Ground ivy is a creeping perennial herb that is also known by several synonyms. One popular synonym for ground ivy is gill-over-the-ground, which refers to the plant's tendency to spread quickly and easily. Other common synonyms for ground ivy include creeping charlie, field balm, alehoof, tunhoof, and run-away-robin. Creeping charlie and run-away-robin both refer to the plant's ability to take over a lawn or garden space if left unchecked. Alehoof and tunhoof both refer to the medicinal properties of the plant, which was historically used in herbal remedies to treat a variety of ailments.