My name is Tatiana, but my friends and family call me Tutta. I love writing articles that bring a little creativity to everyday life.
A nickname can tell you a lot about a person.
What Is a Nickname?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a nickname is "an informal name for someone or something, especially a name that you are called by your friends or family, usually based on your real name or your character."
Nicknames can be based on a wide range of sources, including real names, physical features, personality traits, interests, and more. Whatever the source, nicknames are often used as terms of endearment or expressions of affection. Sometimes they can be humorous or clever—and that's where we're going to focus our attention in this list!
Tips for Coming Up With the Perfect Nickname
Nicknames are typically earned—not self-awarded. Anyone can decide on their own that they want to be called something, but a name given by someone else carries much more meaning and is much more likely to stick. Not only do nicknames say a lot about the individual person, but they usually have some kind of story behind it that many don’t know about. Just what kinds of things are typically considered when giving a nickname to someone?
- Personality: Personality is usually the biggest factor when considering nicknames for someone. What personality traits are most striking about this person? Are they aggressive? Funny? Always serious?
- Physical features: An obvious thing to consider would be someone’s physical appearance. If they’re really short or tall, have funny hair, scraggly teeth, etc., then they’re pretty well set up for some nicknames!
- Mannerisms: We all have mannerisms that we're not aware of. That’s because they're just things we do without thinking. Does the person gesture a lot, blink a lot, have a lot of pep in their step?
- Interests: Interests and hobbies can play a big role in nicknames. The people with whom you share those same interests and hobbies might choose a relevant nickname.
- Habits: Whether they’re good habits or bad habits, they're certainly fair game for assigning nicknames!
- Inside jokes: Sometimes, nicknames pop up in the middle of a random situation—an inside joke in the making. The nickname is completely unplanned, and somehow it just ends up sticking. Some of the best and unique nicknames come about this way!
- Real names: Of course, probably the most common type of nicknames, the ones we're most familiar with, are based on real names. For example, Jen or Jenny for Jennifer, or Will or Willie for William. Some nicknames don't actually sound much like the original name but are common nonetheless, like Bob for Robert or Dick for Richard.
Here’s a list of badass nicknames categorized by guys and girls for easy picking!
Badass Nicknames for Guys
Aspect | Kraken |
Bender | Lynch |
Big Papa | Mad Dog |
Bowser | O'Doyle |
Bruise | Psycho |
Cannon | Ranger |
Clink | Ratchet |
Cobra | Reaper |
Colt | Rigs |
Crank | Ripley |
Creep | Roadkill |
Daemon | Ronin |
Decay | Rubble |
Diablo | Sasquatch |
Doom | Scar |
Dracula | Shiver |
Dragon | Skinner |
Fender | Skull Crusher |
Fester | Slasher |
Fisheye | Steelshot |
Flack | Surge |
Gargoyle | Sythe |
Grave | Trip |
Gunner | Trooper |
Hash | Tweek |
Hashtag | Vein |
Indominus | Void |
Ironclad | Wardon |
Killer | Wraith |
Knuckles | Zero |
Video: Badass Nicknames for Guys and Girls
Awesome Hardcore Names
Steel | Kevlar | Lightning |
Tito | Bullet-Proof | Fire-Bred |
Titanium | Hurricane | Ironsides |
Iron-Cut | Tempest | Iron Heart |
Steel Forge | Pursuit | Steel Foil |
Sick Rebellious Names
Upsurge | Uprising | Overthrow |
Breaker | Sabotage | Dissent |
Subversion | Rebellion | Insurgent |
Names Based on Monsters
Loch | Golem | Wendigo |
Rex | Hydra | Behemoth |
Balrog | Manticore | Gorgon |
Basilisk | Minotaur | Leviathan |
Cerberus | Mothman | Sylla |
Charybdis | Orthros | Baal |
Cyclops | Satyr | Azrael |
Intense Names
Ballistic | Furor | Uproar |
Fury | Ire | Demented |
Wrath | Madness | Schizo |
Rage | Savage | Manic |
Frenzy | Mania | Derange |
Gritty Names Based on Popular Characters and Historical Figures
V | Atilla | Darko |
Terminator | Conqueror | Mad Max |
Siddhartha | Suleiman | Billy the Butcher |
Thor | Napoleon | Maximus |
Khan | Geronimo | Leon |
Leonidas | Dutch | Cyrus |
Hannibal | Dux | Mr. Blonde |
Agrippa | Jesse James | Matrix |
Hard-Hitting Names
Bleed | X-Skull | Gut |
Nail | Jawbone | Socket |
Fist | Skeleton | Footslam |
Tooth | Craniax | Head-Knocker |
K-9 | Bone | Razor |
Kneecap | Cut | Slaughter |
Soleus | Gash | Scalp |
Blood | Scab | Torque |
Nicknames That Mean Destruction
Wracker | Annihilator | Finisher |
Wrecker | Destroyer | Overtaker |
Clencher | Stabber | Saboteur |
Masher | Hitter | Rebel |
Crusher | Obliterator | Eliminator |
Slammer | Exterminator | Hell-Raiser |
Thrasher | Ruiner | Mutant |
Fierce Names From Military Equipment
Torpedo | Wildcat | Automatic |
Cannon | Hellcat | Glock |
Mortar | Tomcat | Sniper |
Siege | Panther | Carbine |
Bullet | Jaguar | Javelin |
Aero | Bomber | Howitzer |
Albatross | Strike Eagle | Gatling |
Arsenal | Rimfire | Avenger |
Hornet | Centerfire | Hazzard |
Powerful Names
Demolition | Power Train | Yarder |
Chainsaw | Excavator | Trencher |
Wrench | Shovel | Pile Driver |
Intimidating Names
Terror | Demise | Phantom |
Freak | Grim | Sepulcher |
Axe | Menace | Damned |
Axe-man | Dementor | Kafka |
Executioner | Nightshade | Phantasm |
Hollowman | Venom | Scream |
Garrot | The Unholy | Shriek |
Abyss | Rot | Wraith |
Chasm | Omen | Bodybag |
Ghoul | Midnight | Morgue |
Names Based on Weaponry
Mace | Falchion | Montante |
Battleaxe | Zweihander | Hatchet |
Billhook | Club | Hammer |
Caltrop | Maul | Sledgehammer |
Longbow | Bludgeon | Harpoon |
Crossbow | Lance | Angon |
Pike | Tiger Claw | Fire Lance |
Poleaxe | Brass Knuckle | Matchlock |
Quarterstaff | Gauntlet | Bullwhip |
War Hammer | Katar | Flying Claw |
Spear | Dagger | Slungshot |
Katana | Gladius | Aspis |
Saber | Cutlass | Blade |
Broadsword | Scimitar | Lockback |
Claymore | Espada | Machete |
Fierce Nature Names
Grizzly | Wolverine | Deathstalker |
Snake | Wolf | Scorpion |
Vulture | Claw | Boomslang |
Falcon | Fang | Viper |
Ram | Grip | Sting |
Boar | Black Mamba | Lash |
Tusk | Goshawk | Gnaw |
Badass Nicknames for Girls
Amazon | Majesty |
Anomoly | Malice |
Banshee | Mannequin |
Belladonna | Minx |
Beretta | Mirage |
Black Beauty | Nightmare |
Calypso | Nova |
Carbon | Pumps |
Cascade | Raven |
Colada | Resin |
Cosma | Riveter |
Cougar | Rogue |
Countess | Roulette |
Enchantress | Shadow |
Enigma | Siren |
Femme Fatale | Stiletto |
Firecracker | Tattoo |
Geisha | T-Back |
Goddess | Temperance |
Half Pint | Tequila |
Harlem | Terror |
Heroin | Thunderbird |
Infinity | Ultra |
Insomnia | Vanity |
Ivy | Velvet |
Legacy | Vixen |
Lithium | Voodoo |
Lolita | Wicked |
Lotus | Widow |
Mademoiselle | Xenon |
Names Based on Women Warriors
Kahina | Teuta | Isis |
Dihya | Artemis | Nefertiti |
Running Eagle | Atalanta | Sekhmet |
Colestah | Athena | Ishtar |
Calamity Jane | Enyo | Ashtart |
Pearl Heart | Bellona | Juno |
Belle Starr | White Tights | Tanit |
Hua Mulan | Shieldmaiden | Devi |
Boudica | Valkyrie | Selkie |
Medb | Cleo | Venus |
High and Mighty Titles
Madam | Empress | Marquess |
Duchess | Baroness | Herzogin |
Mischievous Names
Fate | Beguile | Deviant |
Illusion | Crafty | Variance |
Delusion | Deceit | Caprice |
Deception | Waylay | Aberr |
Myth | Ambush | Variant |
Daydream | Feint | Hero |
Night Terror | Catch-22 | Villain |
Figment | Puzzler | Daredevil |
Virtual | Curio | Mercenary |
Chicanery | Prodigy | Voyager |
Trick | Breach | Wanderer |
Names That Can Kill
Vile | Miss Fortune | Audacity |
Horror | Vex | Swagger |
Dismay | Grudge | Nerve |
Phobia | Enmity | Egomania |
Fright | Animus | Scheme |
Panic | Hostility | Paramour |
Agony | Rancor | X-hibit |
Inferno | Malevolence | Charade |
Blaze | Poison | Hauteur |
Crucible | Spite | Vainglory |
Haunter | Spitefulness | Narcissus |
Bane | Venom | Brass |
Names From the Street
Camden | Baltimore | Crown Heights |
Detroit | L.A. | Dirty Dirty |
McKinley | NYC | ATL |
Spooky Nicknames
Fiend | Spirit | Spellbinder |
Goblin | Kelpie | Jezebel |
Oracle | Vamp | Sorceress |
Soul | Temptress | She-Devil |
Revenant | Diviner | Hellcat |
Poltergeist | Exorcist | She-Wolf |
Zombie | Seer | Madcap |
Dangerous Names
Armor | Blaser | Savage |
Benelli | Glock | Seraphim |
Remington | Ruger | Winchester |
Names Based on Badass Female Characters
Aeon | Tank | Hawkeye |
Kiddo | Torchy | Medusa |
Buffy | Trinity | Irons |
Coffy | Zoe | Storm |
Eowyn | Zen | Jubilee |
Croft | Alyx | Dazzler |
Leeloo | Katniss | Aeryn |
Mathilda | Linh | Arya |
Padme | Polgara | Ygritte |
Ramona | Elektra | Bayonetta |
Silk Spectre | Catwoman | Sindel |
Cool Names From Science
Helium | Mercury | Entropy |
Beryllium | Radon | Radioactive |
Neon | Radium | Radiate |
Phosphorus | Element | Ion |
Phosphorescent | Elemental | Eon |
Illumine | Lab Rat | Photon |
Chromium | Acid | Redox |
Arsenic | Atom | Redux |
Zinc | Electron | Hot Salt |
Selenium | Atomic | Vapor |
Xenon | Nuclear | Volt |
Osmium | Earth Metal | X-Ray |
Names From Earth and Outer Space
Fox | Nightshade | Immortal |
Coyote | Mercury | Meteor |
Crow | Cyanide | Comet |
Spider | Toxin | Protostar |
Bat | Virus | Medium |
Serpent | Arsenic | Dark Matter |
Satyr | Orb | Hypernova |
Oleander | Astor | Stratosphere |
Hemlock | Mortal | Supernova |
Badass Names From Vegas, Baby
Vegas | Snake Eyes | Militant |
Blackjack | High Roller | Lock |
Baccarat | Pocket Rocket | The Money |
Red Dog | Mojave | Dice |
Poker | Bellagio | Rocks |
Keno | Nevada | Watchface |
The House | Reno | Big Time |
Bookie | Steppe | Two Face |
Arbitrage | Fishnet | Deep Pockets |
Double Double | Dagger | Real Deal |
Explosive Names
Explosive | Grenade | Pyro |
Black Cat | Roman Candle | Gunpowder |
M-80 | Babylon Candle | Mortar |
Smoke Bomb | Missile | Firebringer |
Names With Guts and Class
Amaretto | Dom | Noir |
Bacardi | Don | Scotch |
Cognac | Joose | Whiskey |
Names for the Alpha Woman
Forever | Revolution | Berserk |
Unstoppable | Sever | Bitten |
Eternity | Die-hard | Corybantic |
Fanatic | Zealot | Crazed |
X-Treme | Alien | Delirious |
Rabid | Predator | Agitator |
Radical | Barbarian | Maniac |
More Nicknaming Tips
- How to choose: Nicknaming should be a fun experience for everyone involved, so why not make a big game out of it? Pick a few different options for the person and then take a vote, draw from a hat, or even call out different names when they’re not looking to see if they happen to respond to one!
- How to make it stick: Once a good nickname is established, you need to make it stick. Use the nickname as much as possible and be sure to introduce them to others by their new moniker. Heck, make them a t-shirt with their newly given nickname on the back to tell the world!
5 Steps to Be Badass!
Need Even More Nickname Ideas?
- Badass Gamertags: 63 Cool Gamer Names
Need a kickass gamertag to intimidate the opposition in "Call of Duty" or "Halo"? Check out this list of over 60 cool gamer names for guys, girls, and badasses! - 1001+ Cool Nicknames for Guys and Girls
Looking for a cool nickname? You've come to the best place! Over 1000 awesome nickname ideas for you and your friends! - A List of Awesome and Cool Nicknames for Guys and Girls
A cool nickname is almost a requirement in today's society. If you are active in the online world, namely when it comes to video games, then you certainly realize the importance of them.
