aliases
Names to hide
Aliases is the plural of alias—an assumed name used in place of one's real identity.
Criminals use aliases to evade detection; writers use pen names as aliases for privacy or branding.
In computing, an alias is a shortcut or alternative command that points to another file or function: I set up aliases for my most-used terminal commands.
The word also appears in legal contexts: John Smith, aliases John Doe and J. Smithson.
Author's assumed identity
- nom de plumeAuthor's false identity
- stage namePerformer's professional alias
- screen nameOnline identity alias
- usernameAccount identification string
handle · alter ego · incognito · anonymity · ghostwriter · nom de guerre · sock puppet · burner account
Affectionate nickname for loved ones
- diminutiveVery small, or nickname form
- sobriquetDescriptive informal name
- epithetDescriptive tag for someone
- monikerInformal designation for someone
byname · term of endearment · familiar name · short form · affectionate name · call sign · tag · street name
Temporary human placeholder
- proxyAuthorized substitute
- replacementWhat takes another's place
- surrogateOne acting for another
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
fallback · alternative · equivalent · placeholder · fill-in · understudy · double · doppelganger
Directing attention elsewhere
- pointerReference to memory location
- shortcutQuicker alternative path
- symlinkFilesystem path redirect
- redirectSend in new direction
cross-reference · lookup · index · mapping · forwarding address
pen name
Author's assumed identity
- nom de plumeAuthor's false identity
- stage namePerformer's professional alias
- screen nameOnline identity alias
username · handle · alter ego · incognito · anonymity · ghostwriter · nom de guerre · sock puppet · burner account · throwaway
pet name
Affectionate nickname for loved ones
- diminutiveVery small, or nickname form
- sobriquetDescriptive informal name
- epithetDescriptive tag for someone
moniker · byname · term of endearment · familiar name · short form · affectionate name · call sign · tag · street name
stand-in
Temporary human placeholder
- proxyAuthorized substitute
- replacementWhat takes another's place
- surrogateOne acting for another
backup · fallback · alternative · equivalent · placeholder · fill-in · understudy · double · doppelganger · body double
reference
Directing attention elsewhere
redirect · cross-reference · lookup · index · mapping · forwarding address
- namesgiven names, first names, names, surnames, first name
- namingpersonal names, nomenclature, nicknames, naming conventions, given names
- pseudonymspen name, pen names, pseudonym, pseudonyms, nom de plume
- Linuxkernel, bash, root, sudo, chmod
- shell scriptingbash, shebang, scripts, source, sourcing
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
aliasestrue names
Authentic identifying words
legal names · given names · birth names · proper names · Christian names
- online aliasInternet pseudonym