Hillary Clinton has gone by a wide range of nicknames over a public career spanning more than five decades, from a college newspaper’s admiring headline to some of the most repeated political attack lines of the 2016 presidential campaign. Here’s where her most documented nicknames actually came from.
Golden Girl And Her Early National Attention
Golden Girl is one of Clinton’s earliest public nicknames, given by The Boston Globe in 1969 after she graduated from Wellesley College. At just 21 years old, Hillary Rodham had delivered a student commencement address that directly responded to remarks made by the official speaker, Republican Senator Edward W. Brooke of Massachusetts, who had urged graduates to reject violent protests against the Vietnam War. Her unscheduled response drew national press attention, and the coverage that followed helped establish her as a notable public figure years before she entered politics in her own right.
HRC, The Nickname Used Behind The Scenes
HRC, built from her initials as Hillary Rodham Clinton, became a widely used shorthand nickname, reportedly used by her own staff during her time as Secretary of State. It eventually spread into much broader public use, appearing in book titles, campaign branding, and everyday political commentary, largely because it offered a quick, neutral way to refer to her without needing her full name each time.
Crooked Hillary And Its Origin In The 2016 Campaign
Crooked Hillary is the nickname most associated with the 2016 presidential election, coined and repeatedly used by her Republican opponent, Donald Trump. He introduced the nickname in the spring of 2016, following a pattern he had already used against primary rivals, including Little Marco for Marco Rubio and Lyin’ Ted for Ted Cruz. Clinton publicly said she did not respond to the nickname directly, instead redirecting attention to Trump’s treatment of other groups during the campaign. The nickname became one of the defining phrases of that election cycle, chanted at Trump rallies alongside calls of “lock her up.”
In 2023, Trump said he was retiring the nickname, remarking that he would instead refer to Clinton as “beautiful Hillary” while shifting the “crooked” label onto President Joe Biden.
Nasty Woman, Reclaimed By Supporters
Nasty Woman originated during the final 2016 presidential debate, when Trump used the phrase to describe Clinton during an exchange about Social Security. Rather than fading as a criticism, the phrase was quickly reclaimed by many of Clinton’s supporters online, turning into a widely used, defiant slogan. It appeared on shirts, signs, and social media posts, and public figures, including then House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, referenced the phrase themselves in solidarity with Clinton following the debate.
Ghostface Hill And Run HRC
Ghostface Hill is a more lighthearted nickname, coined by comedian Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, playfully referencing a wave of endorsements Clinton received from rappers during the 2016 campaign. Clinton responded to the joke publicly, saying she preferred a different nickname instead, Run HRC, a playful nod to hip hop group Run-D.M.C.
Rotten Clinton, A Wordplay Attack
Rotten Clinton was another nickname introduced by Trump during the 2016 campaign, built around the idea that Clinton’s choice to drop her maiden name, Rodham, in earlier years was because it sounded close to the word rotten. The nickname didn’t gain nearly as much traction as Crooked Hillary, though it was reported on by national outlets at the time as part of Trump’s broader pattern of assigning mocking nicknames to political opponents.
Complete List Of Hillary Clinton Nicknames
Here’s a quick reference covering her most documented nicknames and what each one refers to.
| No. | Nickname | What It Refers To |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Girl | A 1969 Boston Globe nickname following her Wellesley College commencement remarks |
| 2 | HRC | Shorthand built from her initials, used by staff and later the general public |
| 3 | Crooked Hillary | A nickname coined by Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign |
| 4 | Nasty Woman | A phrase used by Trump during a 2016 debate, later reclaimed by Clinton’s supporters |
| 5 | Ghostface Hill | A joke nickname coined by Jimmy Fallon, referencing rapper endorsements |
| 6 | Run HRC | Clinton’s own preferred alternative to Ghostface Hill |
| 7 | Rotten Clinton | A wordplay nickname introduced by Trump during the 2016 campaign |
Why These Nicknames Still Matter
Hillary Clinton’s nicknames reflect just how long she’s occupied a place in American public life, from a college graduate praised by a major newspaper to one of the most nicknamed political figures of the modern era. Some of her nicknames came from admirers, others from political rivals looking to define her in the public’s mind, and at least one was reshaped entirely by the people it was originally aimed at. Taken together, they trace a rare kind of career that’s spanned academia, law, First Lady duties, the Senate, the State Department, and two presidential campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hillary Clinton’s most well known nickname?
Crooked Hillary is generally considered her most widely recognized nickname, tied to the 2016 presidential campaign.
Who coined the nickname Crooked Hillary?
Donald Trump introduced the nickname during the 2016 Republican primary season, following a similar pattern he used against other political rivals that year.
What does HRC stand for?
HRC stands for Hillary Rodham Clinton, and it was reportedly used as shorthand by her staff before spreading into wider public use.
Where did the nickname Nasty Woman come from?
The phrase was used by Donald Trump during the final 2016 presidential debate, and it was later reclaimed as a slogan by many of Clinton’s supporters.
What was Hillary Clinton’s college nickname?
The Boston Globe called her Golden Girl in 1969 after her Wellesley College commencement remarks gained national attention.
Why did Jimmy Fallon call her Ghostface Hill?
It was a joking reference to a wave of endorsements Clinton received from rappers during the 2016 campaign.
Did Donald Trump ever stop using the nickname Crooked Hillary?
In 2023, he said he was retiring the nickname in favor of calling her “beautiful Hillary,” while shifting the “crooked” label to describe President Joe Biden instead.
Final Thoughts
Hillary Clinton’s nicknames trace a public career that stretches back more than fifty years, touching academia, politics, and two historic presidential campaigns. Some, like Golden Girl and HRC, reflect genuine milestones and practical shorthand. Others, like Crooked Hillary and Nasty Woman, emerged directly from political conflict, with at least one eventually being reclaimed by the very people it targeted. Together, they offer a window into how differently the same public figure can be described depending on who’s doing the naming.
