140+ Badass Military Nicknames

Naomi Olasehinde
Feb 16, 2024 By Naomi Olasehinde
Originally Published on Apr 06, 2023
Edited by Shadiya Ahammad
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Military trainer giving training to military soldier at boot camp



Why Military Nicknames?

Military nicknames are often used as a means of fostering friendship and boosting morale within a unit. These may be bestowed in response to someone's behavior, personality attributes, or physical features.

For instance, a fast-moving soldier would be called 'Flash,' whereas a jokester might be called 'Jester.' These nicknames may serve as a means of respecting and recognizing an individual's abilities and efforts, as well as fostering a feeling of identification and belonging within a group.

Military nicknames may also support the preservation of anonymity and operational security. Soldiers may disguise their identities and stop prospective opponents from learning crucial information by adopting a pseudonym instead of their true name.

Badass Military Nicknames for Soldiers

1. 31-Knot Burke - This nickname was given to Arleigh Burke, a U.S. Navy destroyer commander.

2. Acey - This nickname was given to Albert C. Burrows, a U.S. Navy submarine commander of World War II.

3. Autie - This nickname was given to George Custer, an American army officer

4. Bad Hand - This nickname was given to Ranald S. Mackenzie, a U.S. Army general in the American Civil War and Indian Wars

5. Bad Old Man - This nickname was given to Jubal Early, a Confederate Army general

6. Barney - This nickname was given to Harvey C. Barnum Jr., a U.S. Marine, and Medal of Honor recipient.

7. Batty Mac - This nickname was given to Archibald Cameron Macdonell, a Canadian Army World War I general

8. Beauty - This nickname was given to Harold M. Martin, a U.S. Navy admiral

9. Benny - This nickname was given to Raymond H. Bass, a World War II U.S. Navy submarine commander.

10. Betty - This nickname was given to Harold Stark, a U.S. Navy admiral

11. Big Al (The Sailor's Pal) - This nickname was given to Al Konetzni, an American vice admiral

12. Black Jack - This nickname was given to John J. Pershing, a U.S. Army World War I general

13. Black Knight of the Confederacy - This nickname was given to Turner Ashby, a Confederate Army general

14. Black Swallow of Death - This nickname was given to Eugene Bullard, an African- American World War I fighter pilot.

15. Blackie - This nickname was given to David John Williams, a Canadian fighter ace.

16. Ching - This nickname was given to Willis A. Lee, a World War II U.S. admiral.

17. Chips - This nickname was given to Arthur S. Carpender, a World War II U.S. submarine force commander

18. Chummy - This nickname was given to James D. Prentice, a World War II Canadian destroyer captain.

19. Close- This nickname was given to Richard Lansing Conolly, a World War II U.S. Naval Admiral.

20. Cobber - This nickname was given to Edgar J. Kain, a World War II RAF fighter ace.

21. Debby - This nickname was given to Desmond Piers, a Canadian admiral

22. Deke (or 'Deak') - This nickname was given to William Parsons, an American naval officer

23. Dennis - This nickname was given to Eugene Wilkinson, a U.S. submarine officer

24. Electric Brain - This nickname was given to Raymond A. Spruance, a U.S. admiral

25. Ensign - This nickname was given to Roy S. Benson, a World War II U.S. submarine commander

26. Extra Billy - This nickname was given to William Smith, a U.S. Congressman, a Confederate general

27. Gray Ghost - This nickname was given to John S. Mosby, a Confederate Army cavalry commander, an American Civil War

28. Grey Fox - This nickname was given to George Crook, a U.S. Army general, during the American Civil War.

29. Grumble - This nickname was given to William E. Jones, a Confederate general in the American Civil War.

30. The Bear - This nickname was given to Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., a United States Army general.

31. Uncle Billy - This nickname was given to William T. Sherman, a U.S. Civil War general.

32. Uncle Charlie - This nickname was given to Charles A. Lockwood Jr., a World War II U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force commander

33. Uncle John - This nickname was given to John Sedgwick, a U.S. Civil War general.

34. Uncle Wiggly Wings - This nickname was given to Gail S. Halvorsen, a U.S. Air Force officer.

35. Ziggy - This nickname was given to Clifton Sprague, a U.S. admiral in World War II.

Badass Military Nicknames For Dogs

36. Aaron - means ‘mountain of strength’.

37. Achilles - means ‘warrior’.

38. Aegeus - means 'protector'.

39. Ailani - means ‘high chief’.

40. Alajos - means 'well-known fighter'.

41. Alastair - means ‘defender of the people'.

42. Alexa - means 'protector of humanity'.

43. Alexander - means ‘defender of man’.

44. Alice - means 'noble'.

45. Andrea - means ‘daring’.

46. Aries - means 'battle'.

47. Asim - means ‘protector’.

48. Barnes - means 'young warrior'.

49. Berk - means ‘man of strength’.

50. Biddy - means ‘powerful’.

51. Brenda - means 'sword'.

52. Chad - means ‘war' or ’soldier'.

53. Colvin - means ‘a great hero’.

54. Conn - means 'leader'.

55. Darius - means ‘a good, wealthy protector’.

56. Dieter - means 'an army of the people'.

57. Earl - means ‘noted warrior’.

58. Edda - means 'fighting a battle'.

59. Elonso - means ‘fit for battle’.

60. Ferdinand - means 'brave yet peaceful'.

61. Gabby - means 'God's bravest woman'.

62. Gabe - means 'God's bravest man'.

63. Griffin - means ‘fierce person’.

64. Gunnar - means 'army'.

65. Harvard - means ‘a guard in the army’.

66. Hedda - means 'fighting a battle'.

67. Helm - means ‘courageous protection’.

68. Hera - means 'queen'.

69. Hillard - means ‘courageous in battle’.

70. Ilda - means 'fighting a war'.

71. Kadir - means ‘powerful’.

72. Kalle - means 'free man'.

73. Kolya - means ‘victorious people’.

74. Latoya - means 'woman of victory'.

75. Lex - means ‘defender of man’.

76. Lexi - means 'protector of humanity'.

77. Liam - means ‘strong mind’ and ‘protection’.

78. Liberty - means 'free woman'.

79. Lovise - means ‘well-known fighter’.

80. Lulu - means 'well-known fighter'.

81. Luther - means ‘an army of people’.

82. Maura - means 'rebellious woman'.

83. Meredith - means 'ruler of battle'.

84. Milo - means ‘army man’.

85. Nanna - means 'courageous'.

86. Nediva - means ‘noble’.

87. Neith - means 'goddess of war'.

88. Nilda - means ‘prepared for battle’.

89. Noreen - means ‘honor’.

90. Olek - means 'defender of man'.

91. Onora - means ‘woman of honor’.

92. Polly - means 'rebellious woman'.

93. Preben - means ‘first in battle’.

94. Priam - means 'extremely brave'.

95. Qadir - means ‘full of power’.

96. Rhetta - means 'advisor'.

97. Ria - means ‘rebellious woman’.

98. Rick - means 'daring power'.

99. Salvatore - means ‘savior’.

100. Sandra - means 'protector of humanity'.

101. Sandro - means 'defender of men'.

102. Shura - means ‘protector of humanity’.

103. Sigfrid - means 'marvelous victory'.

104. Sigmund - means ‘victorious protector’.

105. Sloane - means ‘warrior’.

106. Solange - means 'serious'.

107. Solomon - means ‘man of peace’.

108. Sonia - means 'woman of wisdom'.

109. Stein - means 'fair and rightful'.

110. Sylvi - means ‘house of strength’.

111. Thane - means 'warrior's attendant'.

112. Tilda - means ‘powerful and mighty in battle’.

113. Trudy - means 'the strongest spear'.

114. Ula - means ‘strong as a bear’.

115. Umberto - means 'bright fighter'.

116. Ursula - means ‘strong as a bear’.

117. Val - means 'powerful and strong'.

118. Valencia - means ‘strength and power’.

119. Valerie - means ‘strong'.

120. Veera - means 'brave'.

121. Veronica - means ‘victory bearer’.

122. Victor - means 'man of victory'.

123. Vilma - means ‘stout protector’.

124. Walter - means 'army rule'.

125. Wera - means ‘victory bearer’.

126. Willa - means 'will protect'.

127. Xandra - means ‘protector of humanity’.

128. Yong - means ‘courageous’.

129. Yut - means 'war'.

130. Ziggy - means ‘victorious’.

Badass Nicknames for Troops

131. Bloody Bucket - The red keystone patch on the uniforms of the United States Army's 28th Infantry Division reminded the Germans of a bucket; therefore, the division was renamed 'Bloody Bucket' during World War II.

132. Bounty Hunters - a nickname for VFA-2 Strike Fighter Squadron, U.S. Navy

133. Destroyers - a nickname for The LAV-25, an eight-wheeled vehicle, which is the main armament of the US Marine Corps' 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.

134. Diamondbacks - The Diamondbacks are a part of Carrier Air Wing 5 and deploy with the USS George Washington from NAF Atsugi, Japan.

135. Gunslingers - VFA-105, the U.S. Navy's Strike Fighter Squadron, was first established in 1952 under the name 'Crazy Dogs,' It was disbanded in 1959. It has continued to be active since being recommissioned as the 'Gunslingers' in 1969.

136. Headhunters - This nickname is for the U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon squadron, which is based at Kunsan Air Force Base in South Korea.

137. Old Iron Sides - U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division was given the moniker 'Old Ironsides' by Maj. Gen. Bruce R. Magruder.

138. Red Bull - This nickname is for the United States Army's 34th Infantry Division.

139. Rocketeers - The U.S. Air Force's 336th Fighter Squadron, based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, 'Rocketeers' played an important part in Operation Desert Storm.

140. The Professionals - Over 1000 Marines and sailors make up the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines of the United States Marine Corps, based at Camp Pendleton, California.

141. Yellow Jackets - This is a nickname for the VAQ-138, the U.S. Navy's Electronic Attack Squadron.

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Sources

https://www.factmonster.com/world/united-states-war/nicknames-us-soldiers

https://www.military.com/undertheradar/2015/07/the-15-coolest-unit-nicknames-in-the-us-military

https://www.findnicknames.com/military-nicknames/

https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/7-badass-nicknames-enemies-have-given-the-american-military/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_figures_by_nickname

https://www.thelabradorsite.com/military-dog-names/

https://www.military.com/undertheradar/2017/03/9-military-badasses-awesome-nicknames

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Written by Naomi Olasehinde

Bachelor of Science specializing in Psychology

Naomi Olasehinde picture

Naomi OlasehindeBachelor of Science specializing in Psychology

With a background as a news broadcaster and presenter, Noami has great research skills which have been honed over the years in previous roles. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, she was also vice president of a charity that helps impoverished students while at school.

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