sobriquet
noun

- a descriptive nickname, often given by others rather than chosen by oneself

- a nickname or informal name, often affectionate, humorous, or descriptive

- a descriptive name or epithet given instead of — or in addition to — an actual name

Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Languages

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WORD ORIGIN

The word "sobriquet" comes from French, where it originally meant a “mock name” or humorous nickname. It dates back to the 17th century and likely derives from soubriquet, a term for a playful jab — the linguistic equivalent of a friendly nudge in the ribs.

In English, sobriquet retains this sense of charm and informality — a label that sticks because it captures something essential or endearing about a person.

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OUR NAMES WE DON’T CHOOSE

From “Iron Lady” to “The Boss,” sobriquets often say more than job titles or given names ever could. They compress reputation, persona, and legacy into a single phrase.

Some sobriquets are lovingly bestowed — “Peanut,” “Chief,” or “Professor.” Others are earned through legend or mischief — think “Scarface,” “Red,” or “The Godfather.” And then there are the ironic ones: calling the tall guy “Shorty” or the quiet one “Chatterbox.”

Unlike formal names that identify, sobriquets illuminate. "The King of Rock and Roll" tells us more about Elvis than "Elvis Presley" ever could. "The Big Apple" captures New York's energy better than "New York City."

While parents choose your birth name, and you might choose a professional pseudonym, sobriquets often emerge organically from communities. They can be affectionate ("The Georgia Peach" for baseball's Ty Cobb), respectful ("Honest Abe" for Lincoln), or sarcastic (think of “Rocket Man” for Kim Jong Un).

What makes sobriquets particularly fascinating is their stickiness. Once a sobriquet captures something essential about its subject, it can become more recognizable than the original name. We say "The Bard" and immediately think Shakespeare; "Mahatma" feels more natural than "Mohandas" for Gandhi.

In politics, sports, and pop culture, a good sobriquet is good branding. It lingers. It spreads. It says, “This is how the world sees us.”

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

alias, byname, character name, code name, descriptive title, epithet, handle, informal name, label, moniker, nickname, nom de guerre, pet name, SOBRIQUET, stage name, street name, tag, title

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation today, say something like:

“Our disorganized English teacher had the SOBRIQUET “Queen of Chaos”,… did you nickname any of your school teachers?”