10 Best Nicknames The Doctors Gave Each Other

The doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital (formerly the Seattle Grace Hospital) love to label each other, which has led to some fascinating Grey’s Anatomy nicknames that align with the main characters’ personalities. Grey’s Anatomy fans have a lot to love about the medical show, and at the top of that list is the series creating its own vernacular. The characters on the Shonda Rhimes medical drama series have a specific way of talking, and viewers have even adapted that dialogue for themselves. Grey’s Anatomy is the reason why people refer to friends as their “person.”

The different “Mc” nicknames are also something that fans have fallen in love with over the years of watching the show. Some of them are obvious, such as McDreamy and McSteamy, while others border on ridiculous, like McFrickin’ Code of Silence and McRebound. However, the “Mc” nicknames are not the only ones on the show. With so much time together, the hospital’s doctors, interns, and nurses often devise nicknames to amuse themselves, often based on personality traits, though others are based on specific actions.

10 Dr. Model

Izzie Stevens

Izzie earned the nickname Dr. Model because she paid her way through medical school by modeling for a lingerie company called Bethany Whisper, which helped Izzie make enough money that she graduated with no student loan debt. Though the surgical oncologist had done the gig way before she started working at Seattle Grace, the residents discovered the pictures, and they began making fun of her, even though this was a legitimate way to earn the cash she needed.

Alex even hangs some modeling pictures all around the hospital. Dr. Model was a significant nickname because it highlighted one of Izzie’s best traits — her drive to do what it takes to ensure she gets what she needs to move forward in life. She had a great Grey’s Anatomy quote where she says she doesn’t mind the nickname because:

“You want to call me Dr. Model? That’s fine. Just remember that while you’re still sitting on two hundred grand of student loans… I’m out of debt.”

9 007

George O’Malley

George O’Malley was nicknamed 007 by the interns after he butchered an appendectomy. The nickname is obviously the moniker of Agent James Bond, whose mantra is “license to kill.” While making mistakes wasn’t something George regularly did, he was as charming as the fictional British spy. Making light of a near-death experience isn’t the most professional behavior, but the nickname did fit the bill.

This nickname came in handy later in the series during a tragic moment. When a bus hits George, and he is injured beyond recognition, he gets Meredith Grey to come over to him. He then writes “007” on her hand so she knows who he is. Sadly, despite Meredith realizing that John Doe is George, his brain swells during surgery, and he ends up brain-dead and dies in season 6, episode 1, “Good Mourning”.

The nickname “007” wasn’t just something thrown onto George. In another episode, Izzie had a patient die, and she asked Cristina to perform an autopsy to ensure she didn’t become the new “007.” Sydney Heron was also known as “007” on the show.

8 The Twisted Sisters

Meredith Grey & Cristina Yang

Though Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang haven’t seen each other in a long time, they have kept in touch. Cristina recently sent Meredith a human package that turned out to be McWidow, one of the best “Mc” nicknames on Grey’s Anatomy. The two friends were nicknamed “The Twisted Sisters,” and Owen was the first person to use the term to describe them when was talking to Derek Shepherd.

After talking about them, he said, “The other half of the Twisted Sisters,” and Patrick stopped him and asked if that was what he really called them. Owen just smiled and said, “Yeah.” The nickname acknowledged Meredith and Cristina’s tendency to stick together despite life’s challenges. Owen was impressed by the fact that they had been through so much but remained unshaken.

Cristina left Grey’s when she accepted a job as head of a new hospital in Zürich, Switzerland. As expected, she had Meredith’s complete support, even though it meant leaving her life altogether. The two remained friends for the ten seasons they appeared on Grey’s Anatomy together, and their sisterhood shined through.

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7 G.I. Joe

Owen Hunt

Head of Trauma Surgery Owen Hunt earned the nickname “G.I. Joe” becausehe was previously an active military doctor. When he first appeared at Seattle Grey, he was in military gear, impressing the residents and setting up a first date with his future wife, Cristina Yang. Teddy was also nicknamed G.I. Jane, thanks to her military background. These nicknames are obvious references to the action figure toy line and media franchise and the 1997 Demi Moore film.

Due to his harsh battle experiences, Owen’s toughness made the nickname even more fitting. Actor Kevin McKidd said that he never got a “Mc” nickname like other cast members, but this nickname fit him a little bit better than one of the more obnoxious ones. Owen ended up leaving Grey’s in season 19 when he refused to help end the life of a former soldier with degenerating conditions following the U.S. military’s mishandling of burn pits.

6 Medusa

Meredith Grey

Meredith was unofficially christened as Medusa due to her tendency to be meantowards junior doctors and nurses. When Meredith insisted on doing the intern appendectomy despite everyone else urging her to postpone it, Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) told her that she was living up to her nickname. She wasn’t even aware she had a nickname, so Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) told her what it was.

Of course, the name derives from Greek mythology. Medusa was a monstrous Gorgon who was cruel and lived with snakes. Her gaze could turn anyone who looked at her to stone. This nickname was memorable, but it only lasted for about two episodes, and no one mentioned it again. While it is not clear when exactly Meredith turned into someone that interns feared and felt was cruel, some could pinpoint it to the moment that her sister, Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), died.

5 Evil Spawn

Alex Karev

After graduating, Alex Karev joined the surgical residency program at Seattle Grace. There, he became a hated figure because of his inappropriate behavior and sense of entitlement. Other interns quickly dubbed him “evil spawn.” This moniker perfectly matched Alex’s personality during his early days in the medical drama. He had a bad attitude, was misogynistic, and took out his aggression in often offensive ways toward people around him.

But Alex experiences a shift as the series progresses. After hearing himself referred to as evil several times, the cock doctor appears to do some self-reflection. He becomes more understanding in the process and eventually evolves into a better person. However, while he had some redeeming moments in his final seasons on the show, he did enough in the early seasons to warrant this nickname. Alex’s Grey’s Anatomy exit was also controversial, as he left his wife to return to his ex, Izzie.

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4 Lexipedia

Lexie Grey

Lexie Grey was so bright that she skipped third grade while in school. As an intern, her colleagues quickly noticed that she had a photographic memory, which she, in turn, applied to her career as a surgeon. They would take advantage of this by asking her all the toughest questions. Lexie’s encyclopedic knowledge got her branded with the Grey’s Anatomy nickname of Lexipedia. Of course, this is based on Wikipedia or encyclopedia, as Lexie really was a walking encyclopedia.

Being so knowledgeable in an environment where everyone is intelligent and qualified is genuinely remarkable. Lexie was well aware of her unique abilities; hence, she didn’t mind the name. Though she was sometimes called Encyclopedia Brown (based on a young detective from Donald J. Sobol’s children’s novels), Lexipedia sounded much better.

3 Cardio God

Cristina Yang

Cristina’s cardiothoracic surgery expertise made the Seattle Grey doctors feel that she deserved a name that acknowledged her skills. Hence, she became known as Cardio God. Indeed, no one else had hands that matched Cristina’s in that department. She saved the lives of numerous patients, and her mortality rate was one of the lowest in Seattle Grey Mercy West. She was aware she was a god in the OR and told Meredith she was a way better surgeon than her.

It was mean, but there are traces of truth in it. This nickname even played out in the second season when Owen claimed he got Cristina her new “cardio god” with Teddy Altman. However, this title belongs to Cristina, and she tells Owen he should exchange Teddy for a “real cardio god,” as she had run off almost every former cardio worker attending. She proved her worth when she left Grey’s after being hired to head a new research hospital in Zürich, Switzerland.

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2 McDreamy

Derek Shepherd

There are plenty of “Mc” nicknames in Grey’s Anatomy. Of course, McSteamy (Mark Sloan) and McDreamy (Derek Shepherd) are the two most popular.McDreamy caught Meredith Grey’s eye at the very beginning of the show, and they eventually fell in love. The McDreamy nickname is so iconic in popular culture that even people who don’t watch Grey’s Anatomy understand the reerence. It is, of course, used to describe the fact that many of the women in the hospital find Derek Shepherd very “dreamy.”

Interestingly, it’s not Meredith who came up with the nickname. As she and Cristina have always been close friends, when the latter learns that Meredith likes Derek, she creates the popular “Mc” nickname for the attending physician. While their relationship was not perfect, and they had a lot of ups and downs, Meredith Grey married McDreamy, and they had two daughters and a son before Derek died after an auto accident, leaving her a widow.

1 Meryl Streep Of Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Addison Forbes Montgomery

Addison Forbes Montgomery was labeled Satan because of her cold nature, but the most flattering nickname was the “Meryl Streep Of Maternal-Fetal Medicine,” which came from her husband, Jake Reilly. The nickname towered above the rest because it included a very appropriate pop-culture reference. Actress Meryl Streep has achieved everything in Hollywood, and Addison can boast similar strides in her field.

She is one of eight doctors worldwide who can perform maternal-fetal surgery at a world-class level. Her departure from Seattle Grace Hospital saw the establishment downgrade, and fewer maternal-fetal cases were performed there. When they were, she returned to the hospital to consult on them until season 12, when Arizona Robbins became the new Head of Fetal Surgery. Addison left Grey’s Anatomy in season 8 when she starred in the spinoff, Private Practice​​​​​​.

Grey’s Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy is considered one of the great television shows of our time, winning several awards and four Emmys. The high-intensity medical drama follows Meredith Grey and the team of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial, who are faced with life-or-death decisions on a daily basis. They seek comfort from one another, and, at times, more than just friendship. Together they discover that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white.

Cast

Kelly McCreary , Patrick Dempsey , Kevin McKidd , Chandra Wilson , Jesse Williams , Jake Borelli , camilla luddington , Ellen Pompeo , Chyler Leigh , Eric Dane , Caterina Scorsone , Giacomo Gianniotti , Anthony Hill , Kate Walsh , Justin Chambers , Sarah Drew , Greg Germann , Martin Henderson , Katherine Heigl , T.R. Knight , Sara Ramirez , Jerrika Hinton , Richard Flood , Sandra Oh , Kim Raver , Jason George , Tessa Ferrer , Isaiah Washington , James Pickens Jr. , Gaius Charles , Chris Carmack , Brooke Smith , Jessica Capshaw

Release Date

March 27, 2005

Seasons

20

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