How to choose a pen name

Writers' Corner
1

From time to time I see girls (maybe even boys) come to the forums searching for a pen name, and I thought that we needed a thread for it. Several writers out there used it and still became famous. e.g. [name_f]Karen[/name_f] Blixen, a Danish writer, started writing under [name_u]Isak[/name_u] Dinesen, Osceola, [name_m]Peter[/name_m] Lawless, [name_m]Pierre[/name_m] Andrézel and [name_f]Tania[/name_f] Blixen. why? Because she changed genres.

Choosing a pen name
When you decided that a pen name was for you, what did you have in mind? Should it be just initials such as J.K. Rowling and J.R.R Tolkien? Or would you rather not use your real name and that’s the reason why you decided on a pen name?

If you don’t want to use your real name I have some tips:

1 If you have a long name e.g. [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] cut it down or change the spelling slightly e.g [name_f]Lotta[/name_f] or [name_f]Carlotta[/name_f]. This is what the writer [name_u]Ali[/name_u] [name_m]Knight[/name_m] did.

2 Make sure that when you say your pseudonym that it flows well. It has to come easy e.g. [name_u]Douglas[/name_u] [name_m]Adams[/name_m]. The reason why it flows so well is due to the names not being the same length. If you said [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_m]Freeman[/name_m] it doesn’t flow as good as [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_m]Jones[/name_m].

3 If the book will be sold in a male dominated audience initials or a more unisex name should be used. It’s often been seen that boys do not want to read what a female has written. Try the mysterious [name_u]Sutton[/name_u] or the ordinary [name_u]Alex[/name_u].

4 Graveyards are the perfect place to find beautiful names to make your pen name. Or try the obituary! You can find gems like [name_f]Ella[/name_f] [name_f]Maria[/name_f] Ravn (sorry for the Danish name). Search out in the open. Often you will find names that are usable.

5 Rather have a surname starting with A-D than U-Z. Most people tend to only browse the first letters in the alphabet rather than the last.

6 When you have your name check online to see if any domains is taken. If not, hurry and buy it! This will make a great investment in the long run when your fanbase gets bigger.

And now you should be ready with a snazzy pen name that will leave the reader intrigued in you and your book!

I really hoped that this was helpful and if others have any tips you are more than welcome to add to this!

2

Number one should include last names as well. Like if your surname is Reddington, shorten it to [name_u]Red[/name_u] or [name_m]Redd[/name_m] if you like.

*pick a name that’s easy to pronounce

*For characters I’m writing about that are based on real people (and the same can be done for pen names), I take like the first 2-3 letters of the first and last name to give them a new name. EX. Gemma Burderstein become Genevieve Burke.

3

I’d also add that places that are meaningful to you can be a good source of a penname. If you love [name_u]London[/name_u], how about using [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Hyde[/name_m], after two of the parks there? Or if you went on honeymoon in Australia, [name_u]Sydney[/name_u]/[name_u]Sidney[/name_u] might work for you. Or if you live on [name_m]Charlton[/name_m] Road, then [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] might be an option.

4

That was a really good idea! I will certainly add that.

I never thought about it like that, Essjay. Cool idea.

Keep them coming writing berries. :smiley:

5

You could use a name that is a variation of your own, or has the same meaning. An example would be my name, [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], which means “ewe.” It is also a biblical name. I could use another biblical name (like [name_f]Leah[/name_f] or [name_f]Naomi[/name_f]), a variation ([name_f]Rachael[/name_f], [name_f]Rochelle[/name_f], [name_f]Raquelle[/name_f], [name_u]Shelley[/name_u]), or a name with the same meaning ([name_f]Merona[/name_f])

6

I’ve made a anagram of my whole name first middle last then tossed what I got for my last and picked a last name of a fictional role model that I looked up 2 a lot as a child and the reason I’m going to go into the job field I’m going into after uni

As example
[name_f]Hermione[/name_f] jean granger becomes
[name_f]Ginger[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] Remora [name_f]Hen[/name_f]
[name_m]Cross[/name_m] off hen add last name [name_u]Brennan[/name_u] in this case temperance [name_u]Brennan[/name_u] you get
[name_f]Ginger[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] Remora [name_u]Brennan[/name_u]

So
[name_f]Hermione[/name_f] jean granger
[name_f]Ginger[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] Remora [name_u]Brennan[/name_u]

7

Yeah, I never thought about that. Good idea Alchemically!!

That’s a good idea too. I also remembered how I got [name_f]Lyra[/name_f].
Being a literary fan and name lover my best friend chose two name that I could choose between. [name_u]Hayden[/name_u] or [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]. This could also be a possibility.

8

Bumping this thread.

9

I really think shorter is better. [name_u]Dean[/name_u] Koontz… 2 syllables. [name_m]Stephen[/name_m] [name_m]King[/name_m]… 3 syllables. [name_m]Brad[/name_m] [name_m]Thor[/name_m]… 2 syllables. [name_m]Vince[/name_m] [name_u]Flynn[/name_u]… 2 syllables. [name_f]Danielle[/name_f] [name_u]Steele[/name_u]… 3 syllables. JK Rowling… 3 syllables.

You will find lots of exceptions but I think the main point is to be MEMORABLE. No one can read a book they can’t find. [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_m]Devereaux[/name_m] is beautiful but your book won’t sell if people keep looking for “… that book my friend said was so good… the one by that frenchwoman…”

10

Great tip. One of several reasons I’m writing under a pen name is that the domain for my real name was taken. I picked [name_f]Maris[/name_f] McKay. [name_f]Maris[/name_f] is a shortened version of my name, [name_f]Marissa[/name_f], and I decided on McKay because I liked the way they sounded together, it fits my ethnic heritage, and marismckay.com was available.

11

Bumping this thread as I keep seeing a lot of people looking for a pen name!