Help! becoming a model. need a new name

General Name Discussion
1

hello ladies (and gents?) i need some serious help.

a couple of months i was ‘discovered’ by a scout from a prestigious modeling agency and now they are interested in hiring me . . . only they want me to come up with a ‘stage name’. i’m not exactly creative when it comes to names (heck, i had never even thought about names until now!) so i really need your help. my birth name is pretty boring and was VERY popular when i was growing up . . . the agency wants me to come up with a new and exotic sounding name.

i had looked around and even posted on some other messages boards but they were no help. nameberry seems different though. i know you only name babies…but do you think you could help me out? it will definitely be a challenge!

i’m looking for first and last name combos – something exotic, unique and glamorous – something that would suit a model! i really want a classy name, too … if that makes any sense.

thank you so much!

  • a
2

The first thing i thought of when i read this was that it couldn’t be a name of any top model right now, so that would take away [name]Karlie[/name] Kloss, [name]Miranda[/name] [name]Kerr[/name], [name]Daphne[/name] Groenveld, [name]Freja[/name] Beha,[name]Chanel[/name] [name]Iman[/name], [name]Behati[/name] Prinsloo, [name]Agyness[/name] [name]Deyn[/name], [name]Kate[/name] [name]Summers[/name] , [name]Coco[/name] Rocha etc, and it couldnt be something typically hollywood (think [name]Audrey[/name], [name]Marilyn[/name], [name]Scarlett[/name]…that sorta thing). However those names do give great direction. I assume (sorry if im wrong), that you are pretty young (ie. late teens/early twenties) since you were approached by an agency, so here are some names that could fit. I suggest starting to find a first name you love, then find a last to go with it.

One route you could go is names of goddesses, names that mean beautiful etc. :
[name]Cleo[/name]/[name]Clio[/name]
[name]Flora[/name]
[name]Naveen[/name]
[name]Inga[/name]
[name]Lilibet[/name]
[name]Mabel[/name]
[name]Mirabel[/name]
[name]Zuri[/name]
[name]Calista[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name]
[name]Ada[/name]
[name]Amabel[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name]
[name]Lottie[/name]

(big list of names that mean beautiful here : Names that Mean "Beautiful" )

For some reason i think it could also be fun to have a somewhat masculine name, a name that would be of complete opposite to your (i assume…yet again) beauty - could also be cool options for a last name?:
[name]Finn[/name] (Finnula? Then be called [name]Finn[/name])
[name]Elliot[/name]
[name]Sawyer[/name]
[name]August[/name]/[name]Augusta[/name]
[name]Auden[/name]
[name]Blake[/name]
[name]Yeats[/name]
[name]Beck[/name]
[name]Penn[/name]
[name]Turner[/name]
[name]Winslow[/name] (love this as a last name - love it as a first name too with the nick name [name]Winnie[/name])

Or “out there” names that could work on somebody in the spotlight:
[name]Poet[/name]
[name]Fable[/name]
[name]Sonnet[/name]
[name]River[/name]
[name]Plum[/name]

And some other names that i can see on a model:
[name]Willa[/name]
[name]Luna[/name]
[name]Schuyler[/name]
[name]Isla[/name]
[name]Summer[/name] (Depsite [name]Kate[/name] [name]Summers[/name])
[name]Delilah[/name]
[name]Bellamy[/name]
[name]Tallulah[/name]
[name]Luella[/name] (maybe not due to [name]Luella[/name] [name]Bartley[/name])
[name]Ruby[/name]
[name]Bronwyn[/name]
[name]Delaney[/name] (could be a cool last name)
[name]Georgia[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name]
[name]Agatha[/name]
[name]Manet[/name]
[name]Paloma[/name]
Lexington

I also tend to think that the name has to fit your heritage. For instance, seeing the beautiful name [name]Behati[/name] Prinsloo ( a Namibian model) on a 15th generation american might seem odd…so it’s just something else to think about! Sorry the suggested names are all over the place…hopefully you’ll find some inspiration! Let me know what you think and if i can be of any help in the future!

3

I know some people on NB frown on this, but it would really help if you could provide some description of what you look like or your heritage, you know? I wouldn’t want to give you such an exotic name that people are asking you why on earth you were named that. For example, [name]Heidi[/name] Klum works because she’s [name]German[/name], and [name]Alessandra[/name] [name]Ambrosio[/name] works because she’s Brazilian. Not saying you couldn’t pull off any of those names - I’m sure you could! - but it just helps. Anyway, here are some ideas…

[name]Anya[/name]
[name]Adair[/name]
[name]Corinne[/name]
[name]Clea[/name]
[name]Delora[/name]
[name]Eveline[/name]
[name]Esme[/name]
[name]Elora[/name]
[name]Fiona[/name]
[name]Glory[/name]
[name]Gemma[/name]
[name]Giorgia[/name]
[name]Hollis[/name]
[name]Jessamine[/name]
[name]Juliet[/name]
[name]Joya[/name]
[name]Karin[/name]
[name]Lena[/name]
[name]Lucienne[/name]
[name]Lisette[/name]
[name]Livia[/name]
[name]Liv[/name]
[name]Margo[/name]
[name]Mira[/name]
[name]Maxie[/name]
[name]Noella[/name]
[name]Phoebe[/name]
[name]Quinn[/name]
[name]Roxy[/name] ([name]Roxana[/name])
[name]Simone[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name]
[name]Stella[/name]
[name]Seren[/name]
[name]Selene[/name]
[name]Tallulah[/name]
[name]Tea[/name]
[name]Viola[/name]
[name]Willa[/name]
[name]Zara[/name]

Last names when you pick a first name, maybe?

[name]Lemon[/name] :slight_smile:

4

whoa! great names. so far my favorites are:

anya
blake (“blakely” was suggested by the agency as a last name)
cleo/clio/clea
juliet
lena
liv
margo (very similar to my middle name, margaret, which i love…maybe i should use maggie?)
roxy/roxana
zara

names the agency suggested that i like:
greta
anna (love this name)
harper
maggie
elsa (my favorite movie is “born free”, so they suggested this)
dominic (i think this is a boy’s name, though)

lemon, you’re right…i totally forgot to tell you what i looked like! i’ll blame my stupidity on this crazy diet. :wink: anyways, i’m caucasian, 5’10" and 125lbs. my hair is long, brown and wavy and i have dark blue eyes. although i love the color of my eyes, they dont’ have an “amazing shape”, etc, so the bottom half of my face is the more dominant…which means i have defined cheek bones, fairly full lips and a pretty strong jawbone…but my favorite feature is my smile! not only did i endure four years of braces for it, but it will last long after my “model features” fade. :slight_smile: i don’t know if this helps any, but the agency said i was a mix of cindy crawford, keira knightley and angelina jolie (i still have no clue what that means).

as for my heritage, i have roots in scotland and eastern europe and can pull of a dark hair color much easier than blonde, etc.

hope that helps :slight_smile:

what i’m really looking for in a name is something that “fits” me (looks and personality), is feminine - but not overly so (i love gisele bundchen’s name for this reason…anna also fits this category to me), is classic (i would love to stay classy through this whole experience) but is still fun and almost has a tomboy edge to it. hopefully i’m making sense here.

thank you for all the wonderful suggestions! :slight_smile:

5

Okay, that helps!

I love [name]Blake[/name], but it is pretty associated with actress [name]Blake[/name] Lively now, so I’m not sure I’d use it. Now that I think about it, maybe [name]Liv[/name] wasn’t the best suggestion - I love the name, but it reminds me of [name]Liv[/name] [name]Tyler[/name]. Off your description, I could best see you being a [name]Juliet[/name] ([name]Jules[/name]), [name]Margo[/name], [name]Roxy[/name], or [name]Zara[/name]. [name]Love[/name] all of them for you! And, from the names suggested by the modeling agency, I think [name]Anna[/name] and [name]Maggie[/name] are my favorites - [name]Dominic[/name] is a boy’s name, and I think that would be weird! [name]Maggie[/name] is cute, and I like it a lot, especially since it comes from your own middle name!

Here are a few more ideas:

[name]Blair[/name]
[name]Carson[/name]
[name]Kaia[/name]
[name]Kenzie[/name]
[name]Risa[/name]
[name]Sari[/name]
[name]Tess[/name]
[name]Wylie[/name]

[name]Lemon[/name] :slight_smile:

6

[name]Roxy[/name]/[name]Roxana[/name] and [name]Clio[/name] were the first names that came to mind and it seems you like them too. I also like [name]Margo[/name], [name]Zara[/name] and [name]Juliet[/name]. Maybe [name]Dominique[/name] instead of [name]Dominic[/name] which is all boy? You can also use the nn [name]Minnie[/name]. I can also see these names fitting.

[name]Clara[/name]
[name]Rosa[/name]
[name]Ariane[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name]
[name]Amira[/name]
[name]Vera[/name]
[name]Ada[/name]
[name]Eve[/name]
[name]Ruth[/name]/[name]Ruthie[/name]
[name]Maeve[/name]
[name]Colette[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Felicity[/name]
[name]Zoe[/name]
[name]Maia[/name]
[name]Darcy[/name]
[name]Piper[/name]
[name]Ellery[/name]

7

I think [name]Juliet[/name] or [name]Roxana[/name]/[name]Roxie[/name] would both make a very good name for a model. They have very different connotations though, so it depends on how you want to be thought of. They’re both very glamorous, but in different ways [name]Roxana[/name]/[name]Roxie[/name] makes me think bold and sassy, while [name]Juliet[/name] makes me think gentle and mysterious.

Also while most Nameberries don’t like it, I suggest picking a last name that alliterates with the first name you choose. Like [name]Juliet[/name] [name]Jones[/name], [name]Juliet[/name] Jopling, [name]Juliet[/name] [name]Jessup[/name], [name]Roxana[/name] Rymes, [name]Roxana[/name] Russo, [name]Roxana[/name] Reitz those were just some examples off the top of my head. Alliterative names automatically stand out and are very easy to remember. That would give you an edge in casting. [name]Just[/name] make sure you avoid making it too cheesy. Also you want to make sure the first and last name have a different number of syllables so it’s not awkward to say. [name]Juliet[/name] and [name]Roxana[/name] are both three syllables, so a last name with one or two syllables is preferable.

[name]Hope[/name] that helps! It’s a very interesting situation to think about.

8

I just saw your agency’s suggestions. I really love [name]Elsa[/name], [name]Maggie[/name], and [name]Greta[/name]. [name]Maggie[/name] gives a more innocent and playful impression while [name]Elsa[/name] and [name]Greta[/name] both have an exotic and vintage flair. I think they could all work along with [name]Juliet[/name] and [name]Roxana[/name].

9

so here’s my updated list:

  • roxana: totally not the style i was going for but there’s something about this name that I just love.
  • juliet: love the feel…but I don’t know if i’m a juliet.
  • maggie: sweet and cute…but i don’t know if that’s what i’m going for. something about this name just feels “all American” to me and i love that.
  • anna: not liking it as much…
  • tess/tessa: i’ve always liked these names.
  • vera/elsa/greta: i love how exotic they are.

i’m noticing that each name has a different “feel” or personality to it and i’m really starting to want something gentle, classic and timeless…but with a bit of a kick.

i think the front runner right now is maggie.

10

another set of names my sister just suggested:

odette / odessa / ottavia
(odessa’s my fave)

i like all of them! what do you think?

11

Hmm, not easy first i thought that a old-school glamourous name, something a bit artistic would fit
Like:
[name]Thea[/name]
[name]Lyda[/name]
[name]Grace[/name]
[name]Lila[/name]
[name]Violet[/name]
[name]Ava[/name]
[name]Lara[/name]
[name]Meta[/name]
[name]Audrey[/name]
[name]Rhea[/name]
[name]Lena[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name]
[name]Mika[/name]
[name]Amelia[/name]

But i think a fashionable name with a touch of elegance could also fit quite well
Like:
[name]Willa[/name]
[name]Anya[/name]
[name]Ada[/name]
[name]Mila[/name]
[name]Johanna[/name]
[name]Gisela[/name]
[name]Elsie[/name]
[name]Ella[/name]
[name]Frida[/name]
[name]Ida[/name]

12

[name]Aurelia[/name], [name]Phaedra[/name], [name]Dahlia[/name], Annalba, [name]Melisande[/name], [name]Honorine[/name], [name]Juliette[/name], [name]Helena[/name], [name]Mirielle[/name], [name]Mona[/name], [name]Nerissa[/name], [name]Calixta[/name], [name]Corinne[/name], [name]Dulcie[/name], [name]Georgiana[/name], [name]Zora[/name], [name]Zephyra[/name], [name]Clementina[/name], [name]Felicity[/name], [name]Hope[/name], [name]Juno[/name], Amorette, [name]Lorelei[/name], [name]Vivecka[/name], [name]Yvaine[/name], [name]Harper[/name], [name]Golda[/name], [name]Marigold[/name], [name]Jolie[/name], [name]Anka[/name], [name]Marguerite[/name], Kerense, [name]Heloise[/name], [name]Marissa[/name], [name]Ever[/name], [name]Waverly[/name], [name]Josette[/name], [name]Gianna[/name], [name]Cosette[/name], [name]Lola[/name], [name]Lucette[/name], [name]Minnie[/name], [name]Laura[/name], [name]Belinda[/name], Poesie, [name]Athena[/name], [name]Amery[/name], [name]Musette[/name], [name]Aria[/name], [name]Dorothy[/name], [name]Delaney[/name], [name]Isobel[/name], [name]Shira[/name], [name]Louise[/name], [name]Perla[/name], Merit, [name]Beatrix[/name], [name]Adelaide[/name], [name]Adele[/name], Fjola, Fluer, [name]Flavia[/name], [name]Octavia[/name], [name]Hope[/name], Hesper, [name]Gina[/name], [name]Aurora[/name], [name]Rosalind[/name], [name]Eliza[/name], [name]Jane[/name], [name]Angelique[/name], Noni, [name]Naomi[/name]

I hope that helps, I tried to mix it up!

Blessings,

[name]Bella[/name] <3

13

O.K. so I’m going to post a wide range of different styles, enjoy :smiley:

[name]Clara[/name]
[name]Anastasia[/name]
[name]Eleni[/name]/[name]Elaney[/name]
[name]Lucienne[/name]
[name]Sojourner[/name]
[name]Lenore[/name]
[name]Leonor[/name]
[name]Leonora[/name]
[name]Silvie[/name]/[name]Sylvie[/name]
[name]Rosalie[/name]/[name]Coralie[/name]/[name]Aurelie[/name]
[name]Nova[/name]
[name]Doveva[/name]
[name]Selene[/name]
[name]Camille[/name]
[name]Adelina[/name]
[name]Soleil[/name]
[name]Claudia[/name]/[name]Claudie[/name]
[name]Story[/name]
[name]Estelle[/name]
[name]Estella[/name]
[name]Georgette[/name]
[name]Georgiana[/name]
[name]Anneliese[/name]
[name]Isadora[/name]
[name]Evelyn[/name]
[name]Celia[/name]
[name]Vesper[/name]
[name]Laurel[/name]
[name]Tempest[/name]
[name]Lilith[/name]
[name]Giada[/name]
[name]Yvaine[/name]
[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Tamsin[/name]
[name]Fay[/name]
[name]Hazel[/name]
[name]Aveline[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Beatriz[/name]/[name]Beatrix[/name]/[name]Beatrice[/name]
[name]Katrin[/name]
[name]Ruby[/name]
[name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Ruth[/name]
[name]Alma[/name]
[name]Wren[/name]
[name]Eve[/name]
[name]Frances[/name]/[name]Frankie[/name]
[name]Gwendolyn[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Natalya[/name]
[name]Nicolette[/name]
[name]Nicola[/name]
[name]Viola[/name]
[name]Pippa[/name]
[name]Ophelia[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name]
[name]Eloisa[/name]
[name]Carolina[/name]
[name]Ash[/name]
[name]Elle[/name]
[name]Elise[/name]
[name]Emelyn[/name]/[name]Emeline[/name]/[name]Emmeline[/name]

I hope this helps

:smiley:
Iz

P.S. I’m doing a second post for last names.

14

Is your agency really putting pressure on you to use a pseudonym? Or is this your suggestion/choice? :? It’s just SO uncommon to use “stage names” these days, and to my knowledge it’s not something agencies have promoted (or discouraged, they don’t tend to care, this is a client’s personal choice) for years and years. I’ve never heard of that happening, only that people with hyphenated or especially long names find it easier to shorten. The vast majority of models (and actors, singers, etc.) use their given names these days.

[name]Just[/name] something to think about… some people regret not using their real names down the line. Your real name can’t be that bad :wink:

15

I am putting in surnames as well

[name]Milana[/name] [name]Grace[/name] Russo
[name]Milana[/name] [name]Isabelle[/name] [name]Grace[/name] ([name]Grace[/name] as a surname)
[name]Millie[/name] Armitage
[name]Georgina[/name] [name]Blake[/name]
[name]Belle[/name] [name]Delores[/name]

wdyt?

rollo

16

[name]Claudine[/name]
[name]Desmond[/name]
[name]Eamon[/name]
[name]Fiona[/name]
[name]Gemma[/name]
[name]Hadley[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Jacinda[/name]
[name]Lenore[/name]
[name]Marianna[/name]
[name]Nydia[/name]
[name]Ophelia[/name]
[name]Pippa[/name]
[name]Reed[/name]
[name]Simona[/name]
[name]Talisa[/name]
[name]Veronika[/name]
[name]Zia[/name]
so fun! If you like any first names a lot, let us know. I would love to think of last names.

17

I love [name]Maggie[/name]. It has long been a favorite. It is quite popular. [name]Maggie[/name] won’t set you apart. I don’t know how important that is for you.

JIMO, [name]Mamie[/name] and [name]Mimi[/name] are the new [name]Maggie[/name]. But if it is [name]Maggie[/name] you love, it is [name]Maggie[/name] you should go for.

18

I think [name]Magdalena[/name] would be lovely for you! I know a [name]Magdalena[/name] that goes by [name]Maggie[/name], and it’s so perfect! [name]Magdalena[/name] is exotic, [name]Maggie[/name] is sweet and cute, [name]Lena[/name] is stylish, and the strong ‘d’ sound makes it less feminine to my ears. What do you think?

19

@Yellow

If it’s something like [name]Jessica[/name] [name]Smith[/name], I can see how they would want her to use a pseudonym.

20

My favorites off the list are [name]Roxana[/name], [name]Juliet[/name], [name]Maggie[/name], and [name]Tess[/name]. [name]Tess[/name] feels the most model-like to me, honestly - I can’t put my finger on why…

[name]Tess[/name] [name]Alcott[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Avery[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] Bouchard
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Camden[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] Coquillette
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Curran[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] Dellacqua
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Durant[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Deveraux[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] Donnelley
[name]Tess[/name] Ebersol
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Everett[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Fitzgerald[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Felix[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Farrier[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] Gullickson
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Gatsby[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] Gerschwin
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Hamilton[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] Hoxworth
[name]Tess[/name] Joliet
[name]Tess[/name] Kirkpatrick
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Kellen[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Maxwell[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] Marvell
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Piper[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Parsons[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] Pickerel
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Rutherford[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Roberts[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Reilly[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Tallis[/name]
[name]Tess[/name] [name]Tucker[/name]

Eh. I just don’t think you want anything that screams “stage name,” so I went with some more basic last name options. Many would work for any of the names on your list, I think.

[name]Lemon[/name] :slight_smile: