moniker

Meaning

Noun

• A personal name or nickname; an informal label, often drawing attention to a particular attribute.
• A person's signature.
• An object (structured item of data) used to associate the name of an object with its location.

Origin

• Unknown, first attested 1849. Suggested derivations are:
• Backslang for ekename (compare nickname);
• From Shelta munik, munika;
• From monk;
• Partridge (A Dictionary of Historical Slang) suggests a corruption of monogram, which is suggestive of the sense signature.
• From monarch in the sense 'king or No. 1, and thus with frank egotism, "I, myself".' (, pg. 349.)