Copyright I want to copyright my nickname. Copyright or Trade Mark?

[TattooJay14]

I am a tattoo artist here in Arizona and I go by a nickname of "TattooThomas". I want to be the only person to be using the name. How can I go about copyrighting the name? Do I copyright or trademark the name so it can solely be used by me?

 

[army judge]

Our in house patent, trademark, copyright expert owns this site.
He's known around these parts as "law professor".
Among his peers he's an expert in these topics.
Before he plunks down his $50,000 answer, here's my 2¢. LOL
Copyright a name, trademarking a brand even, will be extremely difficult.
Then you must be prepared to protect it.
I see no way forward.
But, I'm the cheap version (the poor person's version) of the real deal, law professor.