History Main / IronicNickname

* In Creator/AlfredHitchcock's ''Film/TheSecretAgent'', the Hairless Mexican is neither hairless nor Mexican. However, in the novel ''Literature/{{Ashenden}}'', on which the film was based, the character [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin actually was a hairless Mexican]].

* In the second novel of the ''Literature/RiftwarCycle'', Jimmy nicknamed the humorless Nightmaster of the Mockers Laughing Jack.

* "Tiny", a character in the ''Cake Mania'' series, is an ex-sumo wrestler.

* [[ComicBook/AllStarBatmanAndRobinTheBoyWonder ''All-Star Batman and Robin'']] depicts ''the Joker'' of all people as a dour, humorless hitman.

* Officer Hiromi Yamazaki of ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'' is roughly 6'3" 250 odd pounds (about 2 meters and 100 kilos). In fact he's too big to pilot most of the mecha (can't fit in the cockpit). He's also a gentle soul (with a GenderBlenderName) who would have been a fisherman like his father, if he didn't get seasick. Half-pint GenkiGirl officer Noa Izumi refers to him as ''Hiromi-chan'' using the diminutive usually reserved for cute girls and pets.

* The ring name of [[Wrestling/{{Chyna}} Joan “Chyna” Laurer]] is a reference to ‘fine china’, which is delicate and fragile…something the former bodybuilder was decidedly not.

* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', [[AxCrazy Konrad Curze]], [[TheDreaded the Night Haunter]], Primarch of the Night Lords Legion had a pair of master-crafted [[WolverineClaws lightning claws]] whose true name (if any) were unknown. What does his Legion call them? ''Mercy'' and ''Forgiveness''. The irony is readily apparent for any follower of 40k, but for those who aren't: Konrad Curze was an AxCrazy SerialKillerKiller who, within a year of landing on his homeworld of Nostramo, managed to clear it of crime by using violent, murderous terror tactics to punish criminals and deter corruption amongst officials.

* From the ''Literature/ClassicSingaporeHorrorStories'' short, "Stepchild", when the protagonist Katherine "Kate" describes herself and her brothers, Augustine "Argoose" and Rudolpho "Rudy". The latter is the nicest NiceGuy in the entire story, despite his nickname, which Katherine lampshades. "He's never rude to anyone despite being named Rudy."

-->'''[[DrillSergeantNasty Lt. Maj. Goose]]:''' ''[[LiteralMinded Your hair's not curly!]] What's your real name?!]]''\\

* In the ''VideoGame/Borderlands2'' DLC ''Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep'', the White Knight in Tina's [[MagicAmpersand Bunkers & Badasses]] game is represented by Roland, the only black Vault Hunter.

* Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, the most famous Confederate general of the UsefulNotes/AmericanCivilWar not named UsefulNotes/RobertELee. While his famous nickname might give you the impression that he was known for his skill at defending against enemy attacks, the opposite is true: he was most famous for his [[AttackAttackAttack strikingly aggressive]] style of command, with most of his reputation as a general stemming from his skill at offensive maneuvers. His nickname is generally agreed to have originated after the First Battle of Bull Run, where he earned admiration for refusing to retreat from advancing Union forces--but even there, he did more attacking than defending.

* The titular protagonist of ''Webcomic/{{Rain}}'' isn't fond of rainy days at all.

* "Tiny", a character in the ''VideoGame/CakeMania'' series, is an ex-sumo wrestler.

** Also, there's Patches's {{Expy}} from ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'', "Mild-Mannered" Pate. Sure, he ''acts'' mild-mannered, but only to trick gullible saps into getting themselves killed setting off booby traps in his place, or acting as a nice distraction for enemies, so he can loot all the prizes for himself.

* "Tiny", a character in the ''VideoGame/CakeMania'' series, is actually an ex-sumo wrestler.

* The protagonist of ''Manga/MolesterMan'' is not actually a molester (he was mistaken for one in the first chapter), but since everyone in the story is OnlyKnownByTheirNickname (at least to the audience), it sticks. Also, the character Loli [[BuxomIsBetter definitely doesn't have a lolita body type]].

* The titular protagonist of ''Webcomic/{{Rain}}, isn't fond of rainy days at all.

* The titular protagonist of ''Webcomic/{{Rain}}, isn't fond of rainy days at all.

* In ''Fanfic/ThePrayerWarriors'', this applies to [[ICallItVera weapons]]. [[OriginalCharacter William]] has a [[HeroesPreferSwords sword]] called "Forgiveness" and [[Franchise/HarryPotter Draco Malfoy]] has an [[AnAxeToGrind axe]] called "Peace". They and the rest of the Prayer Warriors slaughter non-Christians, including those who are unarmed, those who surrender, and even a few who [[HeelFaceDoorSlam try to do]] a HeelFaceTurn.

** The headmistress of Riften's Honorhall Orphanage goes by the name of "Grelod the Kind". Far from being kind, she's one of the absolute cruelest people of all of Skyrim, and her sobriquet is meant as an ironic insult by the townspeople of Riften. She's so mean that should she die, not only do the orphans she ostensibly cares for all cheer her death, but it is not regarded as a crime, no matter the means of death. She was so wicked that one kid who escaped from the orphanage tried to contact [[MurderInc the Dark Brotherhood]] to have her killed. Breaking into his house will have him mistake you for a Dark Brotherhood assassin, and if you play along and kill Grelod for him, it gets the attention of the real Brotherhood, who attempt to recruit you.

->'''Veronica''': Easygoing Veronica Mars, that's what the kids at school call me.\\
'''Keith''': ...You know how fat men are sometimes called "Tiny"?

* In the ''ComicBook/IronMan'' comics, Happy Hogan is named thus because he was originally drawn with [[PerpetualFrowner only one expression.]] [[ProgressivelyPrettier It didn't stick]].

* The Kindly Ones in ''ComicBook/TheSandman''. Which is actually a historical nickname for the beings in question (or at least one of the many trios of mythological crones Gaiman conflated into his characters). It is a pretty common practice in many cultures to refer to scary supernatural beings by friendly-sounding names to avoid angering them. See TheFairFolk for another example.

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' - Mary-Jane famously calls Peter "Tiger" despite him being a snarky / socially-awkward nerd.
** It somewhat lost that status when a {{Retcon}} revealed she'd been a SecretSecretKeeper since the very beginning.

** Big Figure is actually a [[LittlePeople dwarf]].