Presidents of the United States have often acquired nicknames, both flattering and unflattering. This list is intended to note those nicknames that were in common use at the time they were in office or shortly thereafter.

George Washington The American Cincinnatus, like the famous Roman Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, he won a war, then became a private citizen instead of seeking power or riches as a reward. He became the first president general of the Society of the Cincinnati, formed by Revolutionary War officers who also "declined offers of power and position to return to his home and plough". The American Fabius, for his Fabian military strategy during the Revolutionary War Conotocaurius, or Town Destroyer, given by the Seneca chief Tanacharison. The Father of His Country His Excellency Sage of Mount Vernon

John Adams Bonny Johnny, "Bonny" meaning a sizeable person. The Colossus of Independence, for his leadership in Congress in 1776 The Duke of Braintree, due to residing in Braintree, Massachusetts and his strong opinions on the use of honorifics for important officers of the government Father of American Independence His Rotundity, for his girthy bodily figure Old Oak, for his wise intellect Old Sink or Swim, for the speech in which he vowed "sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I am with my country from this day on"

Thomas Jefferson The Apostle of Democracy Father of the Declaration of Independence Long Tom The Man of the People The Moonshine Philosopher of Monticello, as Jefferson was known for his interest in alcohol Red Fox, for his red hair. The Sage of Monticello

James Madison Father of the Constitution Little Jemmy or His Little Majesty, at only , the shortest U.S. president The Sage of Montpelier Withered Little Apple, given by Washington Irving

James Monroe The Era of Good Feelings President, for the Era of Good Feelings, the period following the victorious end of the War of 1812. The term was first coined by the Boston Federalist newspaper Columbian Centinel on July 12, 1817, following Monroe’s visit to Boston.See Encyclopedia Britannica. The Last Cocked Hat, because he was the last U.S. president to wear a tricorne hat according to the style of the 18th century

John Quincy Adams The Abolitionist or Old Man Eloquent, famed for routinely bringing up the slavery issue against Congressional rules, and for his role later on in the Amistad case. He is the only American president to be elected to the House of Representatives after his presidency. The nickname gained currency as a result of his campaign against slavery waged as a congressman, and as the attorney in the Amistad case. Mad Old Man From Massachusetts

Andrew Jackson

The Hero of New Orleans, for his military victory in the Battle of New Orleans Jackass, Jackson's critics disparaged him as a "jackass" (a male donkey); however, Jackson embraced the animal, making it the unofficial symbol of the Democratic Party. King Andrew, for his supposedly excessive use of the veto power King Mob Mad Dog Jackson, for his aggressive military tactics Mischievous Andy The Old Barbarian The Old Hero was derivative of the Hero of New Orleans sobriquet, but it had a more disparaging, slightly disdainful connotation. Old Hickory, allegedly given to him by his soldiers for being as "tough as old hickory," although the Oxford English Dictionary suggests an association with the euphemism hickory oil, a reference to punishment by whippingOxford English Dictionary, "hickory oil (n.)," December 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/8427399957. The Old Roman People's President Sharp Knife, for his fighting tactics

Martin Van Buren

The American Talleyrand Blue Whiskey Van, a reference to his excessive drinking of whiskey The Careful Dutchman, Van Buren's first language was Dutch Dandy President, critics called him for his fancy expensive outfits The Enchanter The Great Manager The Little Magician, given to him during his time in the state of New York, because of his smooth politics and short stature Machiavellian Bellshazzar, given to him by detractors Martin Van Ruin The Master Spirit Matty Van from "Tippecanoe Songs of 1840" The Mistletoe Politician, so called by Joseph Peyton of Tennessee, a Whig opponent, who charged that "Martin Van Buren was a mere political parasite, a branch of mistletoe, that owed its elevation, its growth--nay, its very existence, to the tall trunk of an aged hickory" (i.e. Andrew Jackson) Old Kinderhook (OK), a reference to his home town Red Fox of Kinderhook, a reference to his red hair and home town The Sage of Lindenwald The Sly Fox

William Henry Harrison The Cincinnatus of the West, Harrison's military victories in the War of 1812 made him a folk-like hero, similar to George Washington and Cincinnatus General Mum, as in the expression, "keep it mum," because of his avoidance of speaking out on controversial issues during his election campaign Old Granny, his opponents called him for he was the oldest person at the time to be president; his age was 68. Tippecanoe or also Old Tippecanoe, a reference to Harrison's victory at the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe; used in the campaign song Tippecanoe and Tyler Too during the 1840 presidential election Washington of the West, a reference to Harrison's victories at the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe and 1813 Battle of the Thames

John Tyler His Accidency, a nickname given by his opponents; the first president to be elevated to the presidency by the death of his predecessor, William Henry Harrison The President without a Party, after the Whigs expelled him

James K. Polk First Dark Horse President, he was not well known before the 1844 United States presidential election Napoleon of the Stump, for his short stature and potent oratory skills Polk the Purposeful Polk the Plodder or Polk the Mendacious, multiple politicians saw him as untrustworthy and scheming. Punctilious James Young Hickory, because he was a particular protégé of "Old Hickory", Andrew Jackson

Zachary Taylor Old Rough and Ready Old Zack, his age being 61 when leading troops during the Mexican-American War

Millard Fillmore The American Louis Philippe, his appearance and tenure similar to the French king. Last of the Whigs, he was the last member of the Whig Party to become president Wool Carder President, when he was 15, he was sent to be an apprentice to a wool carder

Franklin Pierce Fainting Frank or the Fainting General, used by Whig Party opponents for his record in the Mexican–American War Handsome Frank Purse Young Hickory of the Granite Hills, "Young Hickory" compared his military deeds (in the Mexican–American War) with those of Andrew Jackson. "The Granite Hills" were his home state of New Hampshire.

James Buchanan Bachelor President, per his unmarried status Miss Nancy, alongside William King's Aunt Fancy. Andrew Jackson reportedly used these names to suggest effeminacy.Jean H. Baker, James Buchanan: The American Presidents Series: The 15th President, 1857–1861, 2004, page 75 Old Buck, from a shortening of his last name, used later in life Old Public Functionary, used by Buchanan in his December 1859 State of the Union address and adopted by newspapers Ten-Cent Jimmy, derogatory, as a reaction to Buchanan's campaign statement that ten cents a day was decent pay for a worker

Abraham Lincoln Abe Honest Abe Uncle Abe, for his avuncularity in his later years. The Ancient One,Association of Lincoln Presenters, Lincoln Quotes, "LINCOLN had many nicknames such as Honest Abe, the Railsplitter, the Liberator, the Emancipator, the Ancient One, the Martyr". a nickname favored by White House insiders because of his "ancient wisdom". Grand Wrestler, Lincoln was great at wrestling and only had one recorded loss The Great Emancipator and the Liberator, for the emancipation of the slaves. The Rail-Splitter Spotty Lincoln The Tycoon, for the energetic and ambitious conduct of his administration The Uncommon Friend of the Common Man

Andrew Johnson Andy the Sot, used by his opponents after a perceived drunken inaugural address as vice president. King Andrew or King Andy, his large use of veto powers drew comparisons to a tyrannical dictator Sir Veto, because of the large number of legislative vetoes he issued during his presidency; 29 in total, (the most at the time) The Tennessee Tailor, for his career as a tailor before going into politics

Ulysses S. Grant The American Caesar The Butcher, Grant's unmatched persistence led him to win several key victories for the Union forces earning him this nickname The Galena Tanner The Great Hammerer The Hero of Appomattox Little Beauty, a nickname mocking his good looks Ulyss, childhood nickname Useless Grant U.S. Grant Uncle Sam Grant, a name given to him by his classmates at West Point Unconditional Surrender Grant, a backronym for his uncompromising demand for unconditional surrender during the Battle of Fort Donelson in 1862, which made him a hero United States Grant, his classmates soon began to call after he got his new initials USG

Rutherford B. Hayes Dark Horse President Granny Hayes, for his calm and caring personality. His Fraudulency or Rutherfraud, because after the disputed results of the 1876 Election, many Democrats did not consider him legitimately to be president The Great Unknown, for his obscurity as a candidate President De Facto Rud, childhood nickname

James Garfield Boatman Jim, referencing his work on the Ohio canals in his youth Canal Boy, also referring to his old job on Ohio canals as a boy Gar, nickname from college The Plow Boy of Ohio, sung in a campaign song. Preacher President

Chester A. Arthur Chet or Our Chet, shortened version of his name used by publications of that era Elegant Arthur, for his style and large wardrobe of clothes Gentleman Boss, as the dapper leader of New York State's Republican party Prince Arthur and the Dude President, for his fancy attire and indulgence in extravagant luxury Walrus, because of his mustache

Grover Cleveland Big Steve, as his full name was Stephen Grover Cleveland Grover the Good, for his honesty and public integrity His Obstinacy, because he vetoed more bills than the first 21 presidents combined The Stuffed Prophet, referencing his stubborn attitude Uncle Jumbo, his weight reaching around 280 pounds during his presidency.

Benjamin Harrison The Centennial President The Front Porch Campaigner; during the 1888 election, he gave nearly ninety speeches from his front porch to crowds gathered in the yard of his Indianapolis home; this nickname has been widely but erroneously attributed to William McKinley. Grandfather's Hat, for his grandfather William Henry Harrison was the 9th president of the United States The Human Iceberg, although he could warmly engage a crowd with his speeches, he was cold and detached when speaking with people on an individual basis Kid Gloves Harrison Little Ben, given to him by Democrats of his era because of his stature; this could also be a reference to his being the grandson of former president William Henry Harrison, who had served fifty years before. Pious Moonlight Dude, because of his romance

William McKinley Idol of Ohio The Major The Napoleon of Protection, referring to high tariffs such as the one he wrote in 1890 Wobbly Willie, due to flip-flopping on issues such as expansionism

Theodore Roosevelt The Colonel, for his rank in the Spanish–American War The Cyclone Assemblyman The Hero of San Juan Hill, for leading his Rough Riders up San Juan Hill during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba in 1898 The Lion Teddy, used in The New York Times at least as early as 1900, even though he hated the nickname Terrible Teddy Toothful Teddy, for his iconic and prominent grin Telescope Teddy, because he had all his rifles fitted with a small telescope Teedie, childhood nickname