Apodo vs. sobrenombre vs. mote
The Spanish words apodo, sobrenombre, and mote all refer to the concept of a nickname, but they are used differently depending on varying situations and contexts.
Apodo
A2Apodo is commonly used to refer to a nickname that has been earned by a characteristic behavior or physical attribute of a person. It's often used among friends and family or in a social context.
A mi hermana le pusieron el apodo de "Girasol" porque siempre está sonriente.
(My sister got the nickname Sunflower because she is always smiling.)
Debido a su rapidez, sus amigos le dieron el apodo de "Relámpago".
(Due to his speed, his friends gave him the nickname Lightning.)
Sobrenombre
B1Sobrenombre is often used almost interchangeably with apodo. But it's more formal and is sometimes used in professional or official contexts, like pen names for authors or stage names for actors.
El escritor Samuel Clemens usaba el sobrenombre de "Mark Twain".
(The writer Samuel Clemens used the nickname Mark Twain.)
Elvis Presley es un sobrenombre; su verdadero nombre era Elvis Aaron Presley.
(Elvis Presley is a stage name; his real name was Elvis Aaron Presley.)
Mote
C1Mote is also equivalent to nickname but tends to be used more in rural or traditional communities across Spain (less common in Latin America). Sometimes, it points to something humorous or playful.
"El Gordo" es el mote cariñoso que tienen para él en el pueblo.
(The Fatty is the friendly nickname they have for him in the village.)
"La Chata" es un mote tradicional en algunas regiones de España.
(Flat-Nose is a traditional nickname in some regions of Spain.)
Summary
Apodo, sobrenombre, and mote, all mean nickname, yet they are used under different circumstances. While apodo hint at personal characteristics and are familiar, sobrenombre lean towards formal contexts such as stage names. And, ‘mote’ tend towards the humorous side, found more commonly in rural Spain.