Common Nicknames for Marines (+ Where They Came From)

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Learn the historical roots of terms like "devil dog" or "leatherneck"

Co-authored by Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: October 27, 2025 Fact Checked

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Popular Marine Nicknames & Origins

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Other Nicknames for Marines

From "leatherneck" to "jarhead," there are a lot of wild nicknames for Marines! We've compiled a comprehensive list of Marine nicknames in this article—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

Jarhead
Devil Dog
Leatherneck
Crayon Eater

Section 1 of 2:

Popular Marine Nicknames & Origins

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From 1776 to 1872, the Marine uniform included a leather stock collar, earning Marines the nickname "leathernecks."^{[1]
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Research source} Though this isn't a part of the uniform anymore, the nickname has stuck like glue. The more you know!
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Devil dog According to Marine Corps lore, German soldiers referred to the U. S. Marines as "Teufelshunde" (German for devil dogs) during the Battle of Belleau Wood in World War I. In this 1918 battle, the U.S. 2nd and 3rd Marine Divisions fought against the Germans alongside French and British forces. Apparently, the Marines were so fierce, they earned the vicious nickname!^{[2]
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- 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 the nickname dates back to as early as World War II: when Marines would wear their blue dress uniforms, the way their head popped out of the high collar resembled a Mason jar. At the time, it was used as an insult, but the Marines have claimed it as their own term of endearment over the decades since.^{[3]
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- 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, but it's now used as a term of affection between Marines. It stems from playful inner-service rivalries within the United States military: according to these stereotypes, 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.^{[4]
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- 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.

Section 2 of 2:

Other Nicknames for Marines

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"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
- Grunts – Army and Marine 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"!)^{[5]
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- Looking for more military nicknames? Check out "120+ Military Nicknames: Cool, Powerful, & Historical Monikers"!