* "ne" - meaning "not" or "no" (this comes from Old English)
* "ken" - meaning "know" (also from Old English)
Therefore, "nickname" literally means "not known," which originally referred to a name given in place of a person's real name, often to conceal their identity or for humorous purposes.
However, the practice of giving nicknames goes back even further than the origin of the word itself, with examples found in various cultures and languages throughout history.