also: いめい
General term for an alternative name, including nicknames, aliases, and pseudonyms. Not limited to formal contexts.
He is known by the alias 'Red Comet'.
This plant has many alternative names.
Only with reading いめい
Technical term in biology for a taxonomic synonym. Read いめい in this sense.
See also: シノニム
This scientific name has several synonyms.
He has the nickname 'the Ice Queen.'
This player is known by the nickname 'the Monster.'
シノニム is the English loanword for a taxonomic synonym used in scientific writing, while 異名 (いめい) is the native Japanese term for the same concept in biology.
通称 refers to a name that is commonly and widely used, whereas 異名 can be any alternative name, even an obscure or literary one.
あだ名 is a casual, everyday nickname among friends or classmates, while 異名 often carries a grander or more legendary flavor.
Standard kanji spelling for the common reading いみょう.
Rare reading used only in the biological sense of 'synonym'.
Compound of 異 (i, 'different') and 名 (myō/mei, 'name'). The reading いみょう is the standard on'yomi, while いめい is a less common variant used in specialized contexts.