Back-of-shirt nicknames for pairing up with friends: a roundup of recommended class T-shirt ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

When making class T-shirts for sports festivals or cultural festivals, many people also add a name on the back.

Speaking of back names, the classic style is to put a name above the jersey number.

Recently, though, it’s become common to use nicknames, catchphrases, or even little jokes that make people chuckle.

There are surely many who want matching back names that pair up with close friends, too!

In this article, we’ll introduce ideas for paired back names that friends can use together.

Use them as inspiration to create class T-shirts that will make lasting memories.

Back-of-shirt nickname pairs for friends. Recommended class-T shirt ideas (21–30)

Do you even have the motivation? / I’ve got nothing but motivation!

These phrases are used to powerfully check each other’s motivation as you gear up for high-energy events like sports festivals and cultural festivals.

By adding words after the often harsh-sounding “You got any motivation or not?”—which can come across as scolding someone who lacks drive—it turns into a lighter, more playful back-and-forth.

The sharp sentence endings are also key, conveying the sense that the phrases are delivered with punch.

They’re fast-paced expressions that let you confirm each other’s motivation, pump each other up, and feel the drive and momentum heading into the event.

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Ketchup / Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise and ketchup, the base for aurora sauce, feel like a set of two, don’t they? They’re different seasonings with their own uses, but when you mix them, they become an even tastier, goes-with-anything sauce.

It’s a nickname idea that has a somewhat cute vibe, and if the “mayonnaise person” uses white and the “ketchup person” uses red—matching small items like socks or headbands to mayonnaise and ketchup—it seems like it would make for an even cuter outfit.

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Hane Keisuke

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Overwhelming ◯◯

These are phrases that highlight how unique members come together and collaborate toward an event.

By using the shared motif of “overwhelming,” you can emphasize individuality while also conveying team unity.

After “overwhelming,” add a short phrase that captures each member’s personality to showcase who they are.

It’s fine to choose your own phrase, but having others choose one for you could also demonstrate the trust among team members.

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#◯◯ addiction

This phrase uses the concept of an addiction—something you can’t live without—to showcase what’s important to you.

By combining a friend’s or partner’s name with “addiction,” you can strongly convey deep trust and affection for that person.

It’s also a great idea to use it as a pair of phrases you say to each other, evoking an image of mutual support.

Notice the hashtag format as well: it seems easy to use not only as the main phrase but also as an accent.

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Waiting for my prince ♡ / He’s not coming★

These phrases depict a flashy appeal that doesn’t seem related to the event, followed by a biting comeback.

The dynamic—cuteness pushed to the forefront, then coolly cut down—makes it funny.

The contrast between the “♡” and the “★” is key, too: the sharp retort is forcibly brightened, showcasing the pair’s easygoing relationship.

It’s a phrase where it’s crucial to decide which lines to spotlight and from what angle and with what intensity to deliver the comeback.

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Fall down seven times, get up eight.

With the idea of splitting a proverb into two halves between two friends, we chose “Fall down seven times, get up eight.” It’s a positive and wonderful saying about standing back up no matter how many times you fall.

However, when divided, the person with the first half ends up with “Fall down seven times,” which sounds like “You’re always falling!” and becomes a bit of a gag.

But when the two stand together, it reads “Fall down seven times, get up eight,” giving it the even lovelier meaning of “Together, we can overcome any difficulty.”

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Hane Keisuke

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