Please Help With My Pen Name

Writers' Corner
1

Okay, so I’m a writer (hence my username) and the pen name I’ve been using isn’t working. I took the Nameberry list of names similar to my nickname (Kate, obviously) and middle name (private- sorry!) and then narrowed each down to two name via Wheel Of Names. I ended up with [name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f], [name_f]Ailsa[/name_f], and [name_f]Anja[/name_f]. I created this list of fn/mns (and one just fn) out of those and their diminutives/variations, and I’d like some help choosing one:

[name_f]Irmina[/name_f] [name_f]Ailsa[/name_f] (from [name_f]Emma[/name_f] and Ailsa) two syllables, emphasis on second

[name_f]Annika[/name_f] [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] (from [name_f]Anja[/name_f] and Ailsa) two syllables, emphasis on second

[name_f]Xandra[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] (from [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] and Ailsa) two syllables, emphasis on first

[name_u]Sandy[/name_u] [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] (from [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] and Anja) one syllable

[name_f]Alessandra[/name_f] [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] (from [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] and Ailsa) one syllable

[name_f]Xandra[/name_f] [name_f]Annika[/name_f] (from [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] and Anja) one syllable

[name_f]Anna[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] (from [name_f]Anja[/name_f] and Ailsa) three syllables, emphasis on third

[name_f]Hannah[/name_f] [name_f]Irmina[/name_f] (from [name_f]Anja[/name_f] and Emma) two syllables, emphasis on second

[name_f]Elsa[/name_f] [name_u]Anne[/name_u] (from [name_f]Ailsa[/name_f] and Anja) one syllable

[name_f]Anja[/name_f] Xandria (from [name_f]Anja[/name_f] and Alexandra) two syllables, emphasis on first, preferably with a letter that doesn’t make the sound it’s generally obliged to

[name_f]Emma[/name_f] [name_u]Alexis[/name_u] (from [name_f]Emma[/name_f] and Alexandra) two syllables, emphasis on second

[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] (from [name_f]Anja[/name_f] and Ailsa) three syllables, emphasis on third or four syllables, emphasis on third

I put certain meters next to the fn/mns, but any ln suggestions would be appreciated!

2

You have a lot of good ones to choose from! I’ll preface this post by saying I love all of your ideas. [name_m]Just[/name_m] because I only left a critical comment doesn’t mean that I don’t like the name - I just want to help you narrow down! The ones I personally wouldn’t choose for you are:

[name_f]Annika[/name_f] [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] / [name_f]Anna[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] / [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] [name_u]Anne[/name_u] – all gorgeous names, but feel very tied to Frozen when used in a combo together. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but while you’re trying to establish yourself as a writer, it could be distracting to a reader.
[name_f]Alessandra[/name_f] [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] – It’s very long. Again, absolutely stunning, but I’m trying to picture it on a book cover. It could end up feeling a bit squished!
[name_f]Xandra[/name_f] [name_f]Annika[/name_f] – For many people’s accents, [name_f]Annika[/name_f] and [name_f]Xandra[/name_f] will rhyme. In my accent they don’t, but I asked two people to say the name, and for both I asked, it did rhyme.
[name_f]Emma[/name_f] [name_u]Alexis[/name_u] – [name_f]Lovely[/name_f], but it doesn’t stand out – both names were very popular in the early 2000s. Of course, this could work if that’s the vibe you’re going for.

So that leaves us with:

[name_u]Sandy[/name_u] [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] – The double ‘an’ bothers me a little bit. Unforunate, as I like both of these names on their on.
[name_f]Anja[/name_f] Xandria – Less so than with [name_f]Xandra[/name_f] [name_f]Annika[/name_f], but some people may rhyme these names as well.
[name_f]Hannah[/name_f] [name_f]Irmina[/name_f] – I’m being very picky, but I don’t love how these names sound together.

So my top three choices for you are:
[name_f]Irmina[/name_f] [name_f]Ailsa[/name_f] – It stands out from the crowd. It’s short, sweet, uncommon, but pronounceable. It will stick out in your reader’s heads.
[name_f]Xandra[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] – [name_f]Xandra[/name_f] is such a fun name, so like above, it will stick out. [name_f]Elise[/name_f] is simple and sweet, an internationally appreciated name.
[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] – [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] sounds so sophisticated and intelligent, which suits a writer very well.

Some surname ideas:

Selesky – I love [name_f]Irmina[/name_f] [name_f]Ailsa[/name_f] Selesky.
[name_u]Valentine[/name_u] – A personal favourite. [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] [name_u]Valentine[/name_u] would be gorgeous.
Sosa – [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Xandra[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] Sosa
[name_f]Moon[/name_f]
Flowers
[name_u]Monroe[/name_u]
[name_m]Solomon[/name_m]
[name_f]Silva[/name_f]
Suzuki
Aguilar
[name_m]Meyer[/name_m]
[name_u]Frost[/name_u]
[name_u]Winter[/name_u]
[name_f]Summers[/name_f]
[name_u]Holland[/name_u]
[name_u]Temple[/name_u]

3

Thanks for all that helpful feedback! Your top three are probably mine as well, and the last names are super great! [name_f]Xandra[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] [name_u]Winter[/name_u] sounds great, as does [name_f]Irmina[/name_f] [name_f]Ailsa[/name_f] Selesky and [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] [name_m]Solomon[/name_m]. Choosing between these will be the real challenge… maybe the other commenters (or my family and things) can help?