Often, a sailor's identity is a nickname. Many sailors are known only by their nickname, their real first name is often strange to many, and only appearing on official documents and records.

A practice, probably unique in naval and military circles is that of associating certain nicknames with particular surnames. Although the reason for some of these is obvious, the origins of others are obscure.

The following nicknames have at one time or another (some for long periods: some for short) been current in the Canadian Navy for sailors with these surnames: