150+ Nicknames for Tall People: Funny, Sporty & Cute Ideas

How’s the weather up there? Tall people stick out of a crowd (literally) and often get praised for their athletic skills, walking speed, and ability to reach things on super high shelves. So, it’s only fitting the rest of us get to rib them a little with a creative nickname, right? Here are over 150 options for the tall folks in your life, plus some guidance on how to tell when a jokey nickname may have crossed a line. Pick your favorites and try them out (just remember to speak clearly—it’s hard to hear from all the way up there!).

Best Nicknames for Tall People: Top Picks

The BFG (Big Friendly Giant)
Abraham Lincoln
The Tower of Power
Stretch
Andre the Giant

Section 1 of 11:

Classic Nicknames for Tall People

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Test the waters with a tried-and-true nickname for your tall friends. People have been remarking on super tall people’s heights for eons, and there are a few classic nicknames that have withstood the test of time. The tall folks in your life have most likely heard these before (and they might be a little overused), but these friendly nicknames have stuck around for a reason!
- Stretch
- Stilts
- The Giant
- Giraffe
- Lanky
- Long John
- Tree
- Tree Top
- Tree Trunk
- Skyscraper
- The Tall One
- Tallboy / Tallgirl
- Long Shadow
- The Lookout
- The Tower

Section 2 of 11:

Cute Nicknames for Tall Guys

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Give your special tall guy a sweet nickname to show him how special he is. Do you love how tall your crush or boyfriend is? Show your affection (and attraction) with one of these adorable nicknames. In fact, using nicknames and other unique lingo with each other is a sign of strong and solid relationships!^{[1]
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- Big Bear
- Gentle Giant
- Tall Drink of Water
- Hercules
- Redwood
- Slide
- Legs
- Noggin Knocker
- Hottie with the Height
- Noodles^{[2]
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- Elevator
- Tallosaurus
- Llama
- Tall Pants
- Alpine
- Sexy Giant
- Human Ladder
- Tall Tale
- Tall and Mighty
- TILC (Tree I’d Like to Climb)

Section 3 of 11:

Funny Nicknames for Tall People

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Make your tall pal chuckle with these punny and hilarious nicknames. Even though being tall is usually considered a good thing, there’s plenty to poke fun at—tall folks bump their heads, stick out of crowds, and constantly get asked to reach things on high shelves for others. So, poke some friendly fun at the tall people in your life with nicknames like:
- Lankenstein
- Talladega
- Swizzlestick
- Cloud Kidnapper
- Abraham Lincoln
- Rooftop
- Stretchy McStretchface
- The Walking Stick
- The Giant Drop
- The Ceiling Duster
- Head Knocker
- Stretch Mark
- No. 1 Light Bulb Changer
- The Giraffe King / Giraffe Queen
- Mile High
- Upward Mobility
- Top Shelf
- Tall Order
- Top Ticket
- Long Haul

Section 4 of 11:

Sports-Related Nicknames for Tall People

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Comment on a tall friend’s athletic advantages for a nickname. Whether it’s volleyball, basketball, or track and field, there are just certain sports where it pays to be tall. If you have a friend who’s vertically and athletically gifted, try out some of these sporty nicknames:
- André the Giant^{[3]
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- Shaq (or Yao Ming, or any famously tall NBA player)
- The Big Show
- Slam Dunk
- Net King / Net Queen
- Dunk Master
- Spike Master
- Sky Walker
- Long Stride
- The Dunking Dynamo
- Hoops Hero
- Goal Post
- The Rebound Ruler
- The Long Jump Legend
- The Free Throw Fiend
- The High Jump Hero
- The Tower of Power
- The Iron Giant
- The Towering Inferno
- The Tower of Strength

Section 5 of 11:

Mythology & Pop Culture Nicknames for Tall People

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Choose a nickname based on popular tall characters. Height has been a defining trait of famous characters from ancient mythology to modern movies and books. Take a look at some of these recognizable references for something that might resonate with your tall friend:
- Avatar^{[4]
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- The BFG or Big Friendly Giant (from the novel The BFG by Roald Dahl)
- Big Bird (from Sesame Street)
- Biggie (Smalls)
- The Jolly Green Giant (Eat your vegetables!)
- My Tallest! (for the Invader ZIM fans out there)
- Longfellow (as in poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
- Clifford (the Big Red Dog)
- Gulliver (from Gulliver’s Travels)
- Hagrid (of Harry Potter fame)
- Grawp (another giant from Harry Potter)
- Lurch (from The Addams Family)
- Longshanks (nickname for the long-legged and tall Edward I of England)
- Gandalf (you shall not pass this imposing wizard from Lord of the Rings)
- Chewy or Chewbacca (for tall Star Wars fans)
- Cyclops (the one-eyed giant from Greek mythology)
- Atlas (the mythological giant who holds the heavens on his shoulders)

Section 6 of 11:

Architecture-Inspired Nicknames for Tall People

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Compare a them to the highest achievements of architecture or nature. We’re surrounded by skyscrapers, art installations, and natural wonders like mountains that make us look upward in awe—so why not name a tall person in your life after your favorite? Check out these nicknames that compare your favorite tall friend to iconic structures and landmarks:
- Big Ben^{[5]
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- Burj Khalifa
- Sears (Willis) Tower
- Clock Tower
- Eiffel Tower
- Everest
- Mountain
- Twin Towers
- Mount Tallmore
- The Lighthouse
- The Crane
- High Rise
- The Leaning Tower
- The Statue of Liberty
- The Washington Monument
- The Chrysler Building
- The Empire State Building
- Space Needle
- The Obelisk
- Antenna Man / Antenna Woman
- The Colossus

Section 7 of 11:

Strong Nicknames for Tall People

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Comment on a tall person’s overall stature if they’re big or imposing. It isn’t called the Big AND Tall store for nothing. If the tall person in your life has an extra imposing or strong frame (in addition to being tall), go for a nickname that speaks to their impressive stature (without using words that might comment on their weight specifically). For example:
- Tall Titan
- The Mighty Oak
- The Mighty Mountain
- The Iron Pillar
- The Tall Tank
- The Brawny Behemoth
- Tall Timber
- The Mighty Monolith

Section 8 of 11:

Nicknames for Skinny Guys

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Compare your slender tall friends to long and lean items as a nickname. Every tall and thin person has probably heard “You look slender as a beanpole!” before, and there are plenty more similar nicknames where that came from. Just keep in mind that commenting on someone’s weight—even if they’re skinny—can be a touchy subject. Here are some classics for the slim and vertically blessed:
- Coconut Long Boy
- Grasshopper
- Ostrich
- Beanpole or beanstalk
- Toothpick
- String bean
- Bamboo Shoot
- Slim

Section 9 of 11:

Lighthearted Nicknames Based on Names

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Try alliterating a long or tall adjective with someone’s name. If you really want to personalize your tall nickname, try creating one that includes the person’s name. One easy way to do that is to choose an adjective or noun associated with height (like “altitude” or “vertical”) that starts with the same letter as their name. Here are some ideas for inspiration:
- Altitude Alex / Altitude Annie
- Colossal Chris / Colossal Cristela
- Elevation Eric / Elevation Evelyn
- Giraffe Greg / Giraffe Gia
- High Five Henry / High Five Helen
- Jumpin’ Jerry / Jumpin’ Jessica
- King Kevin / Queen Kim
- Long Tall Liam / Long Tall Linda
- Mega Milton / Mega Marian
- Pillar Paul / Pillar Penelope
- Redwood Ron / Redwood Rita
- Sky High Steve / Sky High Sally
- Towering Tim / Towering Tina
- Vertical Victor / Vertical Vicky
- Zenith Zach / Zenith Zoe

Section 10 of 11:

Potentially Mean Nicknames to Avoid

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Steer clear of nicknames that comment on someone’s body type or build. Not all nicknames for tall people are taken so nicely. At the end of the day, someone’s height is a physical feature they can’t control (and might be self-conscious about). This is especially true for kids and particularly young girls, who may feel uneasy when they’re noticeably taller than their peers.^{[6]
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- Beanpole, beanstalk, or string bean (used for someone who’s tall and skinny)
- Toothpick (another comment on someone’s height and weight)
- Bigfoot (insinuates someone is hairy and has big feet, like the monster)
- King Kong (another comparison to a hairy—though popular!—creature)
- Ball hog (implies tall people dominate sports unkindly)
- Giant, Gigantor, Gigantisaurus, etc. (unoriginal and implies someone is big all around)
- Daddy/Lady Long Legs (some guys may be weirded out by “Daddy” and/or long-legged arachnids)
- “Too Tall” (there’s no such thing!)

Section 11 of 11:

Using Nicknames Respectfully

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Look for signs you offended someone like short replies or silence. Even if you meant for the nickname to be affectionate, there’s always a chance the person you’ve given it to doesn’t like it. If they don’t tell you outright, look for signs you may have offended them like:^{[7]
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- A shift to closed-off body language or fake-looking smiles
- A switch to a more irritable tone or mood
- Short responses or the silent treatment when you engage them
- Sarcastic or passive-aggressive replies
- Avoiding future interactions with you
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Offer a sincere apology if you’ve offended someone with a nickname. Calmly explain how you didn’t mean for your nickname to be insulting and that you were trying to be friendly. Then, offer a genuine apology and tell the person you won’t call them that name anymore. Try not to put yourself down for your mistake (“I’m an idiot” or “I should have known better”) since this puts the focus on you instead of the person you’re apologizing to.^{[8]
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- “Hi John! I wanted to apologize for what I called you yesterday. I meant for it to be a friendly exchange, but I understand that you don’t like it and I won’t use that nickname in the future.”
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Respect their boundaries if they don’t want to be called a nickname. Once someone lets you know how they prefer to be called, stick to what they said. It may be tempting to revisit an old nickname or come up with a new one (especially if that’s how you like to show affection, or if you call lots of people in your life nicknames). But, it’s important to respect how someone likes to be referred to—you probably wouldn’t like it if you got called something you found irritating or offensive either!
- Who knows? As your friendship progresses, you might be able to call them by a nickname in the future, but for now, just use their name.