Stage Name Help?! Tribal Fusion with a Steampunk Twist

General Name Discussion
1

I am so excited to be posting this thread! I have been daydreaming of stage names ever since I was invited to join my dance troupe a couple of months ago. Now I’m an official member, we have a show coming up in [name_u]January[/name_u] (my first! squee!!), and my teacher/troupe leader said the magic words: time to pick a stage name!

I need to have this nailed down in the next few days because we’re meeting again soon for a practice session, so I think a little [name_u]Berry[/name_u]-sourcing is in order to help me brainstorm!

We are an alternative bellydance troupe, so not your typical tribal fusion. We have a very steampunk vibe, our troupe name is T w i s t e d G e a r z, we dance to dubstep and alternative rock more than world music, and our costuming is super theatrical and over the top. I really want a name that reflects our unique style. Something that could belong in a steampunk novel. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though I love names like Scheherazade and [name_f]Esmeralda[/name_f], they seem to give off more of an eastern vibe, not enough copper and gears :wink:

My fellow dancers are R o u g e P e n d u l e, F a i r u z a M o o n, and Z a h n.

Ideas I’ve considered so far:
[name_f]Parthenia[/name_f] - I’ve been crushing on this one forever, and recently fallen for the combo [name_f]Parthenia[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f]. I’m not sure how well it translates into the steampunk vibe though, and I wonder if she sounds a bit pretentious?
[name_f]Lilith[/name_f] - I love the spookiness of this one, but not sure about the soft sounds. Plus, she might be a bit too stereotypically gothic.
[name_f]Farasha[/name_f] - I love this name, but I crossed her off the list because she’s too close to F a i r u z a, she’s all soft sounds with no industrial edge, and I think she belongs more in the Scheherazade camp
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] Dark - Total guilty pleasure, immediately scratched because it’s an author’s pseudonym, and I don’t want to be so blatantly unoriginal.
[name_f]Pandora[/name_f] - This is my front-runner right now. I love the mythology connection, I love the strong sounds, I love the badass vibe, and I love the drama. I think she could fit in a steampunk context. This is the one I will use if I don’t fall for any new suggestions. I haven’t decided whether I will have a second name…I like the idea, but so far nothing jumps out at me.

ETA: I’m adding a few more that I’ve considered and crossed off, to help with feeling out the style that I’m looking for.
Wilhelmina - I love the flow and the connection to Dracula. I don’t like that to people who aren’t familiar with the story, it will seem very flat and “normal.”
Titania - I waver on this one. Who wouldn’t want to be named after the Queen of the Fairies?? And it sounds vaguely steampunk, like titanium. I just don’t like the “tit” bit and worry it would be pretentious to name oneself after the Fairy Queen.
Myristica - I love that it’s related to the exotic spiciness of nutmeg and it looks like mysticism. I’m just not sure it fits the vibe of the troupe.
Vashti - I love the lush exotic bad girl feel. I don’t like that it’s so short.
Bellatrix - Again, I love the edgy bad girl vibe, and the celestial connection appeals to me. But it’s way too connected to Harry Potter…no one would even think of the star.

I cannot wait to see what my beloved Berries come up with! So so excited, you don’t even know :slight_smile:

2

Ooo! Stage names and steampunk names are a speciality of mine! If you want to try on a uniquely personalized anagrammed name, just give me a scramble (for privacy) of your first, middle, and last names, and I’ll anagram a stage/steampunk name out of that for you that no one else will have. I have a long-running steampunk names topic going over at BrassGoggles.com.

If you need an example of what I do, check out this thread:

– [name_f]Nephele[/name_f]

3

[name_f]Pandora[/name_f] is my favorite

4

Ooh, the dance troupe sounds awesome! I love being onstage, though for me it’s theatre, not dance.

Not sure exactly what you’re looking for, but I could see these names on a dancer:
[name_f]Galatea[/name_f]
[name_f]Lysistrata[/name_f]
Antoinetta
[name_f]Arcadia[/name_f]
[name_f]Thalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Valencia[/name_f]
Esclarimonde
[name_f]Hestia[/name_f]
[name_f]Pomona[/name_f]
Azélie
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f]
[name_f]Viveca[/name_f]

5

[name_f]Nephele[/name_f]'s anagrams are amazing, definitely take advantage of that… she’s probably got you covered, but I did want to mention the name [name_f]Evadne[/name_f]. I love her, I think she sounds mystical and dramatic… not sure if you think she could work in steampunk, but I could see it.

6

[name_f]Nephele[/name_f] - That sounds super fun! I’m not sure if you’ll have any luck with my full name, there are a lot of repeating letters. I do have a hyphenated last name, so I’ll give you two sets.
Without middle: A A A A E E H K L R R S S S S T W
With middle: A A A A E E H I I K K L N R R R S S S S S T T W
That’s like five S’s O.o

[name_f]Hailey[/name_f] - Thanks! [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] is my favorite so far as well. My only hesitation with using it is that last time I brought it up for a daughter, my husband actually said he’d think about it! So if I use it as a stage name, that would take it out of the running for my girls’ list.

[name_f]Azalea[/name_f] - I’ve always adored theatre and wanted to try it, but never had a chance. That’s part of why this dance troupe means so much to me! The style of dancing and the costuming and the choreography are all very theatrical, and the idea of being stage makes my inner [name_m]Leo[/name_m] do a happy dance, haha. Thanks so much for your ideas! [name_f]Lysistrata[/name_f] is swoonworthy, and I love [name_f]Arcadia[/name_f]. As for what I’m looking for…something dramatic, moody, with a bit of an edge. Something that could work in a steampunk setting, but isn’t so clunky that it loses the sex appeal. [name_f]Arcadia[/name_f] actually perfectly meets the criteria, so I’ll have to let her simmer for a while!

Esrever - I agree, they’re amazing :slight_smile: I can’t wait to see what she comes up with, especially since my name has so many repeating letters. [name_f]Evadne[/name_f] is a beautiful name, and I love [name_f]Evie[/name_f]. I’ll have to mull that over.

Thanks for the suggestions! [name_m]Feel[/name_m] free to keep them flowing!

7

I love [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] and [name_f]Arcadia[/name_f] for you.
What about:
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f] (Elphi is an adorable nn)
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f]
[name_f]Nova[/name_f]/[name_u]November[/name_u]
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvana[/name_f]
[name_f]Astoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Athena[/name_f]
[name_f]Hera[/name_f]

Good luck with your hunt! This sounds like a really amazing opportunity! Congrats!

8

sleepysessha, your longer scramble was the best one for me to work with:

Lassarina K. Starkeswithers
= A A A A E E H I I K K L N R R R S S S S S T T W

Lassarina: anglicized form of the ancient Irish name Lasairfhíona, meaning “flaming wine” or “flame of wine,” and derived from the name of the Celtic goddess Lasair. Click links below for more info:

– [name_f]Nephele[/name_f]

9

I thought of [name_f]Leocadia[/name_f] - it’s golden, mysterious but steamypunky too… I also like [name_f]Phaedra[/name_f], but [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] would be gorgeous.

10

Diadama
[name_f]Cressida[/name_f]
[name_f]Desdemona[/name_f]
[name_f]Medea[/name_f]

11

I’m not sure I’m the best at thinking of steam punk names, but I do like quite a few of the suggestions so I’ll give you my votes. That is so very exciting though, good luck!! =]

[name_f]Pandora[/name_f]- Is lovely, and if you use it as a mn for a daughter perhaps the tie in to your stage name would make it even more special? (little [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_f]Pandora[/name_f]? Swoon! :wink: )

[name_f]Titania[/name_f]- The titanium similarity is what makes this awesome. I don’t think it’s too pretentious, but are there any other metal-themed names that could work instead?

*[name_f]Arcadia[/name_f]- Jumped out at me when I was looking through the suggestions. I think this one would be absolutely perfect, but if you wanted it a bit longer [name_f]Leocadia[/name_f] is great as well.

*[name_f]Lysistrata[/name_f]- Was my second favorite from @bonfire’s great list of suggestions. It feels mystical and the repeating A’s and T’s give it a sort of calculated mechanical look.

Lassarina- Is also a pretty cool choice, I don’t know about the length of the full anagram, but the first name is very cool, especially the -ina part. I’m loving the L names.

[name_f]Galatea[/name_f]- Maybe not my favorite, but still worth an honorable mention. I could see this working, especially paired with a shorter second name a la your [name_f]Nyx[/name_f] combo.

12

What about [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f]? [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f] has spunk and beauty.

[name_f]Pandora[/name_f] is rather perfect for a steampunk dancer, though.

13

Entangler - Thanks for the suggestions! You’re right, Elphi is an absolutely adorable nn…I’m just concerned that [name_f]Delphine[/name_f] isn’t quite substantial enough for a stage name. I love [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] too, but I’m saving her for a daughter :wink: [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] could be interesting, I love the fierce meaning. [name_f]Astoria[/name_f] is another I would love but can’t use, as it’s the name of a nearby town.

[name_f]Nephele[/name_f] - Lassarina is really cool! I love the flaming wine meaning!

Ciottolo - Ooh [name_f]Phaedra[/name_f], I hadn’t thought of that one! And there’s Phedre no Delauney from [name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f] [name_u]Carey[/name_u]'s Kushiel series. Swoon. [name_f]Leocadia[/name_f] is pretty and does appeal to my [name_m]Leo[/name_m] side, haha.

rkrd - [name_f]Desdemona[/name_f] is a great idea! She’s so dramatic and substantial enough for a stage name, with a slight bit of gothic tragedy to her. I’ll have to mull that one over.

[name_f]Amy[/name_f] - I’m so glad you weighed in! :slight_smile: You make a good point about a shared name being a connection between me and a daughter…I hadn’t looked at it that way. I’m not sure about other metallic names…I mean there’s Goldberry and [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] and Coppelia maybe? I like [name_f]Titania[/name_f] best, though now that I think about it, [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] could be hella awesome. I keep wavering on [name_f]Arcadia[/name_f]…on one hand it sounds very witchy and cool, and I love the substantial-ness. Other times, all I hear is “arcade.” Ew. [name_f]Lysistrata[/name_f] is a beautiful name, and she’s still on the list, but I think there are others I like more.

[name_f]Brigid[/name_f] - Wow, [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f] is smashing! I love the spunky sci-fi vibe.

I think part of my problem is that so many names sound so beautiful, and if I were writing a story they would all be perfect, but when it comes to claiming a name for my own, most of them feel like I’m trying on someone else’s clothes. If it were just a matter of picking a random pretty name, I’d probably be [name_f]Parthenia[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f] by now. But I want to be comfortable with the name, because I plan to stay with my troupe for a long time and really develop my dancing, so this is a name I’ll go by for years. I think that’s why [name_f]Parthenia[/name_f] and [name_f]Titania[/name_f] make me worry about being pretentious. I know this is probably me being too picky, but when I settle on a name, I want to feel like, “wow, this is SO me.” Maybe that’s why [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] is my front-runner right now. I feel like she fits me better than most of the other choices.

My list right now:
[name_f]Pandora[/name_f]
[name_f]Titania[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurelia[/name_f]

[name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] / [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f]
[name_f]Phaedra[/name_f]
[name_f]Desdemona[/name_f]
[name_f]Lysistrata[/name_f]
[name_f]Arcadia[/name_f] / [name_f]Leocadia[/name_f]

And one more offbeat idea that I’d love feedback on: Pandorica. This was suggested to me as an alternative to [name_f]Pandora[/name_f]. I know it’s a [name_m]Doctor[/name_m] Who reference, but I’m okay with that because most people wouldn’t get it, and it would be a cool connection with any Whovians in the audience. I know NB is mostly about traditional, unaltered names, but this is a stage name, not a baby, so I would think embellishing a name for additional dramatic effect doesn’t have the same taboo as it would normally. If I used Pandorica, I wouldn’t use a “surname,” whereas with [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] I feel like it’s a little incomplete without one.

Thank you all so much for your help! Brainstorming is so much easier with a group than by one’s lonesome :slight_smile:

14

It’s hard to pick when you’ve got that many awesome names to choose from! :smiley:
Try the Starbucks test, maybe? Get all dressed up to go dancing, get yourself in the mindset, then walk into a coffeeshop and order a drink with the name that’s calling to you today.

I don’t think “Wow, she’s pretentious” when I hear [name_f]Titania[/name_f] or [name_f]Parthenia[/name_f] as a pseudonym, especially if it’s a person that’s warm and easygoing in general.

Pandorica I want to love. I want it to be perfect, because the [name_m]Doctor[/name_m]! and cleverness and subtle references are all things I adore. My initial reaction was hesitance, but as I sit with it for a few minutes it does seem to be growing on me. Part of what I like is that it includes [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] and elaborates on it; [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] as a myth isn’t one I love, but in a steampunk tinkery context it makes me smile. Pandorica has what I like about [name_f]Pandora[/name_f], plus some. It’s not my favorite, but…it’s still growing on me.

My favorites are probably
[name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] — I just love it in general, and it fits the image in my head of what you want
[name_f]Titania[/name_f] — fairy-like AND titanium? count me in!
[name_f]Leocadia[/name_f] — at first my eyes slipped right past this, but then it began to seem kind of perfect with the story and the other troupe members and the universe
[name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] — fits with the other names in your troupe, and I love the name itself and the gold reference, but it doesn’t feel as coppery and hard-edged as the image of what you want.

Then [name_f]Pandora[/name_f], Pandorica, [name_f]Arcadia[/name_f] and [name_f]Parthenia[/name_f] are all in a clump of mixed feelings. I suspect if you picked any one of them I’d grow to love it right quick, but right now I’m having yes-then-no feelings about them.
[name_f]Phaedra[/name_f]'s a great choice, it’s just not calling to me. [name_f]Desdemona[/name_f] isn’t a name that I like in general, even though it’s got a good image for the tale you spun. [name_f]Lysistrata[/name_f] is a tongue-twister.

15

I’ve got to say that I love [name_f]Evadne[/name_f] as a suggestion, and [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f], but it is way to [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] connected. Maybe [name_f]Circe[/name_f]?

[name_m]Ah[/name_m], nevermind, I see someone mentioned Pandorica. Fantastic. That’s perfect. This is coming from a dedicated Whovian though, so there is a massive bias. :slight_smile:

16

I checked you guys in youtube out of curiosity and it looks very cool! [name_f]Love[/name_f] the outfits and the theme! :cool:

I’m late in the discussion but I love [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] and [name_f]Titania[/name_f]!

What about [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f] and [name_f]Sophronia[/name_f]? [name_f]Araminta[/name_f], [name_f]Lucrezia[/name_f], [name_f]Batsheba[/name_f]?

17

Pandorica <3

I love the Doctor so very, very much…

18

[name_f]Brigid[/name_f] - Thanks so much for the thorough reply! I read it before going to bed last night, and it really helped to analyze the names and then sleep on them :slight_smile: I didn’t quite do the Starbucks test, partially because my garb is still in the process of being made, haha. I did practice introducing myself in front of the mirror, and strangely that ruled out several of the options I was wavering on. It also made me fall harder for others. Out of curiousity, you said you wanted to love Pandorica but initially didn’t. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you know what it is about it that you don’t like? [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] has swooshed up into the top contenders…I agree that she’s a little light for what I was originally looking for, but paired with a couple of my new additions she sounds really bad@ss. You make good points about all of your vetoes, and they have all been trimmed off the list now that I’ve slept on them.

[name_f]Merry[/name_f] - I have tried and failed to fall for [name_f]Evadne[/name_f]…all I see is evade. I’m weird. [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] would have been awesome if she weren’t so tied to HP, and [name_f]Circe[/name_f] to the Game of Thrones Cersei. I’m so glad you like Pandorica!

[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] - Oh wow, you looked us up :slight_smile: Haha, I say “us” even though I haven’t performed yet. So glad you like [name_f]Pandora[/name_f]! I love love love [name_f]Titania[/name_f], but no matter how many times I’ve tried on the name, I still don’t feel like she “fits,” so she is dropping down to the bottom of the list at the moment. I love all of your suggestions! [name_f]Sophronia[/name_f] and [name_f]Bathsheba[/name_f] could work for a stage name. I’m just not sure either of them beat out my top contenders at the moment. I’ll have to have a think :slight_smile:

Esrever - Another vote for Pandorica! I think once I get my top contenders figured out, I will be posting a poll.

So the biggest change to the list is that [name_f]Titania[/name_f] has been moved to the bottom in favor of a new suggestion: [name_f]Jinx[/name_f]!!! I love the tinkly coin sound, I love the trickster/bad girl vibe, and it totally makes me think of [name_u]Harley[/name_u] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] for some reason. She’s spunky, edgy, cute, and twinkling, and I think she could totally fit in a steampunk context. So my list now focuses on my top two, [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] and [name_f]Jinx[/name_f].

– [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] (standalone)

    • Pandorica (standalone)
      – [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] ______ (insert your suggestions here!)
      – [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f]
      – [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f]
      – [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] (standalone)
      – [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] ____ / ____ [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] (insert your suggestions here)
      – [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f]
      – [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] Feline / [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] [name_f]Faline[/name_f] (both spellings would be pronounced fa-LEEN. I love the Feline spelling because of the obvious cat connection, but feel like no one would ever pronounce it correctly)
      – [name_f]Tesla[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] (I love the idea, but like [name_f]Titania[/name_f], I’m not sure this one is “me”)
      – [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f]
      – [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f]
      – [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] ____ (insert your suggestions here)
      – [name_f]Titania[/name_f] ____ (insert your suggestions here)

Feedback is welcomed with open arms! And if anyone has more suggestions for “first names,” I am still accepting those too :slight_smile: Thanks Berries!!!

19

[name_f]Pandora[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] is the most mischievous name!
Pandorica doesn’t flow terribly well, I trip on the C a little. Like trying to turn [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] into Aurelica—it’s unfamiliar, not actually problematic. I personally don’t like [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] as a child’s name, but in the context of tinkering and steampunk and curiosity and dance then suddenly [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] shines. With Pandorica I have all of the problems and all of the charm of [name_f]Pandora[/name_f], plus the unfamiliarity. So depending on my mindset it’s either marvelous and new and everything a steampunk dance name should be, or ehhh. If I saw it on a person I’d probably love it, I just haven’t decided to love it as a concept yet.

I adore [name_f]Tesla[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f]. The name [name_f]Tesla[/name_f] has the softness of [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] or [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] but with the magic inventor-y-ness of [name_u]Nicola[/name_u] [name_f]Tesla[/name_f], and then when you add [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] I think of hijinks and mischief and tinkering and wonder. If it’s not you, then it’s not you. But it’s a really superb option.

I like [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f] more than [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f], but both sound good when said aloud. [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f] flows perfectly, but [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] sounds more like a person I can spin a character around. I love the name [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f], so I’m a little biased there.

I like the pronunciation of [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] [name_f]Faline[/name_f] with the spelling of [name_f]Jinx[/name_f] Feline, but I think it’d be hard to get people to say it like that, and it does lean a little catfood-commercial-y for me. “Here are all the hijinks your healthy feline will get up to if you feed them SuperNoms!” And I like the other options you have better.

I think this is my order of favorites:

  1. [name_f]Tesla[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f]
  2. [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f]
  3. Pandorica [name_f]Nyx[/name_f] (or just Pandorica)
  4. [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f]

I still love [name_f]Leocadia[/name_f], [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] and [name_f]Titania[/name_f]. [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] them. But it doesn’t sound like they feel like you. You could always keep them on a list of suggestions for the next dancer who joins the troupe.
[name_f]Leocadia[/name_f] [name_f]Jinx[/name_f]
[name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f]
[name_f]Titania[/name_f] [name_f]Nyx[/name_f]

20

Pandorica [name_f]Vashti[/name_f] - that just hits every button for me!

Ooh and I love the suggestion of [name_f]Tesla[/name_f]