List of playing-card nicknames
Some playing cards have common nicknames. Some are generic while some are specific to certain card games; others are specific to patterns, such as the court cards of the Paris pattern and the Tell pattern for example, which often bear traditional names. This list does not contain names that are specific to poker or in schafkopf as it would overwhelm the list and make it difficult to identify non-poker names. Poker nicknames are listed separately here. Schafkopf nicknames are listed separately here.
Single cards
The following is a list of nicknames used for individual playing cards of the French-suited standard 52-card pack. Sometimes games require the revealing or announcement of cards, at which point appropriate nicknames may be used if allowed under the rules or local game culture.- King : Cowboy, Monarch
- * King of Clubs : Alexander
- * King of Spades : David
- * King of Diamonds : Julius Caesar, Man with the Axe, One-Eyed King
- * King of Hearts : Charlemagne, Charles, Suicide King
- Queen : Stenographer
- * Queen of Clubs : Argine
- * Queen of Spades : Black Lady, Black Maria, Calamity Jane, Pallas Athena, Molly Hogan
- * Queen of Hearts : Helen of Troy, Judith
- * Queen of Diamonds : Rachel
- Jack : Boy, Bower, Fishhook, Jackson, Jake, Johnny, Knave, Valet, Nibs or Heels
- * Jack of Diamonds : Hector, Roland, Laughing Boy
- * Jack of Spades : Ogier
- * Jack of Hearts : La Hire
- * Jack of Clubs : Lancelot, Pam
- Ten :
- * Ten of Diamonds : Big Cassino
- Nine : Neener, Nina Ross, Niner, Pothook
- * Nine of Diamonds : Curse of Scotland, Scourge of Scotland
- Eight : Pusher, Snowman
- Seven : Fishhook, Salmon
- * Seven of Diamonds : Beer card
- Six : Sax
- * Six of Hearts : Grace's Card
- Five : Fever, Nickel, Pedro
- Four : Sharp Top, Sore Spot, Sailboat
- * Four of Clubs : Devil's Bedpost
- Three : Crab, Trey
- Two : Deuce, Duck
- * Two of Spades : Little Cassino, The Curse of Mexico
- Ace : Bull, Bullet, Rocket, One Spot, Seed, Sharp Top
- * Ace of Clubs : Basto, Clover, Puppy Foot
- * Ace of Hearts : The Crispin
- * Ace of Spades : Death Card, Spadille, Tax Card
- * Ace of Diamonds : Pig's Eye
- Joker : Best Bower
- King :
- * King of Hearts : Maxi
- Ober :
- * Ober of Hearts : Hermann Gessler
- * Ober of Bells : Stüssi d. Flurschütz
- * Ober of Leaves : Ulrich v. Rudenz
- * Ober of Acorns : Wilhelm Tell
- Unter :
- * Unter of Hearts : Kuoni d. Hirt
- * Unter of Bells : Itell Reding
- * Unter of Leaves : Walter Fürst
- * Unter of Acorns : Rudolf Harras
- Seven :
- * Seven of Acorns : Spitz
- * Seven of Coins : Sette Bello
- * Seven or Six of Bells : Weli
- Deuce : Ace, ''Sau''
Collective names
- King, Queen, Jack: Coat Card, Court Card, Face Card, Figure, Rembrandt, Royal Card
- Ace, King, Queen, Jack: Honour
- 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace: Pip card, Spot card, Numeral, Spotter
- King of Diamonds, Jack of Spades, and Jack of Hearts : One-Eyed Royals
- Jack of Spades and Jack of Hearts : One-Eyed Jacks
- Jack of Clubs and Jack of Diamonds : Two-Eyed Jacks
- King, Queen : Marriage
- Two cards same suit in sequence for Patience : Marriage