{"id":2947,"date":"2023-03-25T23:28:54","date_gmt":"2023-03-25T23:28:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xgamingserver.com\/blog\/?p=2947"},"modified":"2026-06-15T19:20:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:20:51","slug":"how-to-get-a-nickname-using-essentialsx-in-your-minecraft-server","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xgamingserver.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-nickname-using-essentialsx-in-your-minecraft-server\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get a Nickname using EssentialsX in your Minecraft server"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nicknames are one of the most-used quality-of-life features on a Minecraft: Java Edition server. They let players express themselves, help staff stand out, and make role-play or community servers feel alive. The EssentialsX<\/strong> plugin ships a single, flexible command for all of this: \/nick<\/code>. In this guide we cover every way to use it – setting your own nickname, changing another player’s nickname, removing nicknames, and unlocking color codes – along with the exact permission nodes you need to grant. Everything here is verified against the EssentialsX command definitions, so you can copy it straight into your permissions setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we start, one important platform note: EssentialsX is a Bukkit-API plugin that runs on Spigot, Paper, and forks like Purpur<\/strong> for Minecraft: Java Edition. It is the modern, maintained successor to the original Essentials. It does not<\/em> run on vanilla, Bedrock, Fabric, or Forge servers. If you want a reliable Spigot or Paper host with plugin support already wired in, our managed Minecraft server hosting<\/a> gives you one-click plugin installs and full file access so EssentialsX is ready in minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the \/nick command does<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The \/nick<\/code> command changes the display name that appears in chat and (depending on your config) in the tab list and above the player’s head. It does not<\/strong> change the underlying Minecraft username – logins, whitelists, bans, and player data all still key off the real account name. A nickname is purely cosmetic and instantly reversible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EssentialsX registers \/nick<\/code> with the following aliases, so any of these typed at the console or in chat resolve to the same command:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\/nick\n\/nickname\n\/enick\n\/enickname<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
The full, verified usage string is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\/nick [player] <\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
That single signature covers every scenario. The optional [player]<\/code> argument decides whether you are editing your own nickname or someone else’s, and the final argument is either the new nickname text or the literal keyword off<\/code> to clear it. Let’s break each case down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Setting your own nickname<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To set a nickname for yourself, run \/nick<\/code> followed by the name you want, with no player argument:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\/nick Steve\n\/nick Wanderer\n\/nick DragonSlayer<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Because there is no player name before the nickname, EssentialsX applies it to the player who ran the command. The change takes effect immediately – your chat lines will now appear under the new display name. To do this, a player needs the following permission node:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
essentials.nick<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Grant essentials.nick<\/code> to whichever rank you want to allow self-nicknaming – commonly your default or member group on community servers. If a player runs \/nick<\/code> without this node, EssentialsX will deny the command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Setting a nickname for another player<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Staff and admins frequently need to nickname someone else – to fix an offensive nickname, set a role-play name, or label a guest account. To set or change another online player’s nickname, put their username first, then the nickname:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\/nick  <\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
For example, to nickname the player Notch<\/code> as Founder<\/code>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\/nick Notch Founder<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
This requires a second, distinct permission node on top of (or instead of) the base node:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
essentials.nick.others<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Keep essentials.nick.others<\/code> restricted to trusted staff. A useful pattern is to give regular members only essentials.nick<\/code> (self-nick) and reserve essentials.nick.others<\/code> for moderators and admins, so players cannot rename one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Removing a nickname with \/nick off<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To clear a nickname and revert a player back to their plain Minecraft username, use the literal keyword off<\/code>. To remove your own nickname:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\/nick off<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
To remove another player’s nickname (staff), name the player and pass off<\/code> as the value:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\/nick  off<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\/nick Notch off<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Clearing another player’s nickname uses the same essentials.nick.others<\/code> permission as setting one, since both operations target a different player. There is no separate “remove” node – off<\/code> is just a special nickname value handled by the same command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adding color to nicknames<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Plain nicknames are useful, but most servers want colored nicknames so staff ranks and donor tiers pop in chat. EssentialsX supports the standard Minecraft formatting codes inside nicknames, gated behind a dedicated color permission:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
essentials.nick.color<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
When a player holds essentials.nick.color<\/code>, they may set their nickname to any color using the ampersand-style codes. For example, to set a red nickname:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\/nick &cRedName<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Here &c<\/code> is the color code for red. You can combine codes, place them mid-name, and (on supporting versions) use the formatting and “magic” styles. EssentialsX exposes finer color permission nodes<\/strong> beyond the broad color node – for example, nodes that separately control formatting styles (bold, italic, underline) and the obfuscated “magic” style. These finer nodes follow EssentialsX’s color-permission system, but their exact availability and naming depend on your EssentialsX version and configuration, so confirm them against your own build before relying on them. For most servers, granting essentials.nick.color<\/code> alone is enough to let a rank use the full color palette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A common setup is to grant essentials.nick.color<\/code> only to donor ranks or staff, while default members get essentials.nick<\/code> for plain-text nicknames. That way colored names act as a visible perk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Permission node reference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Permission node<\/th>What it grants<\/th>Typical rank<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
essentials.nick<\/code><\/td>Set and remove your own nickname<\/td>Member \/ default<\/td><\/tr>
essentials.nick.others<\/code><\/td>Set, change, or clear another player’s nickname<\/td>Moderator \/ Admin<\/td><\/tr>
essentials.nick.color<\/code><\/td>Use color codes in nicknames<\/td>Donor \/ Staff<\/td><\/tr>
Finer color nodes (format, magic)<\/td>Granular control of styles like bold, italic, and obfuscated text – version\/config dependent<\/td>Optional, advanced<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Command and alias cheat sheet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Goal<\/th>Command<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Set your own nickname<\/td>\/nick <\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Set another player’s nickname<\/td>\/nick  <\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Remove your nickname<\/td>\/nick off<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Remove another player’s nickname<\/td>\/nick  off<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Colored nickname<\/td>\/nick &cRedName<\/code> (requires color node)<\/td><\/tr>
Aliases<\/td>\/nickname<\/code>, \/enick<\/code>, \/enickname<\/code><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
How to grant the permissions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
EssentialsX itself does not manage permission ranks – it reads permission nodes from whatever permissions plugin you run. The most popular choice is LuckPerms<\/strong>. To grant self-nicknaming to a group called member<\/code>, you would run something like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\/lp group member permission set essentials.nick true\n\/lp group staff permission set essentials.nick.others true\n\/lp group donor permission set essentials.nick.color true<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
If you are new to wiring up plugins and permissions, our Minecraft setup documentation<\/a> walks through installing EssentialsX, adding a permissions manager, and applying nodes step by step with panel screenshots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Configuration tips for nicknames<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A few EssentialsX behaviors are worth knowing so nicknames behave the way you expect on a public server:<\/p>\n\n\n\n