Monikers

A moniker is a name or nickname by which a person or thing is commonly known. It can refer to a formal given name or surname, but in everyday usage the term most often denotes a nickname, alias, or pseudonym that identifies someone in a particular context, such as entertainment, literature, or online life.

The word is of uncertain origin; moniker first appears in 19th-century American English, and its precise roots are not definitively established. Today the term is used broadly to describe any name adopted to identify a person or entity beyond their legal birth name, whether for professional branding, privacy, or social signaling.

Monikers fall into several overlapping categories. A nickname is an informal, often affectionate label given by others, sometimes based on personality, appearance, or history. A stage name or pen name is adopted for public performance or publication, as with Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson) or Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens). An online handle or screen name identifies a person in digital spaces. An alias or sobriquet may be used in formal or branding contexts, sometimes to obscure identity or create a distinct persona. Legal practices vary regarding the use of monikers, and in some jurisdictions a person may formalize a name change to replace or supplement a birth name.

See also: alias, nickname, pseudonym, stage name, handle.