People usually called him The Dark Knight , the Caped Crusader , the Bat , the Gotham Guardian , or the Darknight Detective before and around the time those nicknames became popular in comics and fandom culture. The exact nickname depended on who was talking: criminals, allies, and the press all used different names.

Common early nicknames

  • The Bat.
  • The Dark Knight.
  • The Caped Crusader.
  • The Darknight Detective.
  • The Gotham Guardian.

Who used them

Street criminals often said “the Bat” or “Batman” , while more formal or dramatic sources leaned toward “the Dark Knight” and “the Caped Crusader”. Some older stories and commentary also mention “the Detective” as a way certain villains or allies referred to him.

Simple answer

If you mean “what did people call him before the name Batman caught on,” the safest answer is: the Bat and the Dark Knight are the best-known pre- existing style names, while Caped Crusader and Darknight Detective are also common.