List of United States Presidential names

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List of United States Presidential names contains lists of nicknames, name origins, and the first, middle and last names of each President of the United States. Most of the nicknames listed are political, such as "Tricky Dick", which belonged to Richard Nixon, initialisms like '"T.R." (Teddy Roosevelt), personal nicknames, as in James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. or personal endearments, such as "The Gipper", given to Ronald Reagan.

Contents 1 Presidential nicknames 1.1 43 — George W. (Walker) Bush 1.2 42 — Bill (William Jefferson) Clinton (name at birth: William Jefferson Blythe III) 1.3 41 — George H. W. (Herbert Walker) Bush 1.4 40 — Ronald (Wilson) Reagan 1.5 39 — Jimmy (James Earl) Carter (Jr.) 1.6 38 — Gerald (Rudolph) Ford (Jr.) (name at birth: Leslie Lynch King, Jr.) 1.7 37 — Richard (Milhous) Nixon 1.8 36 — Lyndon B. (Baines) Johnson 1.9 35 — John F. (Fitzgerald) Kennedy 1.10 34 — Dwight D. (David) Eisenhower (name at birth: David Dwight Eisenhower) 1.11 33 — Harry S Truman 1.12 32 — Franklin D. (Delano) Roosevelt 1.13 31 — Herbert (Clark) Hoover 1.14 30 — (John) Calvin Coolidge (Jr.) 1.15 29 — Warren G. (Gamaliel) Harding 1.16 28 — (Thomas) Woodrow Wilson 1.17 27 — William Howard Taft 1.18 26 — Theodore Roosevelt (Jr.) 1.19 25 — William McKinley (Jr.) 1.20 23 — Benjamin Harrison 1.21 22/24 — (Stephen) Grover Cleveland 1.22 21 — Chester A. (Alan) Arthur 1.23 20 — James A. (Abram) Garfield 1.24 19 — Rutherford B. (Birchard) Hayes 1.25 18 — Ulysses S. (Simpson) Grant (name at birth: Hiram Ulysses Grant) 1.26 17 — Andrew Johnson 1.27 16 — Abraham Lincoln 1.28 15 — James Buchanan (Jr.) 1.29 14 — Franklin Pierce 1.30 13 — Millard Fillmore 1.31 12 — Zachary Taylor 1.32 11 — James K. (Knox) Polk 1.33 10 — John Tyler (Jr.) 1.34 9 — William Henry Harrison 1.35 8 — Martin Van Buren 1.36 7 — Andrew Jackson 1.37 6 — John Quincy Adams 1.38 5 — James Monroe 1.39 4 — James Madison (Jr.) 1.40 3 — Thomas Jefferson 1.41 2 — John Adams (Jr.) 1.42 1 — George Washington 2 Presidential name origins 3 Presidential first, middle and last names 3.1 First names 3.2 Middle names 3.3 Last names 4 "Juniors" 5 See also 6 References 7 Presidential lists

[edit] Presidential nicknames

[edit] 43 — George W. (Walker) Bush

• Dubya or "W" ^[1] From the Texan pronunciation of 'W', this originated as a family nickname to distinguish him from his father
  
• 43, B43 or Bush 43,^[2] Bush the Younger,^[3] Bush II, Bush, Jr.,^[4] and Bush fils^[5] All used to distinguish George W. Bush from George H.W. Bush
• Bushie^[6] Also used to refer to wife Laura
• Shrub^[7] Coined by Molly Ivins. George W. Bush is notably shorter than his father; and a little bush is a shrub.
  
• Shrubya, a combination of Shrub and Dubya.[5]
• Shrubby, An affectionate variation of "Shrub".
• Temporary^[8] Bush's nickname in Skull and Bones, never altered by Bush
• King George (II)^[9] Based on comparisons to George III of the United Kingdom, who is often known to Americans simply as "King George" for his association with the American Revolution. The "II" may refer either to Bush's being a successor (though not directly) to a father with the same name (the "first George") or to a misconception that George III was the first English king with that name, thus making Bush the "second."
• Uncurious George^[10] or Incurious George^[11] or Spurious George ^[12] Comparing him with the monkey character Curious George
• AWOL Bush^[13][14] Often rendered as aWol Bush: referring to an alleged period of unauthorized leave of absence by Bush during his Vietnam War service in the Texas National Guard
  
• The Decider and The Decider-In-Chief^[15] From remarks Bush made about Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on April 18, 2006
• The Commander Guy^{[16] [17]} Bush gave himself this nickname on May 2, 2007, saying "My position is clear - I'm the commander guy."
• Commander-In-Thief, Play on words of "Commander-In-Chief" referring to the controversial outcome of the 2000 election and the belief by some that it was "stolen".
• Commander Codpiece^[18] Referring to the supposed codpiece President Bush wore with his flight suit on May 1, 2003 after landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln, where he gave a televised speech with the controversial "Mission Accomplished" banner behind him.
• The Velcro President^[19] A contrast to the "Teflon" nicknames given to Reagan and Clinton; most scandals appear to "stick" to Bush.

[edit] 42 — Bill (William Jefferson) Clinton (name at birth: William Jefferson Blythe III)

• Bill^[20] Generally went by his first name during his time in office and was only formally called 'William J. Clinton' or 'William Jefferson Clinton'.
• The First Black President^[21] Coined by Chris Rock,^{[citation needed]} later used by Toni Morrison, in reference to Clinton's noted support from and rapport with African Americans.
• The Comeback Kid^[22] Coined by press after strong second place showing in 1992 New Hampshire Primary, following polling slump due to Gennifer Flowers' revelation.
• Slick Willie^[23] Coined by Paul Greenberg, Editorial page editor, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, in 1980 in his return to govern Arkansas.
• Teflon Bill^[24] Similar to "Teflon Ron" for Ronald Reagan: because none of the scandals afflicting his administration seemed to stick to him personally.
• Bubba^[25][26] Nickname that suggests association with the Southern United States.
• The Great Prevaricator^[27] A re-use of a nickname previously given to Ronald Reagan, which was itself a parody of Reagan's "Great Communicator" nickname

[edit] 41 — George H. W. (Herbert Walker) Bush

• Poppy^[28] Family nickname used within his personal circle rather than publicly
• Bush 41^[2] Bush the Elder ^[29] and Papa Bush^[30] Only applied to him after his son became president, in order to distinguish between the two of them
• The Résumé Candidate ^[31] An expression which suggests that he had a good record of public service but lacked popular appeal
• The Wimp President^[32] Given to him by Newsweek in 1988. In June 1991, Bush remarked that he would "never forgive" the magazine for their insult
• Old Read My Lips^[33] Commemorating his 1988 election pledge: “Read my lips — no new taxes!”, which he failed to keep

[edit] 40 — Ronald (Wilson) Reagan

• The Gipper^[34] After his role as George "The Gipper" Gipp in the film Knute Rockne, All American. Gipp's exhortation to his teammates to "Win one for the Gipper" came in useful during Reagan's election campaigns.
• The Great Communicator^[35] As much an attempt by media pundits to account for Reagan's electoral success as a compliment
• The Great Prevaricator^[36] A less-complimentary play on his "Great Communicator" nickname
  
• Dutch^[37] Because of his "Dutch-boy" haircut when he was a youth
• Bonzo^[38] From his role in the film, Bedtime for Bonzo. Reagan played Prof. Peter Boyd, opposite Bonzo the chimpanzee.
• Ronnie Raygun^[39] Joking reference to the "Star Wars" Strategic Defense Initiative
• The Teflon President^[40] or Teflon Ron^[41] Because none of the scandals during his administration seemed to stick to him.

[edit] 39 — Jimmy (James Earl) Carter (Jr.)

• Jimmy^[42] First President to use his nickname in an official capacity. He was known as ‘Jimmy Carter’, ‘James Earl Carter’ or ‘James Earl Carter, Jr.’. He was never called ‘James Carter’ or ‘James E. Carter’
• The Peanut Farmer^[43] or The Peanut President ^[44] Refers to one of his pre-presidential occupations
  
• The Grin^[45] For his trademark toothy grin
• Cousin Hot^[46] or Hot Shot^[47] His nicknames at U.S. Navy officer training school in World War II
• President Malaise^[48] - a reference to his speech on July 15. 1979, where he talked about a "crisis of confidence," and alluded that the US was in decline. Three days after the speech, Carter asked for the resignations of all of his Cabinet officers, and ultimately accepted five. By asking the entire Cabinet, it gave the appearance that the White House was falling apart.

[edit] 38 — Gerald (Rudolph) Ford (Jr.) (name at birth: Leslie Lynch King, Jr.)

• Jerry^[49] Usually, "Jerry" is short for Jeremiah, Jeremy or Jerome, while Gerald or Gerard are normally shortened to "Gerry". For some reason, "Jerry" Ford was an exception to this rule
• The Accidental President^[50] Uniquely, Ford was never elected to the presidency or vice-presidency. He was appointed by Nixon as vice-president from the House of Representatives after the resignation of Vice President Agnew, and inherited the presidency upon Nixon's resignation. He lost his only presidential campaign to Jimmy Carter after inheriting the presidency.
• Mr. Nice Guy^[51] Because of his clean-cut and non-partisan image
• Jerry the Jerk^[52] Coined by enemy William Loeb, editor of the Manchester Union Leader (New Hampshire) in 1976

[edit] 37 — Richard (Milhous) Nixon

• Dick ^[53] When he announced his (short-lived) retirement from politics after failing to become Governor of California in 1962, he told the media, "You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around any more".
• Tricky Dick^[54] (also, Tricky Dickie) Coined by Democratic politician Helen Gahagan Douglas during the 1950 U.S. Senate race in California, in reference to Nixon's alleged use of dirty tricks during the campaign. Occasionally this name is also applied to current Vice President Dick Cheney.
• The Trickster ^[55] A variant of "Tricky Dick"
• Richard the Chicken-Hearted^[56] For his refusal to face his Democratic opponent, Hubert Humphrey, in debate during the 1968 election campaign.
• The Mad Bomber^[57] Reference to Nixon's large-scale bombing of Cambodia, Laos, and North Vietnam during the Vietnam War; this was partly a self-cultivated image, intended to inspire fear in the leaders of North Vietnam (and other countries) in order to achieve a peace agreement on terms favorable to the United States.
• The Mad Monk^[58] Given to him by White House aide John Ehrlichman and alluded to in the television series, "Washington Behind Closed Doors" (Paramount, 1977) by the Nixon-equivalent character being named "Richard Monckton"^[59].
• Iron Butt^[60] Law school nickname because he studied so hard
• Gloomy Gus^[61] Another nickname awarded by his fellow students at Duke University Law School, referring to his serious nature

[edit] 36 — Lyndon B. (Baines) Johnson

• L.B.J.^[62] He liked to be known by this abbreviation, which was used in the slogan, "All the way with L.B.J." Coincidentally, when he married Claudia Taylor, who had been nicknamed Lady Bird since infancy, her initials also became L.B.J. Their two daughters Lynda Bird and Luci Baines shared the initials, and he even called his dog "Little Beagle Johnson".
• Landslide Lyndon^[63] Sarcastic reference to the hotly-disputed 87-vote win that took him to the Senate in 1949
• Light-Bulb Johnson^[64]

[edit] 35 — John F. (Fitzgerald) Kennedy

• J.F.K.^[65] Most prominent nickname and abbreviation of his full name.
• Jack^[66] Kennedy was usually referred to as either "John F. Kennedy" or "Jack Kennedy", only very rarely as "John Kennedy"
• The King of Camelot^[67] Two weeks after Kennedy’s assassination, his wife, Jacqueline, revealed that the score from the 1960 musical Camelot, had been one of her husband’s favorites to listen to. Parallels were then drawn between the “one brief shining moment” of King Arthur’s reign (in the musical) and the mood of idealism and optimism that had characterized Kennedy’s presidency ^[68]

[edit] 34 — Dwight D. (David) Eisenhower (name at birth: David Dwight Eisenhower)

• Ike^[69] Used in the election campaign slogan, “I Like Ike.” Nickname pre-dated World War II.
• The Kansas Cyclone^[70] His football nickname at West Point

[edit] 33 — Harry S Truman

• Give 'Em Hell Harry^[71] At a whistle-stop tour during the 1948 election campaign, someone in the crowd shouted out to Truman, "Give 'em hell, Harry!". The phrase stuck as a nickname, with the missing comma turning the proposition into an adjective. Truman's oft-cited take on this nickname and his opponents was, "I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell."
• Haberdasher Harry^[72] One of his several pre-presidential occupations
• High-Tax Harry^[73]
• The New Missouri Compromise^[74]
• The Man of Independence^[75] His home town was Independence, Missouri

[edit] 32 — Franklin D. (Delano) Roosevelt

• F.D.R.^[76]
• The New Dealer^[77] Referring to the Roosevelt Administration's "New Deal for the American people".
• The Boss^[78]
• King Franklin^[79] For his extensive use of presidential powers in creating the New Deal
• That Man in the White House^[80] Insulting; used mostly by opponents.
• The Champ^[81]
• Roosevelt II in reference to his cousin being the first President Roosevelt.

[edit] 31 — Herbert (Clark) Hoover

• The Hermit Author of Palo Alto^[82]
• The Great Engineer and The Great Humanitarian^[83][84] He was a civil engineer of some distinction and when the Mississippi burst its banks in 1927, engulfing thousands of acres of agricultural land, he volunteered his services and did extensive flood control work
• Hoo-Yah and Really Damn^[85] Two nicknames that he picked up while in China
• The Chief^[86]
• The Grand Old Man^[87]
• Herbie^[88] In the Broadway musical Annie, he is called Herbie by homeless people living in shanties after the stock market crash in the song 'We'd Like To Thank You, Herbert Hoover'

[edit] 30 — (John) Calvin Coolidge (Jr.)

• Silent Cal^[89] An old story goes that a woman once approached Coolidge and told him that she had bet her friends that she would get the President to say at least three words to her. His reply was, "You lose".
• Cool Cal^[90] His re-election campaign used the slogan, "Keep It Cool With Coolidge"
• Cautious Cal^[91]
• The Sphinx of the Potomac^[92]Suggesting that he was as enigmatic as the mythological creature

[edit] 29 — Warren G. (Gamaliel) Harding

• President Hardly^[93]
• Wobbly Warren^[94]

[edit] 28 — (Thomas) Woodrow Wilson

• The Schoolmaster in Politics^[95] or The Professor^[96] He was a bespectacled academic; compare to Italian Prime Minister (and former President of the European Commission) Romano Prodi's nickname Il Professore (the professor/schoolteacher).
  
• The Coiner of Weasel Words^[97] “In 1916, Theodore Roosevelt accused President Woodrow Wilson of "weasel words", meaning that words from which the original meaning had been sucked”.^[98]
• The Phrase-Maker^[99] As an acclaimed historian, Wilson had no need of speech-writers to supply his oratorical eloquence

[edit] 27 — William Howard Taft

• Big Bill^[100] Taft was the heaviest U. S. President in history. A poster for his first election campaign showed Taft and his running mate James S. Sherman, with the slogan, "Big Bill and Smilin' Jim — A Winning Combination". He was normally known as ‘William Howard Taft’ or informally as ‘Bill Taft’. He was never called ‘William Taft’ or ‘William H. Taft’
• Peaceful Bill^[101]
• Old Bill^[102] His nickname at Yale University
• Big Lub^[103] Boyhood nickname
• Godknows Taft^[104] In 1912, reporters asked him, “What is a man to do who is out of work and starving?” His answer (criticized by some people as clueless or heartless) was, “God knows. I don’t.”^[105]

[edit] 26 — Theodore Roosevelt (Jr.)

• Teddy^[106] He personally disliked this nickname
• T.R.^[107] He liked to sign communications this way. The first president to be known by his initials.
• Terrible Teddy^[108]
  
• Trustbuster Teddy^[109] For his anti-trust legistlation. He hated this one because he thought it made him sound too radical
• The Rough Rider^[110] He raised and commanded a cavalry regiment nicknamed "The Rough Riders" in the Spanish-American War. He was also known as "The Colonel" due to his rank in that war, and preferred this nickname.
• Roosevelt I^[111] Given retroactively once F.D.R. had become president
• The Cyclone Assemblyman^[112] Elected to the New York State Assembly at only 23, he campaigned energetically against political corruption and for civil service reform, becoming minority leader within a year
• The Hero of San Juan Hill^[113] He led his Rough Riders up San Juan Hill during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba in 1898
• The Lion^[114]
• Old Four Eyes^[115] He was so myopic that he could only function wearing glasses
• Theodore the Meddler^[116] He was too active and legislative a president for some people's tastes

[edit] 25 — William McKinley (Jr.)

• The Idol of Ohio^[117]
• The Napoleon of Protection^[118] He was keen on protective tariffs
• The Stocking-Footed Orator^[119]
• The Liberator of Cuba^[120] Although initially hesitant to go to war with Spain
  
• Wobbly Willie^[121]
• The Major^[122] A reference to his American Civil War rank: used by friends and family rather than publicly

[edit] 23 — Benjamin Harrison

• Young Tippecanoe^[123] He was the grandson of "Old Tippecanoe"
• Grandfather's Hat^[124] From the 1888 election campaign song, "Grandfather's Hat Fits Ben", which suggested that he was a worthy successor to his grandfather, William Henry
  
• The White House Iceberg^[125] or The Human Iceberg^[126] Although he could warmly engage a crowd with his speeches, he was a very cold fish when you met him one-on-one
• Kid Gloves Harrison^[127] He was prone to skin infection and often wore kid gloves to protect his hands
  
• Little Ben^[128] Although, at 5"6, he was only slightly below average height
• The Front Porch Campaigner^[129] 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

[edit] 22/24 — (Stephen) Grover Cleveland

• The Hangman of Buffalo^[130] As Sheriff of Erie County, New York, which has Buffalo as its county seat, he had personally hanged two men
  
• His Obstinacy^[131] or The Veto President^[132] He vetoed more bills than the first 21 presidents combined
• Uncle Jumbo^[133]
• Grover the Good^[134]
• The Beast of Buffalo^[135] Because of false rumors that he was a wife-beater, spread by political opponents during the 1888 election
  
• The Pretender^[136]
• The Stuffed Prophet^[137] and The Elephantine Economist^[138] Given to him by hostile newspapers during the 1892 presidential election, by which time his weight had gone up to 250 pounds
  
• The Perpetual Candidate^[139] Because he ran in three successive presidential elections

[edit] 21 — Chester A. (Alan) Arthur

• Our Chet^[140]
  
• The Gentleman Boss^[141] Elegant Arthur^[142] Prince Arthur^[143] or The Dude President^[144] He was renowned for his fancy attire and indulgence in extravagant luxury

[edit] 20 — James A. (Abram) Garfield

• The Preacher President^[145] He was a lay preacher for the Church of Christ
• Boatman Jim^[146] or The Canal Boy^[147] References to one of his early occupations
• The Plow Boy of Ohio^[148]

[edit] 19 — Rutherford B. (Birchard) Hayes

• Rutherfraud^[149] or His Fraudulency^[150] or The Usurper^[151] His party machine was alleged to have stolen the 1876 election from opponent Samuel J. Tilden
• Old Eight-to-Seven^[152] In the wake of Hayes' disputed election victory, Congress set up an electoral commission to investigate alleged misconduct by the Hayes camp. The commission comprised eight of Hayes' fellow Republicans and seven opposition Democrats, and it found in Hayes' favor by eight votes to seven. The resulting controversy led to the Compromise of 1877
• Granny Hayes^[153] and Queen Victoria in Riding Breeches^[154] Hayes neither drank, smoked, nor gambled, and, together with his temperance-supporting wife, "Lemonade Lucy", maintained a very strait-laced White House — much to the disgust of some members of Washington society
  
• President De Facto^[155]
• The Great Unknown^[156] or The Dark Horse President^[157] He had been an obscure candidate for the Republican nomination

[edit] 18 — Ulysses S. (Simpson) Grant (name at birth: Hiram Ulysses Grant)

• Unconditional Surrender Grant^[158] His uncompromising demand for unconditional surrender during his victory the Battle of Fort Donelson in 1862 got a lot of favorable publicity. The fact that his initials suggested the words "unconditional surrender" led to it being used as a nickname
  
• The American Caesar^[159] Honoring his role in the Union victory in the American Civil War
• The Hero of Appomattox^[160] A reference to Grant receiving the surrender of opposing General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Courthouse.
• Useless Grant^[161] The similarity between 'Ulysses' and 'Useless' was too tempting for political opponents to miss out on
  
• Sam^[162] Given to him at West Point because of his 'Uncle Sam' initials
• The Galena Tanner^[163] He once ran a tannery in Galena, Illinois. This had also been his father's occupation in Point Pleasant, Ohio.

[edit] 17 — Andrew Johnson

• The Father of the Homestead Act ^[164] For his work in bringing about the Act, which was passed by President Lincoln in 1862
• Sir Veto^[165] For his persistent vetoing of bills
• The Tennessee Tailor^[166] A reference to his original occupation
• King Andy^[167]
• Andy the Sot^[168] Johnson acquired this nickname after he tried to give a speech at his inauguration as vice-president in a less than sober state.
  
• Old Andy^[169]

[edit] 16 — Abraham Lincoln

• Honest Abe^[170]
• The Great Emancipator^[171] and The Liberator^[172] For the emancipation of the slaves
  
• The Flatboatman^[173] In his last year before leaving Indiana for Illinois, he operated a ferry over the Ohio River
  
• The Rail-Splitter^[174] Because he ran as a third party candidate (the new Republican Party), "splitting" the Whig party and, supposedly, ensuring Democratic victory.
• The Sage of Springfield^[175] Lincoln was born in Kentucky and brought up in Indiana: but Springfield, Illinois, had been his home since the age of 23
  
• The Abolition Emperor^[176] and King Linkum the First^[177] Criticizing his curtailments of civil liberties during the war of 1861–65
• The Uncommon Friend of the Common Man^[178]
• The Original Gorilla^[179] The Orangutan in the White House^[180] References both to his supposed backwoods uncouthness and his rough-hewn looks
• The Slave Hound from Illinois^[181] Given to him by William Lloyd Garrison, a radical abolitionist who felt that Lincoln was "soft" on slavery. A slave hound was a dog used to hunt down runaway slaves
• Father Abraham^[182] and Uncle Abe^[183] Lincoln was a kind and friendly man who in his later years came across as avuncular
• The Ancient One^[184] A nickname favored by White House insiders because of his "ancient wisdom"
  
• The Sectional President^[185]
  
• The Tycoon^[186] For the energetic and ambitious conduct of his Civil War administration
• Ignoramus Abe [Distory: A Treasury Of Historical Insults by Robert Schnackenberg (c) 2004, p. 23]

[edit] 15 — James Buchanan (Jr.)

• The Sage of Wheatland^[187] Wheatland was his estate near Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
• Ten-Cent Jimmie^[188] A reference to his notorious claim during the 1856 election campaign that ten cents a day was enough for a working man to live on^[189]
  
• Old Public Functionary^[190]
• Old Buck^[191] A shortening of his surname
• Old Fogey^[192]
• The Cannon - A reference to his last name

[edit] 14 — Franklin Pierce

• Young Hickory of the Granite Hills^[193] "Young Hickory" compared his military deeds (in the U.S.-Mexican War) with those of Andrew Jackson. "The Granite Hills" were his home state of New Hampshire
• Handsome Frank^[194] He is said to have found this reference to his good looks acutely embarrassing
• The Fainting General^[195] A sneering reference by political opponents to an incident during a Mexican War battle when an artillery blast blew the saddle off Pierce's horse and drove the saddle-horn hard into his abdomen, causing him to lose consciousness for a few minutes
• The Hero of a Well-Fought Bottle^[196] Another less than flattering name hurled at Pierce during the 1852 campaign on his lack of military valor and known drinking problem

[edit] 13 — Millard Fillmore

• The Accidental President^[197] Succeeded Zachary Taylor after the latter died eighteen months into office
• The Wool-Carder President^[198] One of his former occupations
• The American Louis Philippe^[199] Comparing Fillmore's allegedly luxurious White House lifestyle to that of the contemporary King of France

[edit] 12 — Zachary Taylor

• Old Rough and Ready^[200] Taylor disdained the luxuries available to a senior officer in camp and field, preferring to "rough it" like the other ranks
• Old Zack^[201]
• The Hero of Buena Vista^[202] or Old Buena Vista^[203] Commemorating his most famous Mexican War victory

[edit] 11 — James K. (Knox) Polk

• Young Hickory^[204] Because he was a particular protégé of "Old Hickory" — Andrew Jackson
• The Napoleon of the Stump^[205] A reference to his formidable oratory skills
• Polk the Plodder^[206] The validity of this nickname was disproved by his foreign policy when he became president
• Polk the Purposeful^[207]

[edit] 10 — John Tyler (Jr.)

• His Accidency^[208] He was the first V.P. to succeed to the presidency by the accident of his predecessor dying
• The President without a Party^[209] Soon after he took office, he so alienated his Whig Party that they disowned him, refused to work with him, his (Whig) Cabinet resigned, and started a riot on the White House lawn.
• Traitor Tyler^[210] He was elected as a Whig vice president: but when William Henry Harrison died, it soon became clear that Tyler had no sympathy with that party's policies

[edit] 9 — William Henry Harrison

• Old Tippecanoe^[211] Commemorating the first of his two victories over Tecumseh.
• Granny Harrison^[212] When Harrison took office in 1841 at the age of 68, he was the oldest man to become President.
• General Mum^[213] As in the expression, "keep it mum". Because of his avoidance of speaking out on controversial issues during his election campaign
• The Log Cabin Candidate^[214] The famous Log Cabin Campaign that brought him to the White House contrasted Harrison the tough Westerner with Van Buren the effete patroon. In reality, Harrison came from a more privileged background than Van Buren
  
• The Cincinnatus of the West^[215] Comparing him both to the original Cincinnatus and to George Washington, who was styled "The American Cincinnatus"

[edit] 8 — Martin Van Buren

• Machiavellian Belshazzar^[216]
• Old Kinderhook^[217] His home town as Kinderhook, New York. Possible popularization of "OK"
• The Red Fox of Kinderhook^[218] For his bright red hair and sly ways
• The Little Magician^[219]
• Little Van^[220] He was on the small side
• Martin Van Ruin^[221] The financially-ruinous Panic of 1837 took place during his presidency
• The Sage of Lindenwald^[222]
• The Flying Dutchman^[223]
• The American Talleyrand^[224] Comparing him to the French statesman, Prince Talleyrand, who was considered to be the last word in deviousness

[edit] 7 — Andrew Jackson

• Old Hickory^[225] During the Creek War of 1813–14, neither illness nor injuries would stop him taking the field to lead his men against the enemy. His troops responded by comparing him to hickory, which is among the hardest of woods
• The Hero of New Orleans^[226] Commemorating his victory over a British force in January 1815 during the War of 1812
• King Andrew the First^[227] His far-reaching programs seemed to some people execessive use of presidential powers
• Mischievous Andy^[228]
  
• Sharp Knife Given to him by the Creek Indians whom he fought in 1814
• The Caped Crusader^[229] Given to him for being the only President to wear a cape in his Presidential picture

[edit] 6 — John Quincy Adams

• Old Man Eloquent^[230] Comparing him to a character who featured in the works of the poet John Milton
• King John II^[231] Presumably making his father and predecessor King John the First
• Publicola^[232] Latin name referring to his dedication to public service

[edit] 5 — James Monroe

• The Last of the Cocked Hats^[233] He still wore a tricorne long after it gone out of fashion
• James the Second^[234] His immediate predecessor, Madison, was also called James
• James the Lesser^[235] The suggestion being that James Madison was the more effective president of the two
  
• The Era of Good Feelings President^[236] "The Era of Good Feelings" was the period following the War of 1812, during which America became less divided politically, to the extent that the only opponents of the ruling Democratic Republicans, the Federalist Party, went out of existence. It was not until resistance to Andrew Jackson's policies produced the Whig Party that oppositional politics resumed in the United States

[edit] 4 — James Madison (Jr.)

• The Father of the Constitution^[237]
• The Sage of Montpelier^[238]
• Withered Little Apple-John^[239] So-called by Washington Irving
• The Fugitive President^[240] During the War of 1812, a British army occupied Washington and Madison was forced to flee the White House
• Little Jemmy^[241] or His Little Majesty^[242] At only 5' 4", he was the smallest president ever. The average adult male American at the beginning of the 19th Century was about 5' 8" — an inch and a half shorter than today

[edit] 3 — Thomas Jefferson

• The Father of the Declaration of Independence^[243]
• The Apostle of Democracy^[244]
  
• The Pen of the Revolution^[245] Complementing George Washington, who was called the "Sword of the Revolution"
• Long Tom^[246] A reference to his height of 6′2.5″.
• Mad Tom^[247]
• The Negro President^[248] For his victory in the election of 1800, won because of the three-fifths compromise
• The Red Fox^[249] For his red hair and political cunning
• The Sage of Monticello^[250] Monticello was his Virginia plantation
• The Moonshine Philosopher of Monticello^[251]
• The Man of the People^[252]

[edit] 2 — John Adams (Jr.)

• The Duke of Braintree^[253] A sarcastic reference to his grandiose airs
• His Rotundity^[254] Coined in response to Adams' suggestion that President Washington be addressed as "His Majesty"; mocks Adams' size.
• The Atlas of Independence^[255]
• The Colossus of Debate^[256] Given to him by Thomas Jefferson for his ability to argue a political case
• Bonny Johnny^[257]
• The Father of the Navy^[258] He built up the U.S. Navy during his presidency
• Old Sink or Swim^[259] For the speech in which he vowed "To sink or swim; to live or die; survive or perish with my country"
• Your Superfluous Excellency^[260] So called by Benjamin Franklin when Adams was vice president

[edit] 1 — George Washington

• The Father of His Country^[261]
• The Sword of the Revolution^[262]
• The American Fabius^[263] For his military strategy during the Revolutionary War
• The American Cincinnatus^[264] Like the famous Roman, he won a war, then became a private citizen instead of seeking power or riches as a reward
• The Old Fox^[265] From a remark made by the British General, Lord Cornwallis, in January 1777
• The Sage of Mount Vernon^[266] Mount Vernon, Virginia, was his family estate
• The Farmer President^[267]
  
• The Surveyor President^[268]
  
• His Excellency^[269] An unofficial title used to honor Washington during his presidency, although he preferred the less exalted "Mr. President"

[edit] Presidential name origins

#	President	Name origin
43	George Walker Bush	named after his father, George Herbert Walker Bush.
42	William Jefferson Clinton	named after his biological father, William Jefferson Blythe, Jr.
41	George Herbert Walker Bush	Named after his maternal grandfather, George Herbert Walker
40	Ronald Wilson Reagan	Wilson was his mother’s maiden name
39	James Earl Carter, Jr.	named after his father, James Earl Carter, Sr.
38	Gerald Rudolph Ford	originally named after his biological father, Leslie Lynch King, Sr. and renamed at the age of two by his adopted father Gerald R. Ford, Sr.
37	Richard Milhous Nixon	named after Richard the Lionheart, Milhous was his mother’s maiden name
36	Lyndon Baines Johnson	named after W.C. Linden, a lawyer and family friend, Baines was his mother’s maiden name
35	John Fitzgerald Kennedy	named after his maternal grandfather, John F. “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald
34	Dwight David Eisenhower	originally named David Dwight Eisenhower after his father
33	Harry S. Truman	named after his maternal uncle, Harrison Young; the middle initial represents both "Shippe", after his paternal grandfather, Anderson Shippe Truman; and "Solomon", after his maternal grandfather, Solomon Young. It is generally accepted that the exact name which is abbreviated is undetermined, so that in effect the 'S' stood for nothing but S. Truman's "full name" could be regarded as "Harry S Truman" (without the period), but he did not sign his name that way. Examination of official papers at the Truman Presidential Library reveal that the S. is generally written with a period.
32	Franklin Delano Roosevelt	after being nameless for seven weeks, he was named after his great-uncle, Franklin Hughes Delano
31	Herbert Clark Hoover	Clark was his father’s middle name
30	Calvin Coolidge	originally named John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. after his father
29	Warren Gamaliel Harding	named after his great-uncle, Rev. Warren Gamaliel Bancroft
28	Woodrow Wilson	originally named Thomas Woodrow Wilson after his maternal grandfather, Rev. Thomas Woodrow
27	William Howard Taft	Howard was the last name of his paternal grandmother, Sylvia Howard
26	Theodore Roosevelt	originally named Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. after his father
25	William McKinley	originally named William McKinley, Jr. after his father
23	Benjamin Harrison	named after his paternal uncle, Dr. Benjamin Harrison and his paternal great-grandfather Benjamin Harrison V
22/24	Grover Cleveland	originally named Stephen Grover Cleveland after Rev. Stephen Grover
21	Chester Alan Arthur	named after Dr. Chester Abell, the physician who delivered him, and his paternal grandfather, Alan Arthur
20	James Abram Garfield	named after his deceased infant brother, James, and his father Abram Garfield
19	Rutherford Birchard Hayes	named after his father, Birchard was his mother’s maiden name
18	Ulysses Simpson Grant	About a month after birth, he was originally named Hiram Ulysses Grant, Hiram was his maternal grandfather and Ulysses a Greek hero from mythology. He informally went by his middle name. When enrolling at West Point, congressional sponsor accidentally wrote his name as Ulysses Simpson Grant; Simpson was his mother’s maiden name. The school would not allow Grant to enroll by any other name than that which his sponsor had filled out, so Grant went along with the change. Furthermore, Grant was pleased with the change because he had disliked the fact that his original initials spelled "HUG."
17	Andrew Johnson	either named after Andrew Jackson or a maternal uncle
16	Abraham Lincoln	named after his paternal grandfather
15	James Buchanan	named after his father
14	Franklin Pierce	unknown
13	Millard Fillmore	Millard was his mother’s maiden name
12	Zachary Taylor	named after his paternal grandfather
11	James Knox Polk	named after his maternal grandfather, James Knox
10	John Tyler	named after his father
9	William Henry Harrison	named after his maternal grandfather, William Bassett and paternal uncle, Henry Harrison
8	Martin Van Buren	named after his paternal grandfather
7	Andrew Jackson	named after his father
6	John Quincy Adams	named after his maternal great-grandfather, John Quincy
5	James Monroe	named after his maternal grandfather, James Jones
4	James Madison	named after his father
3	Thomas Jefferson	named after his paternal grandfather, Thomas Jefferson II
2	John Adams	named after his father
1	George Washington	possibly named after George Eskridge, a lawyer who took care of Washington's mother after she was orphaned

[edit] Presidential first, middle and last names

[edit] First names

Six Presidents went by their middle names or nicknames in lieu of their official first names

• James Earl Carter, Jr. went by Jimmy
• William Jefferson Clinton went by Bill
• John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. went by Calvin
• Stephen Grover Cleveland went by Grover
• Thomas Woodrow Wilson went by Woodrow
• Hiram Ulysses Grant went by Ulysses

Duplicates and multiples There have been:

• (6) James
• (4) John, William
• (3) George
• (2) Andrew, Franklin, Thomas

Length

• Rutherford is the longest Presidential first name at 10 letters.
• John and Bill are the shortest Presidential first names at four letters.
• The average length in letters of commonly used Presidential first names is 6.14 letters.

[edit] Middle names

• Three Presidents used their middle name as their given name:

John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. went by Calvin

Stephen Grover Cleveland went by Grover

Thomas Woodrow Wilson went by Woodrow

• Seventeen of the 42 presidents to date have no known middle name.
• Several Presidential middle names were originally surnames: Baines, Birchard, Delano, Fitzgerald, Walker, Knox, Milhous, Quincy and Simpson, et al. Most of these were the President's mother's maiden name.
• Gerald Rudolph Ford was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr. therefore giving him the middle name of Lynch before his mother remarried when he was 3, however his name was not legally changed until 1935 while in law school.
• Ulysses S. Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant. His name was changed when he entered the United States Military Academy.
• Harry Truman's middle name was only an initial; the "S" didn't stand for another name. Nevertheless he signed his name using the period after the letter.
• George Herbert Walker Bush is the only President with two middle names.
• There are no duplicate Presidential middle names, with the partial exception of Herbert Walker and Walker.

[edit] Last names

• There have been two Adamses, two Bushes, two Harrisons, two Johnsons and two Roosevelts. All of the pairs except the Johnsons were related to each other. See List of United States Presidents by genealogical relationship.
• Thirty-two of the Presidents have had unique last names.
• Eisenhower and Washington had the longest last names, with 10 letters each.
• The Bushes, Taft, Polk and Ford had the shortest last names, with four letters each.
• The average Presidential last name has 6.64 letters.
• The only two-word last name is Van Buren. Van is a surname prefix common to people of Dutch ancestry.
• Only three of the ten most common surnames (Smith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown, Davis, Miller, Wilson, Moore, and Taylor) in the United States have been the surnames of Presidents (Johnson, Andrew and Lyndon; Wilson, Woodrow; and Taylor, Zachary).

[edit] "Juniors"

Eleven presidents were complete namesakes of their fathers':

1. Bill (William Jefferson) [Blythe III; subsequently adopted as] Clinton
2. Jimmy (James Earl) Carter (Jr.)
3. [Leslie Lynch King, Jr.; subsequently adopted as] Gerald (Rudolph) Ford (Jr.)
4. (John) Calvin Coolidge (Jr.)
5. Theodore Roosevelt (Jr.) (he dropped the Jr. suffix after the death of his father)
6. William McKinley (Jr.)
7. James Buchanan (Jr.)
8. John Tyler (Jr.)
9. Andrew Jackson (Pres. Andrew Jackson was the exact namesake of his own father, "Andrew Jackson," who died a few days after Jackson's birth; yet it is Pres. Jackson's own adopted son who is known to history as "Andrew Jackson, Jr.")^[270]
10. James Madison (Jr.)
11. John Adams (Jr.)

[edit] See also

• List of British Prime Ministers by nicknames

[edit] References