chosen name
Self-given title
A chosen name is a name someone uses for themselves that differs from their legal or birth name.
The term is most associated with transgender and nonbinary people who adopt names reflecting their gender identity, but applies broadly to anyone who goes by a name they've selected: The university's system now allows students to enter a chosen name.
Distinguished from nicknames by its formal intent—a chosen name is meant to replace, not supplement, the original.
- preferredChosen above alternatives
- true selfOne's genuine identity
- identityWho someone is
- gender identityInner sense of self-classification
- aliasAdopted false name
nickname · self · self discovery · transition · coming out · affirm · rebirth · fresh start · authentic · legal · introduce · pronouns · embrace · reclaim · moniker · handle · pseudonym · birth
- gendergender, male, female, masculine, feminine
- identityidentity, personal identity, self, selfhood, self-expression
- LGBTQgay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer
- LGBTQ+gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer
- transgendertrans women, trans men, trans woman, trans man, transwoman
- namessurnames, nicknames, forenames, surname, nickname
chosen namebirth name
Identity assigned at delivery
deadname · given name · legal name · official name · baptismal name
chosen, name, choose, chose, unchosen, names, named, naming, rename