"Genius!" Fun Names for People with High Skill Levels

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Some people have a level of skill that is much higher than the average person. You can say that they are "very good" or even "great" at what they do, but that's not much fun, is it?

Thankfully, there are plenty of much more interesting ways to refer to talented people, and we'll introduce you to 10 of them in this article. You may already know a few of them!

Expert

We'll begin with one of the simpler terms. An expert is someone who knows all about a particular subject.

If you need help with this program, ask Ashley — she's an expert.

There is also the noun form "expertise," which refers to skill and knowledge instead of the person who has them.

He has a lot of expertise in the field of marketing.

Natural

Someone who is an expert at something has usually studied and worked hard to get their knowledge and skills. On the other hand, a "natural" is someone who was simply born with a special talent. In other words, they do something naturally.

He can play all of those instruments even though he never took classes. He's a natural.

This has the same meaning as calling someone "gifted." However, "gifted" is an adjective while "natural" (in this case) is a noun.

He is a really gifted musician.

Genius

You probably already know this word. It's closely related to the name Einstein, which we've discussed in another post on famous names.

How did you get the answer so quickly? You're a genius!

You can also use it as an adjective. People often say it when they think an idea or suggestion is very good.

That's genius! Why didn't I think of that?

Wunderkind

This word is specifically for very successful people who are also very young. It's not as common in daily conversations as other terms on this list, but you may read it or hear it on a news program.

A few tech wunderkinds are responsible for some of the biggest products and services millions of people use today.

Wizard

"Wizards" are characters with magical powers in fantasy stories. If there is someone who is so skilled at something that it seems like they are doing magic, you have the perfect word to describe them.

Freddie is a coding wizard. Several companies want to hire him.

There is also the term "whiz kid," which basically means "young wizard."

It may be easy for a whiz kid like you, but the rest of us need to study hard to pass the test!

Prodigy

Similar to the term above, a "prodigy" is a very talented person who is often also very young. However, it is not as informal as "whiz kid" or many of the other terms on this list; it can be used casually, but it has a slightly more serious and realistic nuance.

The child prodigy was on the cover of several scientific magazines because of his discoveries.

Ninja

The ninja were spies and assassins active in Japan starting in the 15th century. They have become world famous through pop culture for their incredible physical abilities and cleverness.

Calling someone a "ninja" today suggests that person also has a very high level of skill in some particular area.

Danica is a math ninja. If you need help, ask her.

Master

A "master" is someone who has reached the highest rank or level of skill. They know everything there is to know about something, can do difficult tasks easily, and are often able to teach people who are less experienced.

After training around the world, he became a martial arts master that everyone wanted to train with.

This can also be used as a verb, which means "to reach the highest level" or "to get complete control over."

She was excited to show off the skateboard tricks she mastered during her vacation.

Savant

This term is different from other words on this list because it is used to describe someone with both a high and low level of ability. A "savant" is a person who may have lower-than-average ability in many areas but is extremely skilled at one particular thing.

Jeff has trouble socializing, and many of his classes are difficult for him, but he's an art savant. Look at his drawings!

Virtuoso

"Virtuoso" is often used to describe someone with a high level of ability at playing a musical instrument, but it can also be used for other things.

Everyone was excited to see the match between the two chess virtuosos.

You can also use it as an adjective if it is placed before a noun.

We were all amazed by their virtuoso performance.

Wrap-up

The next time you want to compliment someone on their skill, you have a lot of options to choose from. Add some color and creativity to your conversations by using one of these alternate names for highly skilled people. You just might surprise your English-speaking friends!