Kind of an unusual request (maybe this forum is the totally wrong place to post this, sorry if that’s the case!)… But I’m looking for a pen name to help me with my “brand” and embodying the genre that I write (YA thriller/suspense with fantasy/scifi elements) I want it to be haunting, evocative, melancholy, and/or exciting. I’m looking for some fresh ideas! Can you help me out??? Pretty please?!
I’m a petite fiery redhead if that matters… it would be nice if I could find a name that suited me as a person as well.
I’ve been using my first name/middle but I’m not sure it has the right qualities and I’m not sure about using my real name anyway… My name is derived from the [name_f]Acacia[/name_f] tree–My true name is the phonic spelling Kaysha and my middle name is Vee (in honor of my great grandma [name_f]Vera[/name_f]). What are your honest thoughts on ~ K a y s h a V e e ~ as a pen name? Too unusual? Too hard to spell? I also have a small concern with someone from my past who would immediately recognize the name and that could potentially have serious repercussions for both my professional writing career and possibly my children.
I want a memorable name, not too hard to spell, that also suits my genre and “brand.”
Other names on my list are (but I’m not sure any after the right feel):
[name_u]Keeva[/name_u] [name_m]Allen[/name_m] - a smoosh of my first and middle name, plus the male middle name ([name_m]Allen[/name_m]) that runs in my family for five generations.
[name_f]Kaya[/name_f] [name_m]Bush[/name_m] - a shorting of my first and last names.
K a y s h a Castle - I love the surname Castle and I used to use Castle as my pen name all the time, but I’m not sure about it any more… Especially with the tv show Castle.
K.V. [name_f]Briar[/name_f] - I’m not sure about using initials… [name_f]Briar[/name_f] is a name I’ve always been drawn to.
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_m]Knox[/name_m] - a subtle (?) reference to the mythological phoenix that I’ve always been drawn to.
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] Fair - My almost name. If I wasn’t K a y s h a I definitely would’ve been [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] or Rockni (a name honoring my Dad, but is pretty out there!)
[name_u]Brighton[/name_u] [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] - a somewhat gender ambiguous surname, because I’d like teenage boys to read my works as well. Also, my nickname is “[name_u]Bright[/name_u] Eyes” so I like that reverence. [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] is a family name.
[name_f]Afton[/name_f] [name_u]Vale[/name_u] - another gender ambiguous name that I’ve always loved!
[name_u]Keegan[/name_u] [name_f]Briar[/name_f] - another gender ambiguous name using my initials.
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_m]Hazen[/name_m] _ I have some personal ties to both names and I quite like the sound of them together but I’m not sure that it’s really “me”?
[name_u]Bay[/name_u] Brinkley - same as above
[name_f]Luna[/name_f] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] and [name_f]Luna[/name_f] [name_m]Rush[/name_m] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] these two names but I’m not sure that they’re what I’m looking for?
[name_u]Echo[/name_u] [name_m]Allen[/name_m] - [name_u]Echo[/name_u]'s mythological story is one that resonates with me deeply, but I’m terrified that [name_u]Echo[/name_u] (or [name_f]Luna[/name_f] for that matter) would see cheesy and cliché. Again, [name_m]Allen[/name_m] is a family name.
I’m super interested in suggestions and opinions any names that you feel fit my criteria so seem to suit the genre! [name_m]Feel[/name_m] free to mix and match or suggest bran new names! Thanks tons!!!