Is it suspicious when someone you just met gives you their nickname instead of their real name?

Question

Mkay so I met a guy recently and when I asked his name… he gave me what sounded more like a nickname than his actual name. I did end up finding out his real name later lol… but it made me wonder.

He seemed very mysterious, but in an interesting way. He was standing outside the building away from everyone, so when I walked out to grab something from the car, I asked him why he was outside instead of inside.

He simply said, “too many people.”

So I asked if he was an introvert, and he shook his head no with this cute little smirk while looking into my eyes. I couldn’t help smiling back while taking a sip of my ice water... We ended up talking a bit and exchanged numbers…

But now I’m curious… what do you think when someone gives you their nickname first instead of their real name?

Lliam · Accepted Answer

It depends on the nickname.
All my life, I went by a nickname that is associated with my full name. The only time I use my full name is on official documents.

My nickname is common. It's the one I used when introducing myself and it's what everyone calls me. My full name would sound formal.

But if he used a weird nickname like Sharkey or Slim or something, that would be sus. Instead of being friendly and familiar, it would seem like he wanted to be anonymous.

Then again, maybe all his friends call him by that nickname and he is just in the habit of using it all the time. So he may have been treating you on a familiar rather than a formal basis.

It would be easy to ask him where he got that nickname and what is his real name.

OneViewpoint · Accepted Answer

Nah, I met a guy a few years ago and we became friends. He gave his name and it sounded odd but I just went with it. Found out a couple of years later his real name is Robert. LOL, almost none of his friends knew his real name. Everyone only knows him by his nickname. Turns out the nickname is something his brother gave him because of a job he had in high school. It stuck. It would be weird calling him by his real name.

There's nothing suspicious about it. Everyone just knows him by that nickname. They don't even know it's a nickname.

lilBigPotato · Accepted Answer

It depends I guess? I have friends who only go by nickname but they usually still mention their real name when introducing themselves. If he nickname is close to their own band I guess it's not necessary but if it's something completely different it might be a bit weird. But I'm not sure if it would make it automatically suspicious. If he wanted to be that secretive he wouldn't have given you his number.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Not sure i do that when im not interested in them
It's more like i have to say some name but I don't know you and I dont want to know you that much so I say something quick, but my nickname is generic
If it's not, maybe it means if they here that name they'll respond quicker

ohsheeT · Answer

I don't know if it's suspicious or not I have three nicknames LOL and people my friends call me by them when I'm around them but if there's somebody new there and they say this is so and so I will always stop and say Steve my name is Steve because that's the real me not the nickname the next name means I'm somebody else and I don't like being somebody else I like being me

HawkPerception · Answer

For me, yes. It shows a lack of trust. The only way to create a healthy foundation for any relationship is with honesty and trust.

I honestly don't see the point in not giving your real name unless you absolutely know the person is a dangerous individual.

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

I don't know what to think because I'm used to proceed with nicknames on the internet, but not in person. I haven't seen anyone not giving their first name, including me, in person...

But I don't know if your environment, is that a unique case for you?

AydenHazor · Answer

I didn't think so. A lot of people prefer to go by their nickname and therefore will introduce themselves as such. I know a few people in the dance community that have a nickname they go by at dance and meeting new people in public (bars, clubs, etc) so that is they do meet a creeper it's harder to find them in personal life (home, work, social media, etc). This does for both guys and girls. It tends to be more of a safety issue for girls, but I've also met some crazy ladies out there that I wouldn't want looking me up and would try to as well

RedAlertAdvisor · Answer

Not necessarily.

A nickname isn't a red flag by itself.

What matters is whether the person is hiding their identity or simply introducing themselves the way everyone calls them.

In your story, what stood out more to me wasn't the nickname.

It was the combination of:

• mysterious behavior
• standing apart from everyone else
• giving limited answers
• creating curiosity very quickly

None of those things are bad on their own.

Reality Check:

Sometimes mystery is attractive. The real question is whether there is honesty behind it.

If someone eventually shares who they are and their actions match their words, it's probably just a personality trait.

If the mystery never goes away, that's when I'd start paying attention.

236color · Answer

That depends, are we talking about James that introduced himself as Jim, or that same James that calls himself "Cooter"? Or worse yet some hypermacho name like the 19 year old kid here on GAG that called himself "Widowmaker".

bobalife · Answer

It’s actually a social norm, lots of people have nicknames that they would rather go by these days. There’s usually a fun or sad story behind it. Now if it’s just a fake name that they pretend to have as their real name is when it becomes sus, but I don’t think so in this situation.

sawno · Answer

Online its the most normal thing ever, if people DM me here and the first thing they wanna know is my real name and location they will never hear from me again.

But in person i'd find it weird to use a nickname.

WellBye · Answer

Sounds like a weirdo who thinks he's somebody important in his own little world. There's some infos you shouldn't give to someone new and a name isn't one of them. It's enough to just keep very personal things private, he doesn't need to act like a spy on a secret mission.

Phoenix98 · Answer

In general no because I used to know a guy named Richard but everyone called him Pete that's what I thought his actual name was for about a solid year lol before I found out his actual name cool dude.

But in a relationship or dating type situation I do find that a little strange that someone would give me a nickname instead of their actual name.

_Jenny_ · Answer

@7phoenix7 not these days, all I ever get is nicknames or maybe a first name

beenherebefore · Answer

No, my Partner goes by a short name because most people can't say his name. He uses his nickname because it's easier for everyone including at work.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

The man sounds like a professional. Like he's done this act a hundred times

WhitneySnow · Answer

Some people go by their nickname. I knew a guy named Ulysses who went by Gus.

msc545 · Answer

I don't think it matters, but if you want to pick something to be suspicious about, you might as well pick that because if you don't, you'll pick something else.

queenofcardio · Answer

I give out my nickname sometimes, especially if I’m unsure about the person. They eventually learn my first name if we end up still talking, otherwise, nope. So I feel differently about it.

MikeTheBartender · Answer

He doesn't want you to find his profile w his girlfriend.

Calyptomaniac · Answer

Not if that's what everyone calls him. If it turns out no one calls him that then it's a little bizarre, not necessarily suspicious yet though.

Intelligent_Lady · Answer

Yes, it can be a bit suspicious when someone you just met only gives a nickname instead of their real name, as they might be hiding something.

Nikki1989 · Answer

No, definitely not. Many people are just known by their nickname. That has been the case with me forever.

Darcey · Answer

I don't give men my real name for security reasons.  Can't be too careful

sage2021 · Answer

He probably gave you the name that most people know him by.

Alex-Snow · Answer

I think some people prefer to be called by their nickname. But that said, I think it is best to say my name is %^^& but I prefer to be called by )(*&

exitseven · Answer

They definitely have something to hide. Stay in public spaces.

Shiprex · Answer

They feel safer with you because they give you something that's close to them.

LiamJHayden · Answer

It depends. Some people are known primarily by their nicknames. If it is an attempt to conceal the identity then yes.

dragoblack · Answer

No, it's a matter of safety & trust, and for some, it's an easier identifier when a birth name is too common.

In_Trance · Answer

It makes sense if you're playing fortnite. Any other occasion absolutely not.

MissSunshine2 · Answer

You're overthinking it.

alina_521 · Answer

Totally fine but I prefer real

AgentG111 · Answer

Nah, maybe they prefer that.

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