Need help with a nickname for a character.

[Xelah]

In my urban fantasy work, all of the shapeshifters have a nickname they use to conceal their identities. Most make up their own, but my protagonist had his donated to him.

I like the story behind the name I've got now, but don't like the name itself.

His current nickname: Shred of Truth
Origin: An elder shapeshifter asks him once, "Is there a shred of truth in anything you've just told us?" Shortly after, everyone just started calling him that.

The name just doesn't roll off the tongue though. So, I was wondering if anyone else had any ideas for a nickname that implies that person is a sneaky, lying, and generally devious (although not cowardly) individual.

Penny for your thoughts?

 

[The Judge]

How about Shred just on its own? It doesn't import all those qualities of mendacity etc but it does roll off the tongue quite easily. It could also be used in an ironical way by the others, since it's like Spike, a seemingly 'hard' name, and they aren't using it with that in mind.

The only nickname I can think of at present implying devious etc is 'Shifty' -- I'm not sure if that translates into American-English though, and there might be some confusion over the shift part of Shapeshifter.

Since you've mentioned sneaky, there's always just Sneak or Sneaks. Or how about a combination word like 'Lie Boy'?

J

 

[Pyan]

Foxy? Or how about Snakey, or the Serpent?

 

[Purdy Bear]

How about Blue? Blue means Truth in colour language.

 

[Interference]

Dev. Sounds nice but it's short for devious.

 

[crystal haven]

How about Dodge.

 

[goldhawk]

So, I was wondering if anyone else had any ideas for a nickname that implies that person is a sneaky, lying, and generally devious (although not cowardly) individual.

The sneakiest, lying-est, deceitfully name I can think of is "Lawyer".

 

[Sapheron]

Estate agent would be another good one.

If someone was given a long nickname it'd probably get shortened before to long. That's how I've seen it work before. Shread of Truth would quickly become either Shred or Truth in the majority of conversations, and the full thing would only be used when people were trying to make a point of it.

 

[Pyan]

If someone was given a long nickname it'd probably get shortened before too long. That's how I've seen it work before.

Heh, yes - Flashman's Native American nickname in Flashman and the Redskins was "Rider who goes so fast he splits the wind with his speed", shortened to "Wind Breaker"...

 

[dreamhunter]

In my urban fantasy work, all of the shapeshifters have a nickname they use to conceal their identities. Most make up their own, but my protagonist had his donated to him.

I like the story behind the name I've got now, but don't like the name itself.

His current nickname: Shred of Truth
Origin: An elder shapeshifter asks him once, "Is there a shred of truth in anything you've just told us?" Shortly after, everyone just started calling him that.

The name just doesn't roll off the tongue though. So, I was wondering if anyone else had any ideas for a nickname that implies that person is a sneaky, lying, and generally devious (although not cowardly) individual.

Penny for your thoughts?

How about 'Fibs', as in, "Stop fibbin, will ya?'

'Cham', short for Chameleon, the master of stealth. It also sounds almost similar to 'Champ'.

'Truthshifter', 'Truthshredder'?

''Mongoose', the thief of snake's eggs and snake's babies, but also fighter of cobras, since you mentioned 'sneaky, lying, and generally devious (although not cowardly)'. The Irish preference for taking the last part of a person's name for his/her short name, e.g. Liam for William, Beth for Elizabeth, could then reduce Mongoose further to 'Goose.

I was also going to mention 'Dev', but Interference beat me to it. Not only as shortform for 'Devious', but also because it happens to be a name of Sanskrit origin meaning 'God', which gives it some element of the mystical.

 

[Sparrow]

If I were to attach an animal to your character it would probably be a Weasel.

Though known to be sneaky and devious they are also clever, resourceful, cunning, and not altogether unattractive.

 

[goldhawk]

''Mongoose', the thief of snake's eggs and snake's babies, but also fighter of cobras, since you mentioned 'sneaky, lying, and generally devious (although not cowardly)'. The Irish preference for taking the last part of a person's name for his/her short name, e.g. Liam for William, Beth for Elizabeth, could then reduce Mongoose further to 'Goose.

I was also going to mention 'Dev', but Interference beat me to it. Not only as shortform for 'Devious', but also because it happens to be a name of Sanskrit origin meaning 'God', which gives it some element of the mystical.

Well, if you're going to Irish the name, Devious becomes Vious.

 

[Xelah]

@Everyone
Thanks for the input. I'm still not certain about any of the names, but you guys have at least gotten the wheels spinning again.

@Judge
Shifty works a bit, but here it's usually used as the adjective "Shifty-eyed"

@pyan
Not quite what I was going for, it'd be a bit odd having a werecoyote with a nickname that implied a different animal.

@Purdy
Hmmm, blue is good. It's a common name for dogs here though, so it'd need another word attached.

@GH
Lawyer is interesting.

@Saph
What's an estate agent?

@DH
Fibs has a nice ring to it, but doesn't at all fit into lower class Houston culture. =/

@Sparrow
Coyote actually. My character is loosely based around some Native American tales of a demigod that was at times a hero, a fool, and a teacher, but always a scoundrel.




@Everyone (again)
Maybe it would help if I rephrased the question. What would a Polish person call a sneaky guy? A friend once explained Poles as the UK's version of Mexicans. I can't use the Mexican word since it's "coyote" or "zoro (fox)" . . . which are completely unhelpful.

 

[The Judge]

@Judge
Shifty works a bit, but here it's usually used as the adjective "Shifty-eyed"

Try it and see whether it sticks to him and/or the other characters use it. Make one of the others British, and explain it as being a Britism!

@Saph
What's an estate agent?

Realtor, I think. A person who sells houses. Not renowned for their veracity.

Can't help with the Polish name - but are your other charcters likely to use a Polish word? And will your readers understand it and make the mental jump you ned?

J

 

[Xelah]

Having a Brit as a member of the Village? That'd be a strong test of my writing abilities. I don't think I've ever met a Brit tourist here I suppose it wouldn't be any harder than using the Polish word. I didn't really think that part through.

 

[dreamhunter]

I think I might have another name for your Shred of Truth fellow now.

How about ... ummm ... errr ... ummm ... errr ...

George!!!

 

[Sarahsque]

Kipp
Valider
Winslow
Nitty-Grit
Repulser
Kenshin (means "modest truth")
Amin (trustworthy, White lie)
Satyen (Lord of the truth)

 

[Boneman]

By Xelah
I don't think I've ever met a Brit tourist here

That's because I didn't speak to you as I traversed Texas (in two dfferent directions) in May 2008 - I was on a hired Harley, so probably looked American... And I was with 2 ex-Vietnam veterans and they told me never, never, ever argue with a Texan, so I kept quiet.

 

[Jarshen]

Surely it depends on the elder shapeshifter and his character and what he feels about the young pupil and then whether the other pupils take it up. Is it affectionate or derogatory?

How about 'Tatters' as in everything was in tatters, shredded including the truth, quite friendly.
Your 'Fib' is pretty low status and friendly.
'Truth' irony/sarcasm can work especially if the relationship between the two is close.
'Pack' as in pack of lies.
Kind of depends what you want the nickname to do,nicknames are used to taunt, to bond or simply to signify what do you want?
Does the character deserve his nickname

 

[Shadow Trooper]

Somebody else mentioned Fibs which seems a good short nickname.

Or you could have Sham or Scam (if it happens the character is more of an illusive schemer rather than an out and out liar).

Scant could be another choice if he is just a little sparse when it comes to the facts rather than a liar. Hmmmm, 'Pol' maybe, short for politician of course.