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The Ultimate List of Funny Nicknames for Your Coworkers

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Give a colleague one of these relatable nicknames for a good laugh!

Co-authored by Cynthia Orduna and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: September 19, 2024 Fact Checked

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Looking for funny, goofy, and meme-worthy nicknames to call your coworkers? Well, look no further because we’ve got an entire list for you right here! Whether you intend to call your coworkers these pet names to their faces or behind their backs, that's up to you (we just highly suggest being cool about it). Take a look at these nicknames to see if you know anyone that matches their meanings.

1

Ace

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If your coworker is always ready for a challenge and never fails to amaze, this is the perfect nickname for them! They never fail to put in the effort and deliver fantastic results. All in all, you can always count on them. ^{[1]
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2

Bambino

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Someone who’s the youngest in the office. Have a colleague who’s younger than the rest? Well, this is a great nickname for them! This classic nickname doesn’t cause offense but simply alludes to them being a youngster. ^{[2]
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3

Blister

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Someone who appears when the work is done and takes credit. This individual loves coasting with the victory even when they have nothing to do with it. Whether intentional or not, they’ll pretend they played a part in the task. They’ll likely even slap their name on the project even if they didn’t contribute anything.

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4

Butterfingers

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This coworker’s fingers must be made of butter because they can’t go a day (or even an hour) without dropping something! Maybe it’s a pen at their desk or a cup of coffee in the break room. Either way, you wouldn’t trust them with the most fragile office supplies.

5

Butter Knife

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Someone who isn’t the sharpest. This coworker isn’t the sharpest tool in the toolbox. There’s not much going on upstairs. Maybe they’re a bit dull to talk to or just don’t contribute much to the team. Either way, they’re not the brightest.

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6

Champ

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Someone who rises to the occasion. Do you have a coworker that always puts in the extra mile? No matter what, they give 100%! This nickname is perfect for anyone who excels at their job. ^{[3]
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7

Code Master

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Someone who’s good with computers. This colleague knows a thing or two about technology! They’re likely on the IT team and know just what to do when your computer dies. All in all, you can count on them to fix any computer issue. ^{[4]
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8

Daisy

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This coworker is a “daisy” because some days they work and some days they don’t. The first word that likely comes to mind when you think of them is “lazy” or “inconsistent.”

9

Deck Chair

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Someone who folds under pressure. Have a coworker who always panics when they have a deadline or are called on the spot? If so, they’re likely a Deck Chair. They can’t handle the heat and likely try to hide when there’s too much pressure or stress on them.
- You could also call this person Chairman—same meaning!

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10

Dr. Do Little

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Someone who does very little at work. This coworker does exactly what this nickname suggests—little! If they don’t get much work done (if any at all), this is the perfect name for them.

11

E.T.

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Someone who always wants to go home. Like the 80s blockbuster hit, this coworker wants to phone home. They’re always whining or complaining about whether the workday is over and constantly asking for days off. Moral of the story? They love being home!

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12

Glowstick

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Like a glowstick, you just want to shake this coworker until they snap into shape! They might be lazy, disorganized, or inconsiderate. No matter the issue, you need to give them a few shakes to remind them of their job.

13

Gizmo

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Someone who always has a gadget. This person never fails to be playing with the latest technology at home or at the office. They love fixing things and learning all about the newest gadgets. Chances are, they’re the ones called when something breaks. ^{[5]
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14

Handle with Care

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Someone who overreacts and gets upset over little things. This coworker must be handled with care, or they’ll shatter—just like a box of fragile glass. Saying the wrong thing or assigning them a simple task could tip them over the edge.

15

Invisible Man

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Someone who disappears when there’s work to be done. This colleague doesn’t want to help whatsoever. If you’re put on a team with them, you know they’ll vanish out of thin air and leave everything up to you.

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16

Justin

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As the name suggests, this person does “just” enough work to skim by. They don’t go above and beyond but also don’t put in anything. While they may not be the best employee, there’s nothing you can say against their adequate work ethic.

17

KitKat

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Someone who’s always taking a break. Like a KitKat candy bar, this coworker is always ready for a break. When they can’t be found, they’re likely in the breakroom. When they’re not on a break, they’re likely talking about going on a break. Their favorite thing about work? Breaks.

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18

Lantern

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Someone who’s not very bright and has to be carried. This coworker isn’t exactly the smartest on the team or in the office. Perhaps they’re always making foolish mistakes, have terrible ideas, or never know what they’re talking about. All in all, they’re not the most intelligent.

19

Moses

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Someone who takes a long time to finish a simple task. This colleague takes forever to do even the simplest of things. Make a copy? Takes all day. Call a client? It’ll take an hour just for them to find the phone number. This coworker will try to cross the Red Sea for anything, just like Moses.

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20

Motion Light

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Someone who only works when someone walks past. Like a motion light, this individual only puts in an effort when someone else is near. This can look like shopping online to look “busy” and quickly switching to a different tab when the boss walks past.
- If you have two Motion Lights at work, try referring to one as Sensor Light—it has the same meaning!

21

Night Light

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Someone who’s a little dim. A coworker who’s smart but not the smartest of the group is perfect for this nickname! Like a night light, they give off a little bit of light or insight, but they’re not as bright as an overhead light. They have a good idea occasionally, but they’re mostly there to help guide and follow the rest of the team.

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22

Puzzle Master

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Someone who finds solutions quickly. There’s no doubt that problems arise at work—they’re not completely avoidable—but this coworker is always there to fix it. They’re a problem solver at heart and have a knack for turning complex issues into something positive. ^{[6]
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23

Scribe

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Someone who’s detail-oriented. This coworker never leaves out a detail—they’re meticulous! You can count on them to write detailed meeting notes and have an organized workspace. They never overlook the finer details. ^{[7]
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24

Seagull Manager

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Think of this coworker as a seagull at the beach, and your project is a bag of French fries. They’ll suddenly swoop in to “help,” only to knock the bag of fries out of your hand and make a giant mess. They’ll eat a few fries and then disappear. In other words, this coworker just messes up your progress.

25

Seaweed

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Someone who floats around (and possibly stinks). This colleague wanders about without a care in the world—just like a tangle of seaweed! They meander and go wherever the tide (work day) takes them. And it’s very possible that they’re a bit stinky.

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26

Shaggy

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Someone who’s never in the wrong. Like the classic Scooby-Doo character, this coworker always exclaims, “It wasn’t me!” They’re likely to fall off a task or are constantly caught up in mistakes. You rarely catch them taking the blame, whether it was their fault or not.

27

Splinter

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Someone who’s simply annoying. Like a splinter, this coworker is a pain in the butt! They may not do anything atrocious at work, but they can’t help but annoy you. Their annoyances are so tiny, though, that you may not even recognize them right away.

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28

Sunshine

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Chances are, you know someone at work who always has a smile on their face—they’re a pocketful of sunshine! They make you feel good, and that’s one awesome quality in a team member. ^{[8]
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29

Teflon

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Someone who doesn’t retain information. Teflon is the material used to create non-stick products, and like a non-stick pan, nothing sticks to this coworker. No matter how a task or idea is explained, they just don’t get it.

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30

Time Clock

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Someone you want to knock out. Do you have a coworker that you just want to slap silly? If so, they’re a Time Clock! They make you so angry that you want to give them a good punch in the nose (respectfully, of course).

31

Wheelbarrow

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Someone who only works when pushed. Like a wheelbarrow, this coworker needs a nudge or strong push to get moving. They need constant validation and help to get a task done; they need guidance.

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32

Zeus

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This nickname is unique because it’s an acronym! ZEUS stands for Zero Effort Unless Supervised and is perfect for individuals who only put it in the work when the boss is around.

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Nicknames can be a great way to form connections at work, but they could also be insulting. Never make comments about a coworker’s race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or culture, as these biases and stereotypes can be harmful. ^{[9]
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Pick nicknames that promote inclusivity over exclusivity. A nickname should be fun and never alienate or make a coworker feel bad. ^{[10]
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Link the nickname to a shared experience, inside joke, or unique characteristics. This makes it more fun and personal, forming a bond between you and your coworker. ^{[11]
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About This Article

Co-authored by:

Career and Business Coach

This article was co-authored by Cynthia Orduna and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano . Cynthia Orduna is a Career and Business Coach based in Los Angeles, CA. She also has career experience in recruitment, human resources, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Over the past 6 years, Cynthia has coached over 300 people at all career levels and helped 50+ companies worldwide in cities like LA, SF, NY, Berlin, Tokyo, Sydney, London, and others to hire and retain top talent. Cynthia’s mission is to empower people to own their unique story and believe there are no boundaries on what they can achieve or who they can become. Her work has been featured in publications like Business Insider, Lattice, The Zoe Report, and The Balance Careers. Cynthia graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Studio Arts, with an emphasis in multimedia. This article has been viewed 31,578 times.

1 votes - 100%

Co-authors: 3

Updated: September 19, 2024

Views: 31,578

Categories: Socializing at Work

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 31,578 times.

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