pseudonyms
Writers' false identities
Pseudonyms are fictitious names adopted by writers, artists, performers, or others who wish to conceal their real identities.
Authors use pseudonyms for various reasons: to write in multiple genres without confusing readers, to avoid discrimination, or simply to maintain privacy.
Stephen King published several novels under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
The term covers pen names, stage names, and aliases, though each has slightly different connotations depending on the field.
Author's assumed identity
- nom de plumeAuthor's false identity
- ghostwritingWriting anonymously for others
- bylineArticle author identification
- anonymityUnknown identity state
Mark Twain · George Orwell · nom de guerre · George Eliot · Lewis Carroll · authorship · Voltaire
Adopted false name
- witness protectionHiding those who testified
- assumed nameAdopted false identity
- incognitoWith identity concealed
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
identity protection · anonymization · whistleblower · covert · intelligence · hidden identity · disappearance · new identity
Account identification string
- handlePart for gripping
- screen nameOnline identity alias
- avatarDigital user representation
- online identityVirtual representation of oneself
alias · gamer tag · throwaway account · sock puppet · burner account · alt account · display name · troll account
pen name
Author's assumed identity
- nom de plumeAuthor's false identity
- ghostwritingWriting anonymously for others
- bylineArticle author identification
Mark Twain · George Orwell · anonymity · nom de guerre · George Eliot · Lewis Carroll · authorship · Voltaire
alias
Adopted false name
- witness protectionHiding those who testified
- assumed nameAdopted false identity
- incognitoWith identity concealed
undercover · identity protection · anonymization · whistleblower · covert · intelligence · hidden identity · disappearance · new identity
username
Account identification string
- handlePart for gripping
- screen nameOnline identity alias
- avatarDigital user representation
online identity · alias · gamer tag · throwaway account · sock puppet · burner account · alt account · display name · troll account · catfishing
stage name
Performer's professional alias
- personaAssumed public identity
- alter egoA secondary persona
- drag namePerformer's adopted persona title
character name · ring name · moniker · Lady Gaga · Madonna · Bowie · Cher · Marilyn Monroe · Elvis · professional name
- pseudonymspen name, pen names, nom de plume, alias, aliases
- namesgiven names, first names, names, surnames, first name
- namingpersonal names, nomenclature, nicknames, naming conventions, aliases
- privacyprivacy, private, seclusion, confidentiality, solitude
- anonymity toolsaliases, pen names, screen names, usernames, avatars
- authorshipauthorship, author bio, byline, attributed, credited
pseudonymsbirth names
Original legal designations
legal names · true names · given names · proper names · Christian names
pseudonym, pseudonymization, pseudonymous, pseudonymity, pseudonymously