A nickname is an informal name people use instead of someone's real name. Sometimes nicknames are shorter versions of real names: Elizabeth becomes Liz, Alexander becomes Alex, or Christopher becomes Chris. Other times they describe something about a person: a fast runner might be called Lightning, or someone with red hair might be called Red.

Nicknames often show affection or closeness. Your family might call you by a nickname that no one else uses. Friends create nicknames for each other that reflect shared experiences or inside jokes. A good nickname feels friendly and natural, not mean or mocking.

Places get nicknames too. New York City is called the Big Apple, Chicago is the Windy City, and New Orleans is the Big Easy. These nicknames often capture something essential about the place's character or history.

Think of a nickname as a little extra name attached to the official one. While your legal name appears on important documents, your nickname is what the people who know you best might actually call you. Some people go by their nicknames so consistently that acquaintances never learn their real names at all.