270 Cute Nicknames For Guys: Both Popular and Unusual

Finding the perfect nickname establishes a special bond. Some male names come with built-in options, while others require a bit of imagination to keep things informal. Whether you want something cool, cute, or completely unique, a good nickname adds a layer of personality to a standard name.

We have rounded up a massive list of options for your best friend, son, or brother. You will find meanings, origins, and fun facts to help you choose the right fit.

Check out our favorite nicknames for guys to keep things casual and fun.

90 Classic Nicknames for Guys

These traditional options offer a history that is both tried and true. They are timeless choices that work for men of all ages.

1. Abe – Short for Abraham and Avram. It means “father of many” in Hebrew.
2. Alec – A Greek nickname for Alexander. It means “defending man” and serves as a solid alternative to Alex.
3. Alex – Derived from the Greek Aléxandros. It means “defend man” and is the most common shorthand for Alexander.
4. Alf – Comes from the Old Norse word for “elf.” It is often short for Alfred.
5. Andy – A diminutive of Andrew. It is based on the Greek Andreas, meaning “manly” and “brave.”
6. Bart – Short for Bartholomew. It means “son of Tolmai” in Hebrew.
7. Ben – From the Hebrew Binyamin. It means “son of my right hand” and works for Benjamin or Benedict.
8. Benny – An alternative to Ben. It is often used for Benedict and Benito.
9. Bernie – From the Old German name Bernhard. It means “bold as a bear.”
10. Billie – A diminutive for Bill. It represents “determination” and “strength.”
11. Bobby – A German diminutive for Robert. It means “bright fame.”
12. Bram – Used in Hebrew and Dutch as a short form for Abraham. It means “father of many.”
13. Cal – A nickname for the Hebrew name Caleb. It means “devotion” or “brave.”
14. Carl – From the German Karl. It means “free man” and is a variation of Charles.
15. Chaz – A cool, retro choice. It is short for Charles, meaning “free man.”
16. Chris – Short for Christopher or Christian. It is Greek for “bearing Christ.”
17. Chuck – An Americanized version of Charles. In Middle English, it means “to chuck.”
18. Cliff – A nature-inspired nickname. It usually stands in for Clifton or Clifford.
19. Curt – A Latin name meaning “courteous.” It is sometimes a nickname for Curtis.
20. Davey – A friendly pet name for David. It means “beloved” in Hebrew.
21. Dick – A medieval nickname for Richard. It implies a “powerful ruler.”
22. Dom – Based on the Latin Dominic. It means “belonging to the Lord.”
23. Donnie – Short for Donald or the Gaelic name Domhnall. It means “world ruler.”
24. Drew – An alternative to Andy. It means “strong and manly.”
25. Eddie – A short form for Edward or Edwin. It refers to a “guardian of riches.”
26. Enzo – An Italian derivation of the German Heinz. It is a nickname for Lorenzo.
27. Fitz – A prefix for surnames. It means “son of,” as seen in Fitzpatrick.
28. Frank – A diminutive for Franklin. It means “free” in German.
29. Freddy – Short for Frederick. It combines “peace” and “ruler” in German.
30. Gene – A Greek nickname for Eugene. It means “noble” or “well born.”
31. Gil – Short for Gilbert. It means “bright promise” or “small goat” in Hebrew.
32. Hal – A medieval nickname for Henry. It was made famous in Shakespeare’s Henry IV.
33. Hank – An American form of Henry. It is based on the medieval name Hankin.
34. Harry – A classic nickname for Henry. It means “estate ruler” in German.
35. Heath – Short for Heathcliff. It means “by a moor.”
36. Ike – A Hebrew name meaning “laughter.” It works for Isaac or Isaiah.
37. Jack – A medieval variation of John. It means “God is gracious.”
38. Jay – An English nickname for John or Jason. It means “cheerful.”
39. Jeff – A diminutive for Jeffrey. It means “God’s peace.”
40. Jimmy – A modern, sweet nickname for James. It means “he who supplants.”
41. Joey – Inspired by Joseph. It means “God will increase.”
42. Johnny – A diminutive for John. It means “God is gracious” in Hebrew.
43. Jon – A top nickname for Jonathan. It means “Yahweh has given.”
44. Josh – From the biblical Joshua. It means “God is salvation.”
45. Joss – A unisex name based on the Old French Gautzelin.
46. Kenny – A pet name for Kenneth. It comes from the Gaelic for “the handsome one.”
47. Kev – A casual nickname for Kevin. It comes from the Irish for “good looking.”
48. Khal – Short for the Arabic Khalid. It also means “king” in Dothraki from Game of Thrones.
49. Larry – A casual form of Lawrence. It means “crowned with laurel.”
50. Lee – A popular middle name. It comes from the English for “clearing in the woods.”
51. Leo – A Greek boy’s name meaning “lion.” It implies a lionhearted spirit.
52. Leon – A French adaptation of Leo. It means “lion” or “brave warrior.”
53. Lester – Short for Aleister. It means “from Leicester” in Old English.
54. Lex – A Greek diminutive for Alexander. It means “defender of men.”
55. Liam – An Irish nickname for William. It means “protector.”
56. Louie – A French variation of Louis. It means “warrior” or “knight.”
57. Luca – Short for the Latin Lucus. It means “bringer of light.”
58. Mac – A prefix for Scottish surnames. It means “son of.”
59. Mal – A Latin nickname for Malcolm. It means “devoted to St. Columbia.”
60. Manny – A diminutive for the Spanish name Manuel. It means “God is with us.”
61. Marky – Short for Mark. It relates to Mars, the Roman god of war.
62. Marty – A nickname for Martin. It means “dedicated to Mars.”
63. Matty – A diminutive for Matthew. It means “gift of God” in Hebrew.
64. Max – Based on the Latin Maximilian. It means “greatest.”
65. Mike – Based on the biblical Michael. It means “who is like God?”
66. Mitch – A unique take on Michael. It comes from the Hebrew Miyka’el.
67. Monty – A French nickname for Montgomery. It means “mountain.”
68. Nate – A diminutive of Nathan. It means “gift of God.”
69. Nick – A pet name for Nicholas. It means “victory of the people.”
70. Ollie – An English nickname for Oliver. It symbolizes peace via the olive tree.
71. Paddy – A popular Irish name short for Patrick. It means “noble.”
72. Pete – A nickname for Peter. It comes from the Greek for “rock.”
73. Phil – A diminutive for Philip. It means “lover of horses.”
74. Ray – Short for Raymond. It means “wise protector.”
75. Reg – A nickname for Reginald. It means “ruler’s advisor.”
76. Robbie – Short for Robert. It means “bright fame.”
77. Samo – A version of Samuel. It means “told by God.”
78. Sid – Used for Sidney. It means “wide meadow” in Old English.
79. Stan – Based on Stanley. It means “stony meadow.”
80. Stew – A nickname for Stewart. It originally meant “guardian.”
81. Theo – Short for Theodore. It means “divine gift.”
82. Tommy – A diminutive for Tom. It comes from the Aramaic for “twin.”
83. Tony – A nickname for Anthony. It means “priceless.”
84. Vik – Short for Victor. It means “winner” or “conqueror.”
85. Vince – A pet name for Vincent. It means “conquering.”
86. Wally – Short for Wallace. It means “ruler of the army.”
87. Wes – A variation of Westley. It means “western meadow.”
88. Will – A nickname for William. It means “resolute protector.”
89. Zack – Based on Zachary. It means “the Lord recalled.”
90. Zander – A cool diminutive for Alexander. It means “defender of man.”

90 Cute Nicknames for Guys

Adorable boy nicknames can be endearing and sweet. These are great for a romantic partner or a young child.

1. Abby – A unique choice for Abelardo. It means “father of exaltation.”
2. Albie – A diminutive for Albert. It is linked to the Latin word for “white.”
3. Alfie – Based on the Old English name Alfred. It means “wise counsel.”
4. Algie – Short for Algernon. It means “bearded.”
5. Ali – Comes from the Arabic for “sublime.” Ali was a prominent figure in Islam.
6. Archie – A Scottish nickname for Archibald. It means “genuine” and “bold.”
7. Artie – A diminutive for Arthur. It is based on the Celtic word for “bear.”
8. Benji – Based on Benjamin. It means “son of the right hand.”
9. Berry – Similar to Barry. It is based on a surname meaning “fortified place.”
10. Bertie – From the German Bertram. It means “glorious raven.”
11. Bixy – A short nickname for Bixby. It refers to an old settlement in England.
12. Bo – A snappy form of Beaufort. It means “to live.”
13. Bozo – A Croatian diminutive for Božidar. It means “divine.”
14. Bubba – A Southern favorite. It originated from a child’s pronunciation of “brother.”
15. Buddy – A common term for a friend. It may come from the Gaelic for “old man.”
16. Buster – An American nickname. It implies someone who is “tough.”
17. Casey – Originally Irish. It means “watchful” and “brave.”
18. Chrissy – A diminutive for Christopher. It means “bearing Christ.”
19. Clancy – Short for Clarence. It means “son of the red warrior.”
20. Corey – A solid name meaning “from the hollow.”
21. Cuddie – Based on Cuthbert. It means “famous.”
22. Derby – An Old English surname. It means “park with deer.”
23. Desi – A Spanish diminutive for Desiderio. It means “desired.”
24. Dewey – Based on Dewi. It is a Welsh form of David meaning “beloved.”
25. Dougie – Taken from the Scottish name Douglas. It means “dark water.”
26. Dusty – A short form of Dustin. It means “Thor’s stone.”
27. Eli – Based on Elijah. It means “high” or “elevated.”
28. Em – Associated with Emily or the Latin Aemilius. It means “industrious.”
29. Finn – Short for Finnegan. It refers to the Irish hero Fionn.
30. Fritz – A pet form of Frederick. It means “peaceful ruler.”
31. Gabe – Short for Gabriel. It means “God is my strength.”
32. Geordie – A nickname for George. It traditionally refers to someone from Northern England.
33. Gibby – A nickname for Gilbert. It comes from the Scottish for “noble youth.”
34. Gordy – A diminutive for Gordon. It means “from Gordon, Scotland.”
35. Harvey – A French alternative to Herve. It means “battle worthy.”
36. Hobb – An offbeat pet name for Robert. It comes from the Germanic Hrodebert.
37. Howie – A nickname for Howard. It means “high defender.”
38. Huey – A version of Hugh. It means “heart” or “mind.”
39. Iggy – Taken from Ignatius. It means “fiery one.”
40. Ivo – A traditional nickname for Ivan. It means “yew” or “archer.”
41. Jazz – A unisex diminutive for Jasper. It means “treasurer.”
42. Jemmy – A fun alternative to James. It means “he who supplants.”
43. Jody – A short form of Joseph. It means “praised.”
44. Jojo – A playful version of Joey. It works for Joseph or Josiah.
45. Jonty – A diminutive for Jonathan. It means “God is gracious.”
46. Kenzie – Short for Mackenzie. It means “descendant of the handsome man.”
47. Kiah – A unisex name based on Hezekiah. It means “God gives strength.”
48. Kit – A fun nickname for Christopher. It means “bearing Christ.”
49. Kye – A Gaelic name. It can mean “keeper of the keys.”
50. Levi – A Hebrew name meaning “joiner.” It is a biblical classic.
51. Lo – A cool prefix nickname. It works for Logan or Lorenzo.
52. Ludo – A Slavic pet name for Ludovic. It means “famous war.”
53. Mackie – A creative twist on “Mac” names. It works well for Mackenzie.
54. Mags – An alternative to Magnus. It means “the greatest.”
55. Matty – A diminutive for Matthew. It means “gift of God.”
56. Melly – A nickname for Melvin. It means “council protector.”
57. Mickey – A classic nickname for Michael. It is associated with Disney’s famous mouse.
58. Mika – A Scandinavian form of Mike. It means “who is like God?”
59. Milo – A Latin variation of Miles. It means “soldier.”
60. Nev – Short for Neville. It means “new village.”
61. Nico – The Italian version of Nick. It means “victory of the people.”
62. Nino – Spanish for “little boy.” It is a pet name for Antonino.
63. Norrie – Based on Noah or Norman. It means “peaceful” or “Northman.”
64. Petey – A cute choice for Peter. It means “rock.”
65. Percy – Used for Percival. It means “one who pierces the valley.”
66. Pip – A vintage nickname for Phillip. It means “lover of horses.”
67. Raffy – A diminutive for Rafael. It means “exalted.”
68. Ravi – An Indian boy’s name. It means “sun” in Sanskrit.
69. Remi – Based on the Latin for “oarsman.” It works for Remington.
70. Ricky – Short for Richard. It means “brave power.”
71. Risto – An Italian variation of Christopher. It means “bearing Christ.”
72. Riz – An Arabic name meaning “acceptance.” It can stand alone or be a nickname.
73. Rocky – A nickname for Rocco. It means “stony” and tough.
74. Roddy – A diminutive for Roderick. It means “famous power.”
75. Rory – A Gaelic name meaning “red king.” It is often unisex.
76. Rusty – A nickname for Russell. It means “little red.”
77. Sandy – A variation of Alexander. It means “man’s defender.”
78. Sonny – A popular Italian nickname. It simply means “son.”
79. Spence – Short for Spencer. It refers to a “pantry” or provisioner.
80. Teddy – A pet name for Theodore. It means “gift of God.”
81. Terry – Derived from Theodoric. It means “power of the tribe.”
82. Tino – A suffix nickname. It works for Valentino or Martino.
83. Tito – Short for Titus. It means “title of honor.”
84. Toby – A nickname for Tobias. It means “Yahweh is good.”
85. Tolly – Short for Bartholomew or Oliver. It means “plowman.”
86. Ty – A diminutive for Tyler or Tyrone. It is short and punchy.
87. Wally – A nickname for Wallace. It means “Welshman.”
88. Wolfie – A sweet nickname for Wolfgang. It means “traveling wolf.”
89. Woody – From the name Woodrow. It means “row of houses by a wood.”
90. Zee – A Hebrew boy’s name meaning “wolf.” It works for Zeeke or Zebediah.

90 Unusual Nicknames for Guys

Sometimes, the best nicknames are the ones that break the mold. These creative choices are sure to stand out.

1. Ace – Short for Asa or Chase. It means “expert” or “one.”
2. Ade – A nickname for Adrian. It means “crown” in Yoruba.
3. Ally – Short for Alister. It means “man’s defender.”
4. Anders – A Scandinavian diminutive for Andreas. It means “manly.”
5. Ash – From the Hebrew Asher. It means “happy.”
6. Auggie – A cute version of Augustus. It means “magnificent.”
7. Bas – A Dutch nickname for Sebastian. It refers to a person from Sebastia.
8. Bax – From the surname Backhaus. It is related to the word for “fight.”
9. Baz – A diminutive for Basil. It means “king.”
10. Beck – A modern nickname. It is short for Beckham or Beckett.
11. Bren – Short for Brendan. It implies an active person.
12. Cam – A diminutive for Cameron. It means “crooked nose.”
13. Cash – A nickname for Cassius. It implies wealth and style.
14. Chan – Short for Chandler. It is also linked to the Hebrew for “God is gracious.”
15. Chet – A short form of Chester. It means “fortress.”
16. Chi – A Vietnamese name meaning “twig.” It is short for Chiraq.
17. Cis – A nickname for Christian or Christopher. It means “follower of Christ.”
18. Clem – Short for Clement. It is a Latin name meaning “merciful.”
19. Clint – A diminutive for Clinton. It means “fenced settlement.”
20. Colt – Short for Colton. It means “young horse.”
21. Coop – From the surname Cooper. It refers to a “barrel-maker.”
22. Cyr – A nickname for Cyril. It means “lordly.”
23. Dash – Short for Dashiell. It implies speed and energy.
24. Dax – A French name meaning “leader.” It is a possible nickname for Dexter.
25. Dec – Short for Declan. It means “full of goodness.”
26. Del – A pet form of Delbert. It means “noble.”
27. Deon – A form of Dion. It dates back to the Greek god Dionysus.
28. Dud – A nickname for Dudley. It means “from the people’s meadow.”
29. Elmo – Inspired by Erasmus. It means “beloved.”
30. Ev – A diminutive for Evan. It means “God is gracious.”
31. Ford – Short for Clifford. It means “river crossing.”
32. Fox – An animal nickname. It implies someone who is sly or cunning.
33. Gram – A pet name for Ingram. It means “raven of peace.”
34. Griff – Short for Griffin. It means “strong lord.”
35. Gus – Short for Augustus or Gustav. It means “majestic.”
36. Had – Linked to Hadley. It means “heather meadow.”
37. Iago – A Welsh form of Jacob. It means “supplanter.”
38. Izzy – Short for Israel or Isaac. It means “God’s promise.”
39. Jace – An edgy form of Jason. It means “healer.”
40. Jag – A Cornish nickname for James. It means “supplanter.”
41. Jax – A modern choice for John or Jackson. It has a rockstar vibe.
42. Jules – A nickname for Julian. It means “downy-bearded.”
43. Krist – A Croatian form of Chris. It means “follower of Christ.”
44. Ky – A Hawaiian form of Kai. It means “ocean.”
45. Laurie – A unique nickname for Laurence. It symbolizes victory.
46. Link – Short for Lincoln. It is also a pop culture reference to Zelda.
47. Lorn – Short for Lawrence. It means “from Laurentum.”
48. Mads – A Scandinavian diminutive of Matthew. It means “gift of God.”
49. Mel – A vintage nickname for Melvin. It means “council protector.”
50. Merv – Short for Mervin. It means “great lord.”
51. Moe – Short for Morris or Maurice. It means “savior.”
52. Morrie – Based on Morris. It means “dark-skinned.”
53. Mort – A diminutive for Mordecai. It means “warrior.”
54. Moss – An English nickname for Moses. It means “born of God.”
55. Ned – A form of Edward. It means “wealthy guardian.”
56. Neo – Famous from The Matrix. It simply means “new.”
57. Newt – From the surname Newton. It means “new town.”
58. Noe – An alternative to Noah. It means “rest.”
59. Oak – A nature name. It is short for Oakley.
60. Ozzy – Short for Oscar. It means “divine spear.”
61. Pax – The Latin word for “peace.” It can be short for Paxton.
62. Piyu – A Hindi name. It means “milk” or “sweet water.”
63. Q – Based on the Arabic name Qadir. It means “capable.”
64. Raaj – Short for Rajesh. It means “king” or “prince.”
65. Rafe – A diminutive for Rafael. It means “God has healed.”
66. Ram – Short for Rama. It means “pleasing.”
67. Ren – Based on Reynold. It means “advice” and “power.”
68. Rhett – A variant of Rhys. It means “passion” or “advice.”
69. Riah – Based on biblical names like Zachariah. It means “the Lord has remembered.”
70. Rishi – A Sanskrit name. It means “sage.”
71. Rod – Short for Rodney or Roderick. It means “famous power.”
72. Rye – Short for Riley. It means “cavalryman.”
73. Sasha – A Russian form of Alexander. It means “to defend man.”
74. Sly – Short for Sylvester. It means “wooded forest.”
75. Sol – Short for Solomon. It also means “sun” in Spanish.
76. Steff – A pet name for Stephen. It means “crown.”
77. Sully – Short for Sullivan. It means “dark eyes.”
78. Tad – Short for Thaddeus. It means “heart.”
79. Tate – An Old English name. It means “cheerful.”
80. Topher – A cool snippet of Christopher. It means “bearer of Christ.”
81. Trace – An English name. It means “brave.”
82. Uli – A common boy’s name in Germany. It means “prosperity.”
83. Val – Short for Valentine. It means “strong” or “brave.”
84. Van – A diminutive for Vance. It means “marsh.”
85. Verge – A nickname for Virgil. It refers to a “staff bearer.”
86. Vonn – Based on the prefix “Von.” It means “hope.”
87. West – Short for Weston. It refers to the western direction.
88. Zave – A fresh take on Xavier. It means “new house.”
89. Zino – Taken from Zenon. It means “gift of Zeus.”
90. Zo – Short for Alonzo. It means “noble and ready.”

How Do I Choose a Cool Nickname for a Guy?

Focus on his personality, hobbies, or a specific trait that stands out. You can also shorten his first name, use his initials (like “AJ” or “JD”), or play on his last name. The best nicknames usually happen naturally through shared jokes or experiences.

Can a Nickname Be a Legal Name?

Yes. It is becoming increasingly popular to put “nicknames” directly on the birth certificate. Names like Jack, Liam, Leo, and Archie were originally short forms but are now common legal first names.

What Are Some Badass Nicknames for Guys?

If you want a nickname that sounds tough or edgy, look for names with hard consonant sounds like X, Z, or K. Options like Axel, Rocco, Stone, Blaze, and Jax generally project strength.