Hidden origins
The real reason Abraham Lincoln was first called "Honest Abe"
Image: English: Photograph by Capitol Records, per a credit found in the 1959 edition of the International Celebrity Register at page 696. No known source credits an individual photographer., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
"The Babe," "Honest Abe," "The Chairman of the Board," "The Boss." We’ve heard these nicknames everywhere: on baseball broadcasts, late-night television, radio broadcasts, and newspaper headlines. In many cases, the nicknames became even more famous than the real names of the luminary in question. But have you ever wondered how these legendary monikers were born? Some came from childhood moments, others from personality traits, scandals, accidents, and unforgettable careers. From presidents and athletes to singers and Hollywood legends, here are the fascinating stories behind some of the most iconic nicknames in American history.
1
Frank Sinatra: "The Chairman of the Board"
Frank Sinatra had many nicknames (including "Ol’ Blue Eyes" and "The Voice"), but none more iconic than "The Chairman of the Board." Do you know where it comes from?
By 1960, Sinatra was tired of record executives telling him what to sing and how to sing it. So he did something unusual at the time: he founded his own label, Reprise Records, which made him not just a singer, but the man in charge. "The Chairman of the Board" was already around in the 1960s, but by the early 1970s, New York radio legend William B. Williams popularized it as a sobriquet that perfectly captured Sinatra’s power and influence in American entertainment. Ironically, despite how famous the title became, Sinatra himself reportedly hated it, according to his wife Barbara Sinatra.
2
Abraham Lincoln: "Honest Abe"
There may be many famous presidents in American history, but only one became forever linked with honesty itself: Abraham Lincoln. However, the nickname "Honest Abe" started long before he entered the White House.
The reputation began in the 1830s, when a young Lincoln worked as a store clerk in New Salem, Illinois. According to famous stories repeated for generations, he would walk miles just to return a few pennies to a customer he had accidentally overcharged. As a lawyer in the 1850s, he became known for refusing shady tactics and even encouraging clients to settle disputes instead of fighting. By the time Lincoln entered national politics, his honesty had become widely known, and even political rivals like Stephen A. Douglas openly recognized it.
3
Bruce Springsteen: "The Boss"
In the early 1970s, Bruce Springsteen was touring with the legendary E Street Band when he picked up the nickname that would stay with him forever: "The Boss." But the story behind it is better than most people think.
After playing bars and clubs, Springsteen was often the one collecting the band’s nightly pay from club owners, counting the money, and distributing it to each one of his colleagues. Before long, the band members jokingly started calling him "the boss." According to guitarist Steven Van Zandt, it began as an inside gag within the band, but the nickname fit Springsteen’s leadership style so perfectly that it soon spread far beyond the group.
4
Amelia Earhart: "Lady Lindy"
Amelia Earhart will always be remembered as the pioneering pilot who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932, breaking records and opening doors for women in aviation. But long before her mysterious disappearance in 1937, Americans already knew her by an iconic nickname: "Lady Lindy."
The nickname appeared in the late 1920s after the press noticed striking similarities between Earhart and famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, the first man to complete a solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic in 1927. Reporters pointed not only to their groundbreaking flights, but also to their surprisingly similar appearance: both were tall, slim, and known for their windblown hair and calm public dispositions. Since Lindbergh was famously called "Lucky Lindy," newspapers soon began calling Earhart "Lady Lindy," and it quickly became popular.
5
George Herman Ruth: "Babe"
Babe Ruth became such a giant in American sports that many people forgot his real name was George Herman Ruth Jr. Did you know that he actually got the nickname "Babe" when he was still a teenager?
In 1914, the 19-year-old rookie signed with the then-minor league team, the Baltimore Orioles. Because he was so young, team owner Jack Dunn became his legal guardian while he traveled with the club. Teammates quickly started jokingly calling Ruth "Dunn’s baby" or simply "the Babe." What started as clubhouse teasing soon spread to sportswriters and fans, and before long, "Babe Ruth" became one of the most legendary names in sports history.
6
Eleanor Roosevelt: "First Lady of the World"
Eleanor Roosevelt became First Lady in 1933, but long before that, she had already set out on the path that would lead her to become known as "The First Lady of the World."
In the late 1920s, she became increasingly active in women’s rights and social reform, and by the time her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, entered the White House, she was already widely known. As First Lady from 1933 to 1945, she reshaped the role, holding press conferences, writing her "My Day" column, and visiting troops during WWII. After leaving the White House, she served as the first US delegate to the United Nations and helped write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the final act to secure her name as "The First Lady of the World."
7
William Cody: "Buffalo Bill"
William F. Cody, better known as "Buffalo Bill", became one of the most legendary icons of the American Old West, long before Hollywood ever existed.
In 1867–1868, Cody was hired to supply bison meat to workers building the Union Pacific Railroad, quickly earning a reputation as a skilled hunter. Reports from the time say he killed thousands of buffalo during this period, helping feed large crews across the frontier. In 1868, he also won a popular hunting contest against another famous hunter, Billy Comstock, reportedly killing 69 buffalo to Comstock’s 46. That fame on the frontier is what earned him the nickname "Buffalo Bill", a name that would later become world-famous when he reinvented himself as a showman.
8
Franklin D. Roosevelt: "Great Sphinx"
Franklin D. Roosevelt was known by those closest to him as a naturally reserved man, a trait that became even more pronounced after he was diagnosed with polio in 1921.
According to historians and biographers, Roosevelt revealed very little about his emotions, his health, or even his political intentions. That secrecy carried into his presidency as well. As the 1940 election approached, he refused to say whether he would run for a third term or not, keeping both journalists and other politicians guessing. His silence became part of his reputation, so the press of the time nicknamed him "the Great Sphinx" as a reference to his ability to keep his thoughts and intentions well hidden.
9
Shaquille O'Neal: "The Big Aristotle"
Unlike the other figures on this list, Shaquille O’Neal has a nickname story with a twist: no one gave him the alias. He gave it to himself.
After winning his NBA MVP in 2000 while leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 67–15 season, Shaq began calling himself "The Big Aristotle." The idea, as he explained, was to reflect more than just size and strength; he also wanted to project wisdom and discipline. He not only took the Greek philosopher's name as a tribute, but also used it to reference him often. One of Aristotle’s quotes he frequently repeated was: "Excellence is not a singular act, it's a habit."
10
George Washington: "American Fabius"
George Washington (1732–1799) is best known as the "Father of His Country," for leading the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War and later becoming the nation’s first president. But during the war, he also earned another interesting nickname.
Washington often avoided direct, large-scale battles, instead using patience, retreats, and strategy to wear down British forces. This approach was inspired by Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus, who defeated stronger enemies by delaying and avoiding decisive conflict. Because of this strategy, Washington became known as the "American Fabius."
