Nicknames for Best Friend
Your best friend has probably earned a name nobody else gets to use. Whether you’ve been inseparable since kindergarten or met at your first job, the right nickname captures the whole friendship in a word or two. Here are 100+ nicknames for your best friend, from sweet BFF classics to funny roasts and famous duos you can split between the two of you.
Looking for something sillier? Our funny nicknames go further, and cute nicknames are perfect for the softer side. Naming your friend group chat as well? Try our group chat names or trio names.
Classic best friend nicknames
The tried-and-true names people have used for their closest friends for generations.
| Nickname | Meaning | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Bestie | Short for best friend | Sweet, universal |
| BFF | Best friends forever | Nostalgic |
| Ride or Die | Loyal no matter what | Intense loyalty |
| Partner in Crime | Joins every scheme | Mischievous |
| Day One | Been there from the start | Loyal |
| Pal | Old English slang via Romani phral, “brother” | Classic |
| Buddy | American slang for friend since the 1800s | Friendly |
| Chum | British slang from 1600s Oxford, “chamber-fellow” | Vintage |
| Amigo / Amiga | Spanish, “friend” | Warm |
| Main Squeeze | Your number one | Playful |
| Other Half | Completes you | Close |
| Wingman / Wingwoman | Has your back socially | Loyal |
| Person | “You’re my person” from Grey’s Anatomy | Deep |
| Kindred | From “kindred spirit,” Anne of Green Gables style | Literary |
Nicknames for your female best friend
Sweet, sassy and sisterly names for your girl best friend. Pair them with ideas from our cute girl names.
| Nickname | Why it works | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Soul Sister | Sister by choice | Heartfelt |
| Sis | Short and sisterly | Casual |
| Girlie | Classic between friends | Fun |
| Babes | Used lovingly between friends | Warm |
| Queen | She rules | Empowering |
| Sunshine | Always brightens your day | Sweet |
| Hun | Short for honey | Affectionate |
| Bee | Short for bestie; busy and sweet | Cute |
| Boo | Sweet shorthand | Soft |
| Twinnie | Basically your twin | Playful |
| Main Chick | Your top girl | Cheeky |
| Bella | Italian, “beautiful” | Chic |
| Hot Mess | Loved for her chaos | Teasing |
| Mama Bear | Protective of the group | Caring |
| Lady Bird | Free-spirited | Indie |
| Sugar | Sweet as can be | Southern |
Nicknames for your guy best friend
Guy friends tend to use short, punchy names. For even more, see our cool boy names.
| Nickname | Why it works | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Bro | Brother from another mother | Classic |
| Bruh | Bro, but exasperated | Gen Z |
| Dawg | Hip-hop slang for close friend | Laid-back |
| Homie | From homeboy, someone from your neighborhood | Loyal |
| Brosef | Bro plus Joseph | Silly |
| Big Dog | The leader of the pack | Respectful |
| Mate | Australian and British for friend | Easy |
| Chief | The one who calls the shots | Joking respect |
| Boss | Knows what he’s doing | Complimentary |
| Fam | Friend who’s family | Warm |
| Brother Bear | Protective and cuddly | Sweet |
| G | Short for gangster or gentleman — your call | Cool |
| Hoss | Western slang for a big strong friend | Country |
| Compadre | Spanish, “godfather”; close friend | Warm |
| Legend | Always does something epic | Hype |
Funny nicknames for best friends
The best friend roast is a sacred tradition. These are all in good fun.
| Nickname | For the friend who… | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Snack Thief | Always eats your food | Accusatory |
| Trouble | Always gets you into it | Mischievous |
| Ghostie | Takes three days to text back | Pointed |
| Walking Meme | Is a living joke | Complimentary roast |
| Couch Buddy | Lives on your sofa | Cozy |
| Goofball | Can’t be serious | Silly |
| Weirdo | Weird in all the right ways | Loving |
| Chaos Coordinator | Plans everything badly | Funny |
| Dork | Just a dork, your dork | Affectionate |
| Noodle | Wobbly and silly | Cute |
| Potato | Low-energy homebody | Silly |
| Bean | Small and random | Absurd |
| Knucklehead | Makes questionable choices | Retro |
| Troublemaker | Leads you astray | Fond |
Best friend duo nicknames (for the two of you)
Split a famous pair so each friend gets half. Great for matching bracelets, shirts and Halloween costumes.
| Duo | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Thelma & Louise | The 1991 road-trip film | Adventurous girls |
| Bert & Ernie | Sesame Street | Opposites |
| Mario & Luigi | Nintendo’s plumbers | Gamers |
| Timon & Pumbaa | The Lion King | Carefree pals |
| Phineas & Ferb | Disney Channel inventors | Creative friends |
| Salt & Pepper | Kitchen staples | Opposites |
| Peanut Butter & Jelly | The perfect sandwich | Inseparable friends |
| Mac & Cheese | Comfort food | Cozy friends |
| Sherlock & Watson | Arthur Conan Doyle stories | Curious minds |
| Batman & Robin | DC Comics | Leader and sidekick |
| Lilo & Stitch | Disney film | Chaotic friends |
| Rory & Lorelai | Gilmore Girls | Coffee addicts |
| Harry & Ron | Harry Potter | Loyal friends |
| Frodo & Sam | The Lord of the Rings | Ride-or-die loyalty |
| Milk & Cookies | Classic snack | Sweet pairs |
| Starsky & Hutch | 1970s cop show | Action pairs |
| SpongeBob & Patrick | SpongeBob SquarePants | Goofy duos |
| Wayne & Garth | Wayne’s World | Party on |
Sweet and sentimental nicknames
For the friend who’s been there for everything. See our list of names that mean love for meaningful words you can use too.
| Nickname | Meaning | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor | Keeps you steady | The reliable one |
| Rock | Solid support | Your emotional support |
| Lifeline | Always picks up the phone | Crisis buddy |
| Heart | Pure love | Closest friend |
| Angel | Always looks out for you | Kind souls |
| Treasure | Rare and precious | Longtime friend |
| Starlight | Guides you through dark times | Dreamers |
| Home | Feels like home | Childhood friend |
| Joy | Brings happiness | Cheerful friends |
| Cheerleader | Always rooting for you | Supporters |
Best friend nicknames in other languages
A best friend nickname in another language can be a nod to a shared trip, class or heritage.
| Nickname | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hermano / Hermana | Spanish | Brother / sister |
| Mon Pote | French | My buddy |
| Amico / Amica | Italian | Friend |
| Chingu | Korean | Friend |
| Tomodachi | Japanese | Friend |
| Rafiki | Swahili | Friend |
| Habibi | Arabic | My dear |
| Kumpel | German | Buddy |
| Mo Chara | Irish | My friend |
| Kaibigan | Tagalog (Filipino) | Friend |
| Parceiro / Parceira | Portuguese | Partner, buddy |
| Ystävä | Finnish | Friend |
| Yaar | Hindi / Urdu | Buddy |
How to choose a nickname for your best friend
- Start with a story. The best BFF nicknames come from something that happened — a road trip, a mispronounced word, a legendary fall.
- Play on their real name. Tweak, shorten or rhyme it — Jess becomes Jessie Bear, Max becomes Maximus.
- Choose a duo name. Splitting a famous pair (Thelma & Louise, Timon & Pumbaa) gives you matching names for photos and gifts.
- Keep the roasts loving. Funny names should make them laugh, not cringe in front of new people.
- Update it over time. Friendships change — the nickname from middle school might become something new after college, and that’s part of the story.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cute name to call your best friend?
Popular cute options include bestie, sunshine, bee, twinnie, boo and soul sister. Many friends add a word to the person’s name, like Jessie Bear or Sammy Sunshine.
What do guys call their best friends?
Bro, dawg, homie, fam, mate and big dog are the most common, along with shortened versions of each other’s last names.
What is a good duo name for best friends?
Famous pairs work well: Thelma & Louise, Bert & Ernie, Timon & Pumbaa, Mario & Luigi or food combos like peanut butter & jelly.
Where does the word “pal” come from?
“Pal” entered English in the 1600s from the Romani word phral or pral, meaning “brother.”
What does “ride or die” mean?
A ride-or-die friend is someone loyal through anything — they’ll stick by you in good times and bad.