Nom de guerre

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Nom de guerre, meaning “war name,” is a pseudonym used by a fighter to hide their real identity or to be known by a distinctive name. The custom began in France, where new soldiers were given noms de guerre when they joined the army. These aliases often referred to where a person came from or to a personal trait. By 1716, having a nom de guerre became mandatory for soldiers, and officers typically did not adopt one. In daily life, the alias could replace the person’s real surname.

Nom de guerre has been used for security and anonymity in many conflicts. It arose for members of the World War II French Resistance and the Polish underground, and the practice spread to modern times among military special forces, guerrillas, resistance fighters, and even some terrorists. The use of a nom de guerre can serve to protect families from reprisals and to separate violent or clandestine life from civilian life. Some fighters also use teknonyms (names based on family relationships) as their nom de guerre.

Well-known examples include:
- Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, aka Carlos the Jackal
- Willy Brandt
- Subcomandante Marcos
- Ahmed al-Sharaa
- Yitzhak Shamir, who used the alias “Michael” in Lehi

In the French Foreign Legion, recruits may adopt a pseudonym to leave behind their past. In Africa, nom de guerre use has appeared in armed conflicts, including among child soldiers, with some fighters keeping these names as their permanent names after the conflict ends. Contemporary groups such as Islamic State and Al Qaeda often use kunyas (nicknames) as part of the same tradition.

Overall, nom de guerre helps protect identities and families, provides a sense of belonging or unity, and can become a person’s public name, especially for leaders or combatants who gain notoriety.