What is a pen name?
A pen name is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more marketable or to disguise their gender, ethnicity, or true identity. Many authors use pen names to keep their personal and professional lives separate.
Pseudonyms were first used by writers in the 17th century, when religious persecution made it dangerous to publish work that challenged the status quo. The French writer Voltaire used over 200 pen names during his lifetime!
Adopting a pen name is a way for authors to reinvent themselves and connect with new readers. Whether you're looking for a new identity or just want to try out a different style of writing, a pen name can be a fun and liberating experience.
What are some famous pen names from authors?
If you're looking for a pen name generator, there are several websites that can help you create a pseudonym. Some well-known authors have used pen names, including J.K. Rowling (who wrote under the name Robert Galbraith), Stephen King (who has used the pseudonym Richard Bachman), and George Orwell (whose real name was Eric Blair).
There are many reasons why an author might choose to use a pen name. In some cases, it's simply because they prefer to use a different name than their own. In other cases, it may be because their real name is already associated with another author or celebrity, making it difficult for them to get noticed. In still other instances, an author might use a pen name to write in a different genre than they typically write in, or to appeal to a different audience.
A history of pen names
When we hear the term "pen name," most of us probably think of well-known authors like J. R. R. Tolkien, Mark Twain, or J. K. Rowling. In any case, nom de plumes have been utilized for a really long time by creators who expected to keep their own and proficient lives isolated. The Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso, more commonly referred to as Ovid, is credited with being the first person to use a pseudonym. After offending Emperor Augustus and being exiled from Rome, he took on the pen name in 16 BC. During the Medieval era, authors who published works that were deemed controversial often used pseudonyms to conceal their identities. To avoid being persecuted by religious authorities, authors like Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote The Canterbury Tales during this time period, used a pseudonym. Ben Jonson was one of the most well-known playwrights in 16th-century England who wrote under a pseudonym. To safeguard his reputation and avoid the stigma associated with being a playwright, he adopted the moniker "Sperverius." John Ford, Christopher Marlowe, and Thomas Dekker, all English authors, used pseudonyms to get around the time's censors. Women authors frequently used pen names in the 18th and 19th centuries because their works would be largely ignored if published under their own names. For instance, Mary Wollstonecraft wrote her first novel, Mary: A Fiction, published under the alias "a Lady." Similarly, Emily Bront wrote Wuthering Heights, her only book, under the pen name "Ellis Bell." Authors working in less reputable fields or genres, such as erotica, romance, and comic book creators, have used pen names for the most part since the 20th century. Stephen King and J. K. Rowling, for example, have used pseudonyms to publish a variety of works. Nowadays, the majority of readers are aware that authors use pen names to create a personal brand, differentiate their works, and assist them in creating multiple labels for themselves. To maintain their privacy and control their online presence, many authors use pseudonyms in light of the increasing demands of publishing and social media. The choice of a pen name is ultimately made by the author, regardless of age, and each author uses it for a unique purpose. Pen names are an important part of writing, whether they are used to protect their personal reputation or expand their career options.
5 questions to help you come up with pen names
- What type of writing do you plan to do?
- What time period or genre do you prefer?
- What type of name would you like to be associated with your work?
- Are there any other authors you admire and want to reference?
- If you could choose any name, what would it be?
Can I use the random pen names that this tool creates?
Yes you can. The Story Shack claims no copyright on any of these names, but it is of course possible that some of the values this name generator provides are already owned by anyone else, so please make sure to always do your due diligence.
How many ideas can I generate with this Pen Name Generator?
The Pen Name Generator can generate thousands of ideas for your project, so feel free to keep clicking and at the end use the handy copy feature to export your pen names to a text editor of your choice. Enjoy!
What are good pen names?
There's thousands of random pen names in this generator. Here are some samples to start:
Examples of pen names| Idea #1 | Antin Chenery |
| Idea #2 | Olenka Lafreniere |
| Idea #3 | Kerry Craig |
| Idea #4 | Nolie Huisman |
| Idea #5 | Karie Knell |
| Idea #6 | Lovell Bonner-weir |
| Idea #7 | Merrily Bloomfield |
| Idea #8 | Alasteir Ambrose |
| Idea #9 | Laurie Zappala |
| Idea #10 | Shelley Fabricant |
More on pen names across the web
Can't get enough of generating pen names? Then continue exploring:
