1920s Nickname Generator

Flapper, wiseguy and jazz age nicknames that stand alone

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Generate 1920s nicknames for Gatsby parties, murder mystery characters and period fiction: short forms like Dot and Chet, flapper pet names like Toots and Dollface, wiseguy monikers like Lefty and Two-Gun, and slang tags like Bee's Knees and Big Cheese.

About this generator

A 1920s nickname is a name that stands alone. Nobody at the speakeasy door asked for a surname: you were Toots, Lefty, Slim or the Professor, and that was enough. This list has 1,000 of them in the styles of the decade, with no given name or surname attached, so each one can sit in front of any character name you already have.

The styles run from plain to showy. The plainest are short forms of the era's given names: Dot, Mamie, Gertie and Flossie for women, Chet, Gus, Bertie and Hank for men. Then come flapper and sweetheart names (Dollface, Kiddo, Sweet Patootie), slang praise worn as a name (Bee's Knees, Cat's Pajamas, Darb, Big Cheese, with Sheik and Sheba for a stylish young man and woman), wiseguy monikers (Fingers, Two-Gun, the Bookie), bootlegger and cocktail handles (Rumrunner, Gin Rickey, Blind Tiger), and jazz and vaudeville tags (Duke, Boots, Hoofer).

The rest fill out a party: sport, flying and newsroom handles (Slugger, Barnstormer, Scoop, Gumshoe), society and college names (Binky, Tuppy, Sub-Deb), looks and build (Curly, Stretch, High Pockets), hometown tags (Frisco, Kansas City), song titles of the decade used as pet names (Stardust, Blue Skies, Tea for Two) and scoffing slang (Applesauce, Horsefeathers, Banana Oil). Nicknames that belonged to one famous person are left out.

Tips for choosing a name

  • For a full period name, set the nickname in quotation marks between a first name and a surname, as in Mildred "Toots" Hanrahan or Chester "Lefty" Doyle. This list gives you the middle part.
  • At a murder mystery, give every guest a nickname of a different style (one flapper name, one wiseguy moniker, one newsroom handle) so nobody mixes up Dollface and Dot at the table.
  • Match the nickname to the role on the invitation: Scoop or Sob Sister for the reporter, Gumshoe or Hawkshaw for the detective, Hoofer or Crooner for the entertainer, Rumrunner or the Druggist for whoever brings the punch.
  • Say slang praise out loud in a line of dialogue, such as "Ask Darb, he knows the password." If it trips the tongue, pick a shorter one like Pip or Keen.
  • Keep the "the" bynames for characters the others talk about more than they meet: the Professor, the Alderman, the Countess.

Frequently asked questions

What were common nicknames in the 1920s?

Short forms were everywhere: Dot, Dottie, Mamie, Gertie and Flossie for women, Chet, Gus, Hank and Bertie for men. Around them sat plain descriptive nicknames such as Slim, Curly, Red, Shorty and Lefty, and sweetheart names such as Toots, Kiddo and Dollface.

What is a good flapper nickname?

Pick something short and a little cheeky: Toots, Dollface, Jazz Baby, Sheba, Bearcat or Sweet Patootie. Slang praise also works as a name, so a flapper can simply be Bee's Knees or Cat's Meow. For a quieter character use a short form such as Dot, Vi or Babs.

Are these real 1920s gangster nicknames?

They follow the style of the era's monikers (Lefty, Knuckles, Two-Gun, the Bookie), but a nickname tied to one real gangster, athlete or musician is left out. So are monikers that mocked a person's nationality, faith, weight or disability, which the period used freely. What remains is costume party flavor, not a roll call of real criminals.

How many nicknames are in the list, and how do I use one?

There are 1,000, and every one stands alone without a first name or surname. Put it on a name tag as it is, or set it in quotation marks inside a full name. The full A to Z list is at the bottom of the page if you would rather browse than reroll.

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All 1,000 names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 29 names

  • Abe
  • Ace
  • Ace in the Hole
  • Ace of Spades
  • Aces High
  • Addie
  • Admiral
  • Aggie
  • Al
  • Alabam
  • Alf
  • Algy
  • Alibi
  • All-American
  • Alley Cat
  • Also-Ran
  • Andy
  • Angel Cake
  • Angel Face
  • Annie
  • Applesauce
  • April Showers
  • Archie
  • Arnie
  • Artie
  • Attaboy
  • Attagirl
  • Augie
  • Aviatrix

B: 104 names

  • Baba
  • Babe
  • Babs
  • Baby Doll
  • Baby Vamp
  • Backseat Driver
  • Baloney
  • Banana Oil
  • Banjo
  • Bankroll
  • Bantam
  • Barbary Coast
  • Barker
  • Barney
  • Barnstormer
  • Baron
  • Barrel Roll
  • Barrelhouse
  • Basin Street
  • Bat Boy
  • Bathtub Gin
  • Battler
  • Bayou
  • Bea
  • Beacon Hill
  • Beale Street
  • Beanpole
  • Bearcat
  • Bee's Knees
  • Belle of the Ball
  • Bellhop
  • Benny
  • Bernie
  • Bertie
  • Bessie
  • Betsy
  • Betty
  • Biffy
  • Big Boy
  • Big Cheese
  • Big Fella
  • Big Mitts
  • Big Shot
  • Big Timer
  • Bill
  • Billie
  • Bingo
  • Binky
  • Birdman
  • Blackbird
  • Blackjack
  • Blind Pig

B, continued

  • Blind Tiger
  • Bloodhound
  • Blotter
  • Blue Eyes
  • Blue Note
  • Blue Pencil
  • Blue Ribbon
  • Blue Skies
  • Bluebird
  • Bluegrass
  • Bluenose
  • Boardwalk
  • Bobbie
  • Bobcat
  • Bobo
  • Bone Dry
  • Bones
  • Boofy
  • Boots
  • Boulevardier
  • Bourbon
  • Bowery
  • Boxcars
  • Boyo
  • Bracelets
  • Brakie
  • Brass Buttons
  • Brass Knucks
  • Brass Tacks
  • Brassy
  • Brawler
  • Breezer
  • Brick
  • Bright Eyes
  • Bright Young Thing
  • Brilliantine
  • Broadway
  • Bronx Cheer
  • Brooklyn
  • Brut
  • Bubbly
  • Buckeye
  • Bull
  • Bunchy
  • Bunco
  • Bunny
  • Bunty
  • Busher
  • Buster
  • Butter and Egg Man
  • Buttercup
  • Byline

C: 72 names

  • C-Note
  • Cabbage
  • Cabbie
  • Caddie
  • Cake Eater
  • Cal
  • Canary
  • Cardsharp
  • Carolina
  • Carrot Top
  • Carrots
  • Cat's Meow
  • Cat's Pajamas
  • Cat's Whiskers
  • Champ
  • Channel Swimmer
  • Charleston
  • Charlie
  • Chatterbox
  • Cheroot
  • Ches
  • Chet
  • Chi
  • Chick
  • Chickadee
  • Chips
  • Chuck
  • Chuffy
  • Chum
  • Church Mouse
  • Chute
  • City Slicker
  • Clams
  • Clem
  • Clemmie
  • Clete

C, continued

  • Cliff
  • Cloche
  • Cloud Hopper
  • Coed
  • Coffin Varnish
  • Collegiate
  • Colt
  • Commish
  • Coney Island
  • Connie
  • Contessa
  • Cookie
  • Copacetic
  • Copper
  • Copy Boy
  • Corker
  • Corkscrew
  • Corny
  • Cotton
  • Cottontail
  • Cottontop
  • Counselor
  • Count
  • Cowlick
  • Crackerjack
  • Cream Puff
  • Crescent City
  • Crooner
  • Cub
  • Cuba Libre
  • Cufflinks
  • Curly
  • Curveball
  • Cutie
  • Cutup
  • Cy

D: 47 names

  • Daddy Longlegs
  • Dame
  • Dan
  • Dancing Fool
  • Dandy
  • Dapper
  • Darb
  • Daredevil
  • Dark Horse
  • Dave
  • Dawn Patrol
  • Deadline
  • Dear Heart
  • Dearie
  • Deb
  • Dell
  • Delta
  • Deuces Wild
  • Devil-May-Care
  • Dewdropper
  • Diamonds
  • Dice
  • Dickie
  • Dish
  • Dixie
  • Dixieland
  • Doc
  • Dodie
  • Dodo
  • Doll
  • Dollface
  • Doozy
  • Dot
  • Dot-Dash
  • Dottie
  • Double Trouble
  • Dowager
  • Drugstore Cowboy
  • Drummer
  • Dry Agent
  • Duchess
  • Duck's Quack
  • Dude
  • Duffer
  • Duke
  • Dunker
  • Dynamite

E: 12 names

  • Easy Money
  • Easy Street
  • Eb
  • Eddie
  • Edie
  • Effie
  • El Paso
  • Elsie
  • Ern
  • Essie
  • Ettie
  • Eyeshade

F: 44 names

  • Fall Guy
  • Fastball
  • Fedora
  • Ferdie
  • Fibber
  • Fiddlesticks
  • Fingers
  • Fireball
  • Firecracker
  • First Rate
  • Fitz
  • Five Foot Two
  • Flagpole Sitter
  • Flaming Youth
  • Flapjack
  • Flapper
  • Flash
  • Flat Tire
  • Flatbush
  • Flatfoot
  • Flimflam
  • Flint
  • Flivver
  • Flo
  • Floorflusher
  • Flossie
  • Fluff
  • Foghorn
  • Footlights
  • Forty-Niner
  • Four Star
  • Four-Bagger
  • Fourflusher
  • Fox Trot
  • Fran
  • Frankie
  • Freddie
  • Frisco
  • Fritzi
  • Front Runner
  • Frosh
  • Full House
  • Full Throttle
  • Fusser

G: 37 names

  • Gabby
  • Gabe
  • Gamecock
  • Gate Crasher
  • Gene
  • Georgie
  • Gertie
  • Giggle Water
  • Gil
  • Gin Fizz
  • Gin Rickey
  • Ginny
  • Glad Rags
  • Go-Getter
  • Goggles
  • Gold Standard
  • Golden Gate
  • Goldilocks
  • Good Egg
  • Gov
  • Gracie
  • Gramps
  • Grand Slam
  • Gravel
  • Grease Monkey
  • Greasy Grind
  • Grifter
  • Grin
  • Grit
  • Growler
  • Gumshoe
  • Gus
  • Gusher
  • Gussie
  • Gutbucket
  • Guv'nor
  • Gwen

H: 71 names

  • Hackie
  • Hal
  • Half Pint
  • Hallie
  • Ham
  • Handlebars
  • Hank
  • Hap
  • Hard Case
  • Hard Luck
  • Hardboiled
  • Harness Bull
  • Harv
  • Hash Slinger
  • Hatcheck
  • Hattie
  • Hawkeye
  • Hawkshaw
  • Hayburner
  • Haymaker
  • Headliner
  • Heartbreaker
  • Heater
  • Heebie Jeebies
  • Heiress
  • Hell's Kitchen
  • Hellcat
  • Hello Girl
  • Hennie
  • Herbie
  • Herc
  • Hi
  • High Card
  • High Hat
  • High Pockets

H, continued

  • High Roller
  • High Steel
  • Highball
  • Hijinks
  • Hildy
  • Hip Flask
  • Hizzoner
  • Hokum
  • Hole-in-One
  • Hollywood
  • Holy Terror
  • Homburg
  • Homer
  • Honey Child
  • Honey Girl
  • Honey Lamb
  • Honeybunch
  • Honky-Tonk
  • Hooch
  • Hooey
  • Hoofer
  • Hoosier
  • Horsefeathers
  • Horseshoe
  • Hot Diggity
  • Hot Dog
  • Hot Patootie
  • Hot Stuff
  • Hotfoot
  • Hothead
  • Hotsy-Totsy
  • Hub
  • Hughie
  • Human Fly
  • Humbug
  • Humdinger

I: 7 names

  • Ike
  • Imp
  • Inkstain
  • Inky
  • Iron Jaw
  • Irv
  • Ivories

J: 20 names

  • Jab
  • Jack of Diamonds
  • Jackie
  • Jackrabbit
  • Jake
  • Jalopy
  • Jazz Baby
  • Jeb
  • Jelly Bean
  • Jem
  • Jenny
  • Jersey
  • Jessie
  • Jigger
  • Jimmy
  • Jitters
  • Johnny
  • Joker
  • Josie
  • Jud

K: 19 names

  • Kansas City
  • Katie
  • Kay
  • Kayo
  • Keen
  • Kewpie
  • Keyhole
  • Keys
  • Kid
  • Kid Sister
  • Kiddo
  • King
  • Kipper
  • Kiss Curl
  • Kitty
  • Klondike
  • Knockout
  • Knuckles
  • Koko

L: 44 names

  • Laddie
  • Lady Luck
  • Lafe
  • Lamb Chop
  • Lambkin
  • Lanky
  • Lazybones
  • Left Bank
  • Left Hook
  • Lefty
  • Legman
  • Legs
  • Lem
  • Len
  • Les
  • Lettie
  • Lew
  • Libby
  • Life of the Party
  • Lightning
  • Lil
  • Limelight
  • Little Bit
  • Little Devil
  • Live Wire
  • Lizzie
  • Lollapalooza
  • Lolly
  • Lone Star
  • Longshanks
  • Longshot
  • Lonnie
  • Looker
  • Loop-the-Loop
  • Loot
  • Lottie
  • Louie
  • Lounge Lizard
  • Lovey-Dovey
  • Lucky
  • Lucky Seven
  • Lula
  • Lulu
  • Lum

M: 56 names

  • Mac
  • Madcap
  • Madge
  • Mae
  • Maestro
  • Maggie
  • Magpie
  • Maidie
  • Maisie
  • Major
  • Malarkey
  • Mame
  • Mamie
  • Man About Town
  • Marge
  • Margie
  • Mary Janes
  • Mashie
  • Matches
  • Matinee Idol
  • Mattie
  • Maury
  • Maxie
  • Meg
  • Mel
  • Memphis
  • Midge
  • Mike
  • Mile High
  • Millie
  • Milquetoast
  • Milt
  • Mimsie
  • Minnie
  • Mint Julep
  • Minx
  • Mischief
  • Mite
  • Mitts
  • Mitzi
  • Moe
  • Molly
  • Monkeyshines
  • Monocle
  • Monte Carlo
  • Monty
  • Moonshine
  • Moppet
  • Mort
  • Mother Hen
  • Mouthpiece
  • Muckraker
  • Mule
  • Mustang
  • Mutt
  • Myrt

N: 24 names

  • Nan
  • Nat
  • Natty
  • Ned
  • Needle Beer
  • Neely
  • Nell
  • Nerts
  • Nervy
  • Nettie
  • Newshound
  • Newsie
  • Newt
  • Niblick
  • Nickels
  • Nifty
  • Night Owl
  • Nighthawk
  • Nightingale
  • Nightstick
  • Nob Hill
  • Nobby
  • Nonie
  • Norm

O: 17 names

  • Obie
  • Old Bean
  • Old Blue
  • Old Eli
  • Old Fashioned
  • Old Hoss
  • Old Salt
  • Old Scout
  • Old Socks
  • Old Sport
  • Old Timer
  • Old Top
  • Ollie
  • One-Two
  • Orrie
  • Ossie
  • Ox

P: 65 names

  • Pally
  • Palm Beach
  • Palooka
  • Panhandle
  • Panther Sweat
  • Paper Doll
  • Pappy
  • Paree
  • Park Avenue
  • Parson
  • Patsy
  • Patty
  • Peach
  • Peach Fuzz
  • Peacherino
  • Peachy
  • Peacock
  • Pearlie
  • Pearls
  • Pee Wee
  • Peeper
  • Peg
  • Perce
  • Pete
  • Phi Bete
  • Phil
  • Philly
  • Phooey
  • Pickles
  • Pidge
  • Pigskin
  • Pills

P, continued

  • Pinch Hitter
  • Pink Lady
  • Pinkie
  • Pinstripes
  • Pip
  • Pipes
  • Pippin
  • Pitchman
  • Pledge
  • Plucky
  • Plus Fours
  • Pogo
  • Poker Face
  • Polecat
  • Polly
  • Pomade
  • Pomp
  • Pongo
  • Pony
  • Pool Shark
  • Pop
  • Poppycock
  • Posh
  • Posy
  • Powder Puff
  • Precious
  • Pretty Thing
  • Prexy
  • Printer's Devil
  • Prize Package
  • Prue
  • Puffin
  • Pug

Q: 3 names

  • Queen Bee
  • Queen of Hearts
  • Queenie

R: 46 names

  • Rabbit
  • Rabbit's Foot
  • Rafe
  • Rag Doll
  • Rags
  • Ragtime
  • Rah-Rah
  • Railbird
  • Rattler
  • Ray
  • Razzberry
  • Razzle-Dazzle
  • Razzmatazz
  • Real McCoy
  • Red
  • Red Eye
  • Red Hot Mama
  • Red Red Robin
  • Redcap
  • Reenie
  • Reggie
  • Reno
  • Revenuer
  • Ringlets
  • Ripsnorter
  • Ritzy
  • Rivets
  • Roadster
  • Rob
  • Rollie
  • Rollo
  • Rookie
  • Rooster
  • Rosy
  • Rotgut
  • Roughneck
  • Roxie
  • Roy
  • Rube
  • Rudy
  • Rufe
  • Rumrunner
  • Runabout
  • Runnin' Wild
  • Russ
  • Ruthie

S: 124 names

  • Sadie
  • Sally
  • Salty
  • Sam
  • Samson
  • San Antone
  • Sandhog
  • Sandlot
  • Sandy
  • Saucy
  • Sawbones
  • Sawbuck
  • Sazerac
  • Scamp
  • Scat
  • Scoop
  • Scrapper
  • Second Line
  • Shamus
  • Sharpie
  • Sharpshooter
  • Sheba
  • Sheik
  • Shenanigans
  • Shep
  • Sherm
  • Shimmy
  • Shopgirl
  • Short Stuff
  • Shortstop
  • Shorty
  • Showstopper
  • Shrimp
  • Shuffle
  • Sid
  • Sideburns
  • Sidecar
  • Silk
  • Silver Dollar
  • Silver Lining
  • Simoleons

S, continued

  • Sinker
  • Sis
  • Six Bits
  • Skippy
  • Skylark
  • Slats
  • Sleepy
  • Sleepy Time Gal
  • Sleuth
  • Slim
  • Slowpoke
  • Slugger
  • Small Fry
  • Smart Aleck
  • Smiles
  • Snake Eyes
  • Snake Oil
  • Snake's Hips
  • Snappy
  • Snips
  • Snooks
  • Snookums
  • Snoop
  • Sob Sister
  • Soft Shoe
  • Softy
  • Solly
  • Songbird
  • Sonny Boy
  • Sooner
  • Soph
  • Soupy
  • Southie
  • Sparkplug
  • Sparks
  • Spats
  • Specs
  • Speed Demon
  • Speedway
  • Spieler
  • Spiffy

S, continued

  • Spit Curl
  • Spitball
  • Spitfire
  • Spud
  • Spunk
  • Square Shooter
  • Squeaky
  • Squibs
  • Squiffy
  • Squire
  • St. Louie
  • Stan
  • Stardust
  • Steel City
  • Steno
  • Stew
  • Stickpin
  • Stogie
  • Stomper
  • Stoolie
  • Straight Man
  • Stretch
  • Stride
  • Stringbean
  • Stringer
  • Stuffy
  • Sub-Deb
  • Suds
  • Sugar
  • Sugar Babe
  • Sugar Lump
  • Sukey
  • Sunny Side Up
  • Sure Thing
  • Susie
  • Swanky
  • Swatter
  • Sweet Patootie
  • Sweet Thing
  • Sweetie Pie
  • Swell
  • Swizzle

T: 100 names

  • Tad
  • Tailgate
  • Tailspin
  • Tanglefoot
  • Taps
  • Tarheel
  • Tea for Two
  • Teach
  • Teacup
  • Teddy
  • Tessie
  • Tex
  • Thad
  • The Accountant
  • The Alderman
  • The Banker
  • The Barber
  • The Berries
  • The Bookie
  • The Brains
  • The Butler
  • The Chauffeur
  • The Clerk
  • The Colonel
  • The Countess
  • The D.A.
  • The Deacon
  • The Dentist
  • The Dickens
  • The Doorman
  • The Druggist
  • The Eye
  • The Florist
  • The Ghost
  • The Governess
  • The Hat
  • The Inspector
  • The Jeweler
  • The Judge
  • The Lookout
  • The Milkman
  • The Muscle
  • The Op
  • The Professor
  • The Senator
  • The Stranger
  • The Tail
  • The Tailor
  • The Understudy
  • The Usher

T, continued

  • The Vicar
  • The Weasel
  • Thel
  • Thirty
  • Thunderbolt
  • Tibby
  • Tickler
  • Tiddles
  • Tiger Rag
  • Tiggy
  • Tillie
  • Tim
  • Times Square
  • Tin Lizzie
  • Tin Pan Alley
  • Tinker
  • Toast of the Town
  • Toddy
  • Toff
  • Tolly
  • Tom
  • Tomato
  • Tomboy
  • Tomcat
  • Tony
  • Tootles
  • Toots
  • Tootsie Wootsie
  • Top Drawer
  • Top Notch
  • Topper
  • Toppy
  • Torch
  • Tough Egg
  • Tout
  • Towhead
  • Trigger
  • Trinket
  • Triple Threat
  • Trix
  • Trixie
  • Trouble
  • Trouper
  • Trudie
  • Tuffy
  • Tug
  • Tuppy
  • Twinkletoes
  • Two Bits
  • Two-Gun

U: 3 names

  • Uke
  • Unk
  • Uppercut

V: 11 names

  • Vamp
  • Van Dyke
  • Varsity
  • Varsity Drag
  • Velvet
  • Vern
  • Vi
  • Vic
  • Vinnie
  • Virg
  • Viv

W: 39 names

  • Wah-Wah
  • Waikiki
  • Wallflower
  • Wally
  • Walt
  • Warbler
  • Warden
  • Washboard
  • Wes
  • Wet Blanket
  • Whangdoodle
  • Wheelman
  • Wheels
  • Whiskers
  • Whiskey Six
  • Whispers
  • White Lady
  • White Lightning
  • Whiz
  • Whoopee
  • Wiggy
  • Wild Card
  • Wildcat
  • Wildcatter
  • Wilf
  • Will
  • Windy
  • Windy City
  • Wing Walker
  • Winky
  • Winnie
  • Wise Guy
  • Wisecrack
  • Wisenheimer
  • Wishbone
  • Wolfie
  • Wooden Nickel
  • Woody
  • Woofy

Y: 3 names

  • Yell King
  • Yell Leader
  • Yukon

Z: 3 names

  • Zeb
  • Zeke
  • Zep