Name for myself!

General Name Discussion
1

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] berries!

I am writing a novel (Yes, I know about writers corner!), and finished my second draft today!

I am planning to try to get it published, but do not want it published under my real name. I have been looking at names for this for a while (while also looking for baby names), but haven’t really found anything that fits!

Requests:

  • Nothing super crazy!
  • No last names that are super difficult to pronounce or spell or are more than 4 syllables.
  • [name_f]My[/name_f] middle name is [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] - so some variation of that would be good! (other suggestions welcome as well!)

ALL suggestions welcome! I will need a first and last name. Suggestions of first or last or combos are all greatly appreciated!!!

2

What kind of image do you want to portray with your name? Serious? Fun loving? Feminine? Androgynous? Maybe describe your ideal book photograph?

3

Feminine and mysterious, but also intriguing. A name that stands out and looks good on the cover of a book!

4

So here are some first names that come to mind from that description:
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f], [name_f]Lana[/name_f], [name_f]Veronica[/name_f], [name_f]Ivy[/name_f], [name_f]Claudia[/name_f], [name_f]Sidonie[/name_f], [name_f]Althea[/name_f], [name_f]Eve[/name_f], [name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_f]Aida[/name_f], [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f], [name_f]Minerva[/name_f], [name_f]Esme[/name_f], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], [name_f]Zora[/name_f], [name_f]Julienne[/name_f], [name_f]Noelle[/name_f], [name_u]Marion[/name_u], [name_f]Estella[/name_f], [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f], [name_u]Simone[/name_u], [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], [name_f]Valerie[/name_f], [name_f]Alma[/name_f], [name_f]Leonie[/name_f], [name_f]Danae[/name_f], [name_f]Noemi[/name_f], [name_f]Rosaria[/name_f], [name_f]Livia[/name_f], [name_f]Sienna[/name_f], [name_f]Leonora[/name_f], [name_f]Avis[/name_f], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f], [name_f]Viola[/name_f], [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f], [name_f]Mila[/name_f], [name_f]Renata[/name_f], [name_f]Michalina[/name_f], [name_f]Vika[/name_f], [name_f]Josefa[/name_f], [name_f]Mabyn[/name_f], [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], [name_f]Deirdre[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], [name_f]Rhea[/name_f], [name_f]Ronia[/name_f], [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f], [name_f]Isannah[/name_f], [name_u]January[/name_u], [name_f]Jordana[/name_f]

5

I think [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] is intriguing but also feminine and it’s a short form of [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f]. I think it would definitely stand out on the cover of a book too. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen a lot of books with authors named [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], if any which I think makes it stand out more.

So my suggestion for a first name would be [name_f]Eliza[/name_f].

I’m not good at coming up with last names, but if I think of any I’ll let you know.

6

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] Edwards?

I liked Italian surnames. They sound romantic to me. I think alliteration is good in a pseudonym. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Monica[/name_f] Morelli? I like the surname Zanetti. It’s different enough but the Z makes it very memorable. Easy to pronounce and once you hear it, you know how to spell it.

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] Zanetti?

Going just out there all the way… I really like the suggestion of [name_f]Veronica[/name_f]. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] Borelli?

7

I’m kind of winging it here but here are some ideas:

[name_f]Elsa[/name_f] [name_m]Myles[/name_m]
[name_f]Elyse[/name_f] [name_m]Davis[/name_m]
[name_f]Liz[/name_f] [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u]
[name_f]Beth[/name_f] [name_u]Walker[/name_u]
[name_f]Betsy[/name_f] [name_u]Grey[/name_u]
[name_f]Libby[/name_f] [name_m]Brooks[/name_m]

8

If I were to use a pen name, I would go about it a little differently I think. I would look around in my family tree for surnames (would love to use my grandmother’s maiden name!). I would also choose something that has meaning to me personally for a first name. As a pen name would be something I would possibly have to wear and introduce myself as, I feel like it has to be something more than just a name that looks good on the cover.

That said, I really like the idea of basing it on your middle name, [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] was my first thought, but [name_f]Isobel[/name_f]/[name_f]Isabel[/name_f] are also lovely. I would suggest looking through your family for a surname though. Or choosing a surname with a meaning you like or with positive associations, or a word that’s meaningful to you. (I might use [name_m]Baker[/name_m] because of a song I love and because it’s one of my favourite occupations, or I could go with [name_m]Boone[/name_m], one of my favourite words when it comes to meaning and sound.)

If you use a metronymic or patronymic surname, you could honour someone dear to you that way, which seems very sweet :slight_smile:

9

I love [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]! I’d use a nature last name, I think that would make it stand out.

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_m]Wolfe[/name_m]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_m]Brooks[/name_m]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_u]River[/name_u]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_m]Forest[/name_m]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_m]Fox[/name_m]

10

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] was the first name that I thought of as well! I also agree with @dearest that you could try to find a last name from your family?

11

If I were to get myself a pen name, I could use something meaningful to me; as a first name I could go by [name_f]Yasmine[/name_f] - it’s feminine and mysterious enough; has a strong sound (I’m not good at this sound thing - so I say, it has strong first syllable). I’d also have meaningful, but fancy surname - like St. [name_m]John[/name_m] or St. [name_m]Martin[/name_m] (since my name is [name_f]Marta[/name_f], it would be fun to call myself Mrs St. [name_m]Martin[/name_m], wouldn’t it?) or like my favourite Gossip Girl character - van der Woodsen or Waldorf; I could pick something a’ la [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] and call myself Lightwood or [name_f]Primrose[/name_f] (I know it’s usually a name rather than a surname - who cares?). It would be catchy; oh, and I’d definitely put some middle names coz I couldn’t stop myself at having just one name, haha.
Eventually, I’d name myself [name_f]Yasmine[/name_f] B. St. [name_m]Martin[/name_m] or [name_f]Yasmine[/name_f] C.F. [name_f]Primrose[/name_f] or [name_f]Yasmine[/name_f] J. van der Woodsen.
I hope I inspired you a little, and that eventually you’ll come with something feminine, mysterious and meaningful that you can associate yourself with and you feel comfortable wearing.
I also agree to two previous posts, meaning is important, and nature names sound cool and memorable.