventive · wordplay · rhyming · alliterative
Affectionate nickname for loved ones
- endearmentAffectionate word or phrase
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
- honeyBees' viscous nectar product
- dearTreasured or costly
darling · beloved · babe · sweetie · sugar · love · cuddle · snuggle
Affectionate verbal teasing
- roastingCooking with dry heat
- razzingLight mocking banter
- joshingPlayful mocking
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
mocking · jesting · taunting · ragging · jibing · poking fun · lampooning · caricature
Very small, or nickname form
- patronymicName from father's name
- honorificRespectful form of address
- suffixWord-ending addition
- prefixRoot-modifying front element
clan name · tribal name · family name · baby name · term of address · familial · generational · ancestral
alias
Adopted false name
epithet · pseudonym · byname · cognomen · tag · label · screen name · username · codename · stage name
witty
Cleverly humorous
- cleverShowing mental quickness
- punningExploiting double meanings
- whimsicalPlayfully fanciful or erratic
quirky · humorous · silly · lighthearted · creative · inventive · wordplay · rhyming · alliterative · funny
pet name
Affectionate nickname for loved ones
- endearmentAffectionate word or phrase
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
- honeyBees' viscous nectar product
dear · darling · beloved · babe · sweetie · sugar · love · cuddle · snuggle · precious
ribbing
Affectionate verbal teasing
banter · mocking · jesting · taunting · ragging · jibing · poking fun · lampooning · caricature · sarcasm
diminutive
Very small, or nickname form
- patronymicName from father's name
- honorificRespectful form of address
- suffixWord-ending addition
prefix · clan name · tribal name · family name · baby name · term of address · familial · generational · ancestral · traditional
nicknamingchristening
Ceremony naming a child
baptizing · registering · titling · dubbing · entitling