Common Nicknames for Marines (+ Where They Came From)

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U.S. Marine Corps veteran Zachary Green shares Marine nicknames & their origins

Co-authored by Zachary Green and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: November 18, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Popular Nicknames
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• Other Nicknames
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• Outdated & Uncommon Nicknames

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From "leatherneck" to "jarhead," there are a lot of wild nicknames for Marines! We spoke to Zachary Green, an entrepreneurship coach and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, to help us compile a comprehensive list of Marine nicknames—plus, the origins and etymology of some of the most popular Marine nicknames. We'll also dive into some other interesting military nicknames and terms of endearment. Keep reading for all the info!

Most Common Nicknames for the Marines

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Zachary Green says some of the most common nicknames for Marines include:

• Jarhead
• Devil Dog
• Leatherneck
• Crayon Eater

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Section 1 of 3:

Popular Marine Nicknames & Origins

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   Leatherneck Between the late 1700s to the late 1800s, Green says, “Marines literally wore leather collars to keep swords from slicing their throats (and to keep them standing tall).” Though this isn't a part of the uniform anymore, the nickname has stuck like glue. The more you know!

   • Green adds that this is an old-school nickname. He says, “Today, you mostly hear it on plaques, birthday ball speeches, and anywhere someone’s trying to sound extra historic.”

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Zachary Green is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He has over 10 years of entrepreneurial experience, specializing in helping people transform their businesses, relationships, and lives.
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   Devil dog Green says this nickname is sacred and comes from the 1918 Battle of Belleau Wood in World War I. He explains that “the Germans supposedly called Marines Teufelshunde,” which is German for devil dogs, “because of how insane and relentless they fought at Belleau Wood.” While Green says it’s up for debate whether the Germans literally said this or the American newspapers just sensationalized the battle, he notes that “either way, [the] Marines earned that one in blood.”

   • There's no actual evidence this story is true, but it's commonly cited as the origins of the nickname "devil dogs."
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   Jarhead You might recognize this term for Marines from the Jake Gyllenhaal movie Jarhead. But Green explains that this nickname dates back to as early as World War II. As he puts it, someone “looked at a Marine with a high-and-tight [haircut] and a dress cover and decided his head looked like a jar with a lid.” There could be a second origin to the nickname, though. Green says, “There is also legend…that Marines were typically taller than Sailors, and when on ships with low passageways, Marines kept jarring their heads on the low ceilings.”

   • At the time, the nickname was used more as an insult, but the Marines have claimed it as their own term of endearment over the decades since.
   • The term is now applied more widely to Marines recruits to refer to their close-cropped haircuts, which make their heads look a little squarer. Some Marines even refer to the standard high-and-tight haircut as a "Jarhead cut."
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   Crayon eater Similar to "jarhead," this one was initially intended to be an insult. According to Green, it’s “the Corps’ favorite insult from the rest of the military,” which they have “adopted as a badge of honor.” He says the roots of the nickname are modern and come from the rest of the military’s stereotypical beliefs that “the Marines were the dumb kids in kindergarten who actually ate Crayons (and paste).” Now, it’s used as a term of affection between Marines.

   • According to the playful inner-service rivalries, Marines are physically tough and brave as all get-out, but they might not be, well, all that bright (like most stereotypes, this one should be taken with a grain of salt!).
   • These rivalries have been going on for ages, but jokes and memes about Marines snacking on crayons started spreading on the internet in the mid-2010s, though the exact origins are uncertain. Hence, the nickname crayon eaters.
   • Think twice before using the term "crayon eater" or "jarhead" if you're a civilian. While these insults have been embraced by military members and are often used to playfully tease Marines, they're frequently considered disrespectful when used by a civilian or outsider.
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   Skipper Green says “skipper” is a Navy tradition that started around World War II (or even before). “Since Marines fall under the Navy, the CO got called ‘Skipper,’ just like a ship captain,” he explains. It’s still used today, and Green says, “If you call someone Skipper today, chances are they’re your company commander, and you’re either respecting them—or trying to get out of something.”
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   Grunt Green says this nickname comes from the Vietnam War. He explains that the nickname comes from the fact that “infantry carry everything, complain about nothing (out loud), and grunt under the weight of existence, misery, and the entire Marine Corps on their back.” According to him, this Marine nickname is “still used every day.”
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   03 (pronounced “Oh-three”) Green explains that this is “short for the 03XX MOS family,” which is “the beating heart of the Corps: riflemen, machine gunners, assaultmen, mortarmen, scouts, etc.” According to him, “‘03’ is more than a job—it’s an identity.” He says, “When an 03 walks in the room, someone’s about to remind everyone they are, in fact, the ‘backbone of the Marine Corps’ (and the 03 will happily agree).”

   • Green adds that this nickname originated around the Vietnam War.
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   Bullet Sponge Green explains that this name is darkly humorous and has its origins post-Vietnam War. He says it “refers to grunts soaking up rounds while everyone else ‘supports.’” This was likely Army humor that the Marines stole and repurposed, Green adds.
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   Hollywood Marine According to Green, “Parris Island Marines use this [nickname] when talking about Marines [who] graduated from MCRD San Diego.” In other words, “if you trained in San Diego, you’re a Hollywood Marine,” he explains. This likely originated during World War II.
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    Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children Green says this nickname comes from the Vietnam War era. According to him, it’s a playful acronym using the letters for the U.S. Marine Corps (i.e., “U,” “S,” “M,” and “C”).
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    Hat According to Green, this is early 1900s slang for the drill instructor. As he puts it, the drill instructor is “not a man or woman” and “not a human” —they’re “a hat with lungs and rage.”
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Section 2 of 3:

Other Nicknames for Marines

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1. 
   "Jarhead," "devil dog," and "leatherneck" aren't the only ways to refer to your fellow Marines or the Marine in your family. Check out these other common and less-common nicknames for Marines:

   • Ground Pounder – a member of the infantry
   • Bullet Catcher – a member of the infantry
   • POGs (Persons Other than Grunts) – someone who isn't a "grunt" or a "knuckledragger" (be careful using this name to refer to those in leadership positions, especially if they themselves are "POGs"!)
   • Looking for more military nicknames? Check out "120+ Military Nicknames: Cool, Powerful, & Historical Monikers"!

Section 3 of 3:

Outdated and Uncommon Nicknames for Marines

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   WM (Woman Marine) Green explains that “when women officially joined the Corps in World War II, the institution (being very 1940s) labeled them ‘Women Marines’ or WMs.” He says, “The nickname stuck for decades,” and “at first, many women embraced it as their own identity—they had to fight just to earn the eagle, globe, and anchor, so they wore any title with pride.”

   • However, he says most modern female Marines don’t want to be called this because the mindset is simple: “There are no ‘Women Marines,’ there are only Marines.”
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   Dark Green Marine and Light Green Marine “During the Vietnam War,” Green explains, “the Corps was wrestling with racial tensions both in society and in the military. Senior leadership tried to reinforce the idea that there are no Black Marines and no White Marines— only MARINES.” So, he says some commands pushed to use the terms “Dark Green Marine” for Black Marines and “Light Green Marine” for White Marines, instead.

   • Green says the nicknames were an attempt “to unify [the Marines] by eliminating racial labels while still recognizing the reality of the times.”
   • However, he says, “The modern Marine Corps doesn’t really use the term anymore.” Instead, Green explains that “the Corps has shifted toward the mindset that the only label that matters is Marine—same standard, same title, same expectations, same eagle, globe, and anchor.”
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   Sea Soldier Green says this nickname comes from the 1700s, which was “back when Marines spent more time fighting aboard ships than in deserts and jungles” and when “the Corps was basically the ship’s trigger force.” He notes that the nickname was used on World War I recruitment posters, but you almost never hear “Sea Soldier” today.
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   Gyrene This nickname comes from the World War I and II era, says Green. He explains that it’s old Navy slang for “Marines,” but it’s very rarely used today.
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