35 Presidential Nicknames That Are Wildly Real (and Occasionally Ridiculous)

Some presidents are remembered for their policies. Others? For their nicknames. From battlefield glory to political shade, presidential monikers say a lot—sometimes more than their speeches ever did. Here are 35 of the most memorable, bizarre, and oddly accurate nicknames ever associated with U.S. commanders-in-chief.

Founding Fathers & 19th-Century Legends

• George Washington – “The Father of His Country”
• Thomas Jefferson – “The Sage of Monticello”
• Andrew Jackson – “Old Hickory”
• Martin Van Buren – “The Little Magician”
• Abraham Lincoln – “The Rail-Splitter” / “Honest Abe”
• James Madison – “Little Jemmy”
  (He was only 5’4″. The nickname wasn’t subtle.)
• John Adams – “His Rotundity”
  (A joke about his formality—and his waistline.)

20th-Century Icons (and Question Marks)

• Theodore Roosevelt – “Teddy” / “The Rough Rider”
• Woodrow Wilson – “The Schoolmaster in Politics”
• Herbert Hoover – “The Great Engineer”
• Franklin D. Roosevelt – “FDR” / “The Boss”
• Harry S. Truman – “Give ‘Em Hell Harry”
• Dwight D. Eisenhower – “Ike”
• John F. Kennedy – “JFK” / “Jack” / “The King of Camelot”
• Lyndon B. Johnson – “LBJ” / “The Master of the Senate”
• Richard Nixon – “Tricky Dick”
• Gerald Ford – “Mr. Nice Guy”
• Jimmy Carter – “The Peanut Farmer”
• Ronald Reagan – “The Gipper” / “The Great Communicator”
• George H. W. Bush – “Poppy”
• Calvin Coolidge – “Silent Cal”
• Warren G. Harding – “Wobbly Warren”
  (For his scandal-filled, shaky presidency.)

Modern Presidents, Memes & Media Madness

• Bill Clinton – “Slick Willie”
• George W. Bush – “Dubya” / “The Decider”
• Barack Obama – “No Drama Obama”
• Donald Trump – “The Donald” / “Teflon Don”
• Joe Biden – “Amtrak Joe” / “Uncle Joe”
• Donald Trump (again) – “45”
  (Used by his fans and haters alike—short and sharp.)

Nicknames That Came from the Public (a.k.a. Shade in Action)

• James Buchanan – “Old Public Functionary”
• Ulysses S. Grant – “Unconditional Surrender Grant”
• William Howard Taft – “Big Lub”
• Grover Cleveland – “Uncle Jumbo”
• Benjamin Harrison – “The Human Iceberg”
  (Because apparently he wasn’t very warm.)
• Franklin Pierce – “Young Hickory of the Granite Hills”
  (Like Jackson… but more New Hampshire.)
• Millard Fillmore – “The American Louis Philippe”
  (A very specific burn comparing him to a French king.)

Final Thoughts (and a Few Side-Eyes)

Presidential nicknames do more than summarize a reputation—they expose how a leader was loved, feared, mocked, or mythologized. From “Old Hickory” to “No Drama Obama,” they tell you more than any campaign slogan ever could. Whether given by history or Twitter, the name sticks—and so does the vibe.