A sobriquet (/ˈsoʊbrɪˌkeɪ, -ˌkɛ, ˌsoʊbrɪˈkeɪ, -ˈkɛ/ SOH-brih-kay, -⁠KAY) is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another, that is descriptive. A sobriquet is distinct from a pseudonym in that it is typically a familiar name used in place of a real name without the need for explanation; it may become more familiar than the original name.

The term sobriquet is equally applicable as a moniker for a person, group of people, historical event, or place. Examples are "Emiye Menelik", a name of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia, who was popularly and affectionately recognized for his kindness ("emiye" means "mother" in Amharic); "Genghis Khan", who is rarely recognized by his name Temüjin ("Genghis Khan" means "universal ruler" in Mongolian); and Mohandas Gandhi, who is better known as "Mahatma Gandhi" ("mahatma" means "great soul" in Sanskrit). Well-known places often have sobriquets, such as New York City, often called as the "Big Apple", or Rome, the "Eternal City".

Etymology

The modern French and English spelling is sobriquet.^[1] Two earlier variants are soubriquet and sotbriquet. The first variant, "soubriquet" dates from the 15th century and is rarely used now, in English or French.^[1][2]

The early 14th-century soubzsbriquez meant a "little blow under the chin", also described as a chuck under the chin; this was derived from soubs, mod. sous (Latin: sub), under.^[2]

Usage

Sobriquets are "a form of identification that goes beyond a traditional name and offers insight into a person’s character, appearance, profession, or any other distinguishing feature".^[3] They are used in politics, music, literature and for royalty, celebrities, and athletes.^[4]

Candidates for public office and political figures may be described with sobriquets, while living or posthumously. For example, president of the United States Abraham Lincoln was called "Honest Abe".^[5] An affectionate contemporary sobriquet for Ulysses S. Grant was the "American Sphinx" as a man of deeds rather than for verbal self-promotion.^[6]

Early uses of sobriquets in writing and literature include the Dead Sea Scrolls^[7] and in Tang and Song (Southern Sung) dynasty poetry.^[8] Contemporary usage is common in the English and French languages.^[2]

Examples

• The King (of rock and roll) – Elvis Presley, famous vocalist and musician^[3]
• The Lion City – Singapore, the city-state, also known as Little Red Dot, The Garden City
• The Big Yin – Billy Connolly, Glaswegian comedian commonly referred to as "The Big Yin", meaning "The Big One" in Scots^[9]
• The Big Smoke – London or Toronto
• The Land of the Rising Sun – Japan
• Columbia – The United States or the Americas, poetic name
• Dixie, Dixieland (from the Mason–Dixon line) – the eleven Southern states that seceded and fought against the U.S. in the American Civil War
• The Fourth Estate – the press
• Pearl of the Orient – the Philippines, referring to its location in the Southeast Asia (or the East, with "Orient" meaning "East")
• Graveyard of Empires – Afghanistan
• Uncle Sam – the U.S. in general or specifically its government, likely from the initials "U.S."^[10]
• John Bull – the UK in general or specifically, its government (originally an attack against the Whigs, their foreign policy, and their financiers who were profiting from wars with other nations).
• Uncle Joe – Joseph Stalin
• The Sun King – Louis XIV of France
• Papa Doc – François Duvalier, 34th president of Haiti
• The Sage of Chelsea – Thomas Carlyle, Scots philosopher
• The War to End All Wars – World War I; since World War II, used ironically
• The Windy City – Chicago, Illinois
• The Motor City – Detroit, Michigan
• Man's best friend – dogs, derived from the origins of dogs, it indicates the relationship that has developed between the two species as they have each evolved to form a symbiotic relationship that is unique among human relationships to domestic animals.