Yeah, I got to have nicknames on all the pokes I use. Obviously I don't nickname all the boxes full of them I get when I breed, but the ones who end up useable all get nicknames.
But, they have to be good nicknames. I have been stuck by the name rater for half an hour whilst trying to figure out a good nickname, searching the internet for a suitable reference to name it by, leaving for lunch, coming back and finding that I'm still at the name rater. And then I go "wtf why i doe dis i so dumb". Eh, worth it. Most of the times it goes a lot faster.
I try to make either punny or referential names, but most importantly: intimidating, badass names for cutemons and cuddly, awww-inducing names for (psuedo-)legendaries and the like. Bow in fear before Mr. Tweetums, the Pokémon of Destruction! (Yveltal)