Name me
August 17, 2023 9:58 AM Subscribe
Trying to choose a pen name — and maybe change my birth surname. I've come up with a couple of ok options, but nothing that really stands out as a frontrunner. This might be a fun challenge for word-puzzle people — I have a lot of very specific rules!
I'm going to try becoming a published (nonfiction) author in the next few years, and my current surname is not ideal for that in several ways. I'm also estranged from my paternal family and dislike having their name. So I figured if I'm going to use a pen name anyway, I could just change my legal name. I'm going to use a shortened version of my first name so I won't need to change that.
Here are my stipulations:
- Must begin with a B
- Must be 1 or 2 syllables (will consider 3 if it's really good)
- No "s" or "sh" sounds (I have a lisp, it's embarrassing)
- Nothing that will be chronically misspelled due to homophones
- Actual surnames with a European origin are fine, dictionary words are also good. Something with a positive association. It can be uncommon vocabulary as long as it's not too hard to spell.
Give me your best ideas!
I'm going to try becoming a published (nonfiction) author in the next few years, and my current surname is not ideal for that in several ways. I'm also estranged from my paternal family and dislike having their name. So I figured if I'm going to use a pen name anyway, I could just change my legal name. I'm going to use a shortened version of my first name so I won't need to change that.
Here are my stipulations:
- Must begin with a B
- Must be 1 or 2 syllables (will consider 3 if it's really good)
- No "s" or "sh" sounds (I have a lisp, it's embarrassing)
- Nothing that will be chronically misspelled due to homophones
- Actual surnames with a European origin are fine, dictionary words are also good. Something with a positive association. It can be uncommon vocabulary as long as it's not too hard to spell.
Give me your best ideas!
Is Blank too on the nose? If so, I also like Blake.
posted by MadMadam at 10:20 AM on August 17, 2023
posted by MadMadam at 10:20 AM on August 17, 2023
Bright
Bellatrix (the name of a star in Orion)
posted by number9dream at 10:22 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Bellatrix (the name of a star in Orion)
posted by number9dream at 10:22 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Bennett
Bell
Bardot (possible misspelling/mispronunciation)
Birkin
Baker
Bellini (3 syl)
Byrne (possible homophone misspelling)
posted by meemzi at 10:24 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Bell
Bardot (possible misspelling/mispronunciation)
Birkin
Baker
Bellini (3 syl)
Byrne (possible homophone misspelling)
posted by meemzi at 10:24 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Bard
posted by Rhedyn at 10:25 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Rhedyn at 10:25 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Benton.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 10:27 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by RJ Reynolds at 10:27 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
between my ideas and consulting the built-in name generator in Scrivener, some suggestions:
Bloom
Ballard
Bear (although there are 2 well-known Bears in science fiction already, if that's where you're headed)
Benedict
Bell
Brook
Belfry
Byway
Brocade
Brindle
Babbage
Beacon
Brandy
Bonebright (a name I saw once and have never forgotten)
Blake
Borden
Bower
Bridge
Between (look if I saw this as a surname, I would absolutely take a second look at the book)
Brink
Bentley
Bluebell
Blue
Beltran
Bowen
(obviously some of these are going to be A Bit Much, or possibly just enough, depending on your genre and goals haha)
posted by wintersweet at 10:43 AM on August 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
Bloom
Ballard
Bear (although there are 2 well-known Bears in science fiction already, if that's where you're headed)
Benedict
Bell
Brook
Belfry
Byway
Brocade
Brindle
Babbage
Beacon
Brandy
Bonebright (a name I saw once and have never forgotten)
Blake
Borden
Bower
Bridge
Between (look if I saw this as a surname, I would absolutely take a second look at the book)
Brink
Bentley
Bluebell
Blue
Beltran
Bowen
(obviously some of these are going to be A Bit Much, or possibly just enough, depending on your genre and goals haha)
posted by wintersweet at 10:43 AM on August 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
Baldwin (English/Germanic)
Comes from bald meaning brave and wini meaning friend.
Beau (+ derivatives Beaumont, Beauvoir, etc)
Comes from Beau, meaning beautiful in French
Bellamy
Another French derived name meaning "beautiful friend"
posted by wandering zinnia at 10:51 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Comes from bald meaning brave and wini meaning friend.
Beau (+ derivatives Beaumont, Beauvoir, etc)
Comes from Beau, meaning beautiful in French
Bellamy
Another French derived name meaning "beautiful friend"
posted by wandering zinnia at 10:51 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Boon or Boone.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:59 AM on August 17, 2023
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:59 AM on August 17, 2023
Riffing on previous answers, what about
Biendit
Beaumot
meaning well-spoken/ well said and "nice word" or good word, respectively.
posted by Sauter Vaguely at 10:59 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Biendit
Beaumot
meaning well-spoken/ well said and "nice word" or good word, respectively.
posted by Sauter Vaguely at 10:59 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Happened to have my Oxford Names Companion nearby and skimmed the B surnames... I mostly didn't include the "I live near a [thing]" or job surnames of which there are MANY. Lots of fort-related names if you're really into forts. Also a LOT of insulting names, but these are ones with really nice connotations or I just thought were neat (I'm super summarizing the descriptions for these fyi)
Boronat: Catalan, from a name meaning "born in a good hour", given as a good omen, maybe also a nickname for a lucky person
Bower: English, person who lives in a small cottage
Braga: Portuguese, pants (I just thought this one was neat)
Branch, Branchflower: English
Brent: English, one meaning is for someone who lives near a place cleared by fire, which could be nice symbolically
Briard: French, person who lives in a place called Brie. Nice name if you really love brie cheese!
Brightwell: English, from bright stream
Buller: scribe
Bunker: English nickname for a good-hearted person
Byrne: if you like ravens, means "descendant of Bran" (and Bran means raven)
Bytheway: English, an actual name! for a person who lives near a highway
(I also like Bygrave, though grave here means defensive ditch)
Wow there are a lot of names in this book.
posted by Baethan at 11:03 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Boronat: Catalan, from a name meaning "born in a good hour", given as a good omen, maybe also a nickname for a lucky person
Bower: English, person who lives in a small cottage
Braga: Portuguese, pants (I just thought this one was neat)
Branch, Branchflower: English
Brent: English, one meaning is for someone who lives near a place cleared by fire, which could be nice symbolically
Briard: French, person who lives in a place called Brie. Nice name if you really love brie cheese!
Brightwell: English, from bright stream
Buller: scribe
Bunker: English nickname for a good-hearted person
Byrne: if you like ravens, means "descendant of Bran" (and Bran means raven)
Bytheway: English, an actual name! for a person who lives near a highway
(I also like Bygrave, though grave here means defensive ditch)
Wow there are a lot of names in this book.
posted by Baethan at 11:03 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Or Benoîte/Benoît , the feminine/masculine forms of the French for Benedict. While Benedict is taken to mean "blessed", it is derived from the Latin words bene ('good') and dicte ('speak'), i.e. "well spoken".
posted by Sauter Vaguely at 11:04 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Sauter Vaguely at 11:04 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Some options from authors:
Butler (Octavia)
Byron (Lord)
Beckett (Samuel)
Blake (William)
Baldwin (James)
Also thought of Bernard (Sanders) if that's a positive association for you.
Nice B words that are/could be last names:
Bell
Brave
Bay
Bee
Baker
Bird
Brook
posted by rabbitbookworm at 11:06 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Butler (Octavia)
Byron (Lord)
Beckett (Samuel)
Blake (William)
Baldwin (James)
Also thought of Bernard (Sanders) if that's a positive association for you.
Nice B words that are/could be last names:
Bell
Brave
Bay
Bee
Baker
Bird
Brook
posted by rabbitbookworm at 11:06 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Or Benoîte/Benoît , the feminine/masculine forms of the French for Benedict. While Benedict is taken to mean "blessed", it is derived from the Latin words bene ('good') and dicte ('speak'), i.e. "well spoken".
Edited to add the hyperlink, but somehow reposted the comment. Sorry! Mods can delete this is they prefer.
posted by Sauter Vaguely at 11:07 AM on August 17, 2023
Edited to add the hyperlink, but somehow reposted the comment. Sorry! Mods can delete this is they prefer.
posted by Sauter Vaguely at 11:07 AM on August 17, 2023
Byword / Byward
It would be helpful if you would share your (shortened) first name so we can pick ones that sound well with it?
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:23 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
It would be helpful if you would share your (shortened) first name so we can pick ones that sound well with it?
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:23 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Bellman.
Also consider Baker or Boots.
Perhaps less suitable: Beaver, Banker, Barrister, Broker, Butcher, Billiard-Marker, or Bonnet-Maker. But you never know!
posted by The Bellman at 11:29 AM on August 17, 2023
Also consider Baker or Boots.
Perhaps less suitable: Beaver, Banker, Barrister, Broker, Butcher, Billiard-Marker, or Bonnet-Maker. But you never know!
posted by The Bellman at 11:29 AM on August 17, 2023
Bright! Or something starting with it. Brightflower (granted, three syllables), Brightman and Brightwell are all real British surnames.
Turning to the dictionary:
Nature words: Bantam, Birch, Blackbird, Blackthorn, Bloom, Bluebell, Bluebird, Bracken, Bramble, Branch, Bunting.
Some other words I like: Beck, Better, Bottle, Bower, Brick, Bridge, Button.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 11:29 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Turning to the dictionary:
Nature words: Bantam, Birch, Blackbird, Blackthorn, Bloom, Bluebell, Bluebird, Bracken, Bramble, Branch, Bunting.
Some other words I like: Beck, Better, Bottle, Bower, Brick, Bridge, Button.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 11:29 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
One of my kids knows someone whose last name is Better.
Other ideas:
Banner
Badger
Brownfield
Blackbird
Beach
Beech
posted by Redstart at 11:39 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Other ideas:
Banner
Badger
Brownfield
Blackbird
Beach
Beech
posted by Redstart at 11:39 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
A couple more Oxford Names Companion names:
Bligh: English, cheerful person
Billard: French, from a name with the elements sword and brave/hardy/strong
Bewick: English, bee farm
Bevin: English, wine drinker
Bertram: English, French, German; from a name with the elements bright/famous & raven
(Or if you prefer wolves, there's the German surname Bertolf)
Bernard: from a name with the elements bear & brave/hardy/strong
Berle: French, water parsnip
Bellwood: English
Barnet: English, another one meaning a place cleared by fire
Bardwell: English
posted by Baethan at 11:44 AM on August 17, 2023
Bligh: English, cheerful person
Billard: French, from a name with the elements sword and brave/hardy/strong
Bewick: English, bee farm
Bevin: English, wine drinker
Bertram: English, French, German; from a name with the elements bright/famous & raven
(Or if you prefer wolves, there's the German surname Bertolf)
Bernard: from a name with the elements bear & brave/hardy/strong
Berle: French, water parsnip
Bellwood: English
Barnet: English, another one meaning a place cleared by fire
Bardwell: English
posted by Baethan at 11:44 AM on August 17, 2023
Birth
posted by at at 11:45 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by at at 11:45 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Booker (or Book, Bookman, etc.) is a little on the nose for an author, but maybe in a good way?
posted by eponym at 11:47 AM on August 17, 2023
posted by eponym at 11:47 AM on August 17, 2023
Bolden.
The last name of a famous jazz cornet player, and other people, but if you chose a first name starting with 'M' you could sign things with 'M. Bolden' for a little bit extra memorability.
posted by jamjam at 12:03 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
The last name of a famous jazz cornet player, and other people, but if you chose a first name starting with 'M' you could sign things with 'M. Bolden' for a little bit extra memorability.
posted by jamjam at 12:03 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Ball
It's early in the alphabet, extremely simple, and it shows that you are good at bouncing back.
And it's a real surname; my 5th grade sort-of-nemesis had that name.
posted by Night_owl at 12:14 PM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
It's early in the alphabet, extremely simple, and it shows that you are good at bouncing back.
And it's a real surname; my 5th grade sort-of-nemesis had that name.
posted by Night_owl at 12:14 PM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
^ Lucille Ball
posted by JohnnyGunn at 12:20 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by JohnnyGunn at 12:20 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Bacon
Easy to remember for other people and they'll know how to spell it. And Francis Bacon was a swell guy.
posted by lioness at 12:27 PM on August 17, 2023
Easy to remember for other people and they'll know how to spell it. And Francis Bacon was a swell guy.
posted by lioness at 12:27 PM on August 17, 2023
Banter
(And I have just decided this is the most charming last name ever.)
Bloom is also coming up a lot. It's also great.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:51 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
(And I have just decided this is the most charming last name ever.)
Bloom is also coming up a lot. It's also great.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:51 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Brilliant. I worked with someone with this surname once, and she was working on her PhD, so eventually would be known as Dr. Brilliant.
posted by maddieD at 1:44 PM on August 17, 2023
posted by maddieD at 1:44 PM on August 17, 2023
Beckett? But it matters so much what your first name is. Cadence and rhythm is everything.
posted by blazingunicorn at 3:18 PM on August 17, 2023
posted by blazingunicorn at 3:18 PM on August 17, 2023
Blush
Brigantine
Ballet
Bruschetta
Burgundy
Blue
Balance
Bubble
Bang
Bellicose
Brimming
Baby
posted by at at 3:28 PM on August 17, 2023
Brigantine
Ballet
Bruschetta
Burgundy
Blue
Balance
Bubble
Bang
Bellicose
Brimming
Baby
posted by at at 3:28 PM on August 17, 2023
Response by poster: I want to maintain a bit of anonymity on this account — as much as I can — so I don't want to post my actual first name. Names with similar syllables, sounds, and stress would be things like Katie, Patty, or Terry. These don't have the same 'vibe' as my first name, though — mine is a name that is the same length but not common in the US.
My current frontrunners are Bywater (3 syllables but so easy to spell!), Birch, and Bright / Brightwell. I'm a science writer, and my area of expertise is related to water, so Bywater seems particularly apt.
I'm definitely not set on any of these, so feel free to throw out more ideas!
posted by 100kb at 3:44 PM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
My current frontrunners are Bywater (3 syllables but so easy to spell!), Birch, and Bright / Brightwell. I'm a science writer, and my area of expertise is related to water, so Bywater seems particularly apt.
I'm definitely not set on any of these, so feel free to throw out more ideas!
posted by 100kb at 3:44 PM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Balmer
Bay
Beryl
[OP, I also like "Birch" for a surname, and you're already conscious of chronic misspellings due to homophones; please take standard keyboard layouts and easily mistyped words into consideration, too.]
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:32 PM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Bay
Beryl
[OP, I also like "Birch" for a surname, and you're already conscious of chronic misspellings due to homophones; please take standard keyboard layouts and easily mistyped words into consideration, too.]
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:32 PM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Well there is Bellow, from the writer Saul…which could also be a French “belle eau” that hearkens to beautiful/ the beauty of water.
posted by childofTethys at 7:53 PM on August 17, 2023
posted by childofTethys at 7:53 PM on August 17, 2023
Along the lines of Birch—
Banyan
Bramble
Boxwood
Bellis
Bloom
Not along those lines:
Blakely
posted by itesser at 12:13 AM on August 18, 2023
Banyan
Bramble
Boxwood
Bellis
Bloom
Not along those lines:
Blakely
posted by itesser at 12:13 AM on August 18, 2023
Brooke
Blackthorn
Banks (ie. riverbank)
Beech (sounds like Beach)
A name containing "well" would have a nice double meaning; a well of water, something well done.
Briarwell
Branchwell
Broadwell
Boldwell/Baldwell
Brookwell
posted by wandering zinnia at 1:13 AM on August 18, 2023
Blackthorn
Banks (ie. riverbank)
Beech (sounds like Beach)
A name containing "well" would have a nice double meaning; a well of water, something well done.
Briarwell
Branchwell
Broadwell
Boldwell/Baldwell
Brookwell
posted by wandering zinnia at 1:13 AM on August 18, 2023
I see your Oxford Names Companion and raise you one slightly tattered Yellow Pages... yes, they still exist out here in the hinterlands.
Some of these surnames are so common that spelling mistakes occur due to assumptions (Black/Blake) or from personalisation by others with that name (Brown/Browne).
Proceed with caution.
You may also need to think about how the name can be misspelled by someone on the phone or by someone reading your signature.
Good luck!
Under "Attorneys," who must make an excellent first impression --
Bailey
Ball/Bell/Ballard
Baker/Baxter
Barber
Barham/Barnum
Barnes/Barns/Burns
Barr/Burr
Barry/Berry
Battle
Bauman/Beaumont
Bay/Bays/Base/Bass
Bentwood/Brentwood
Birdwell
Black/Blake
Blaine/Blair
Bowler
Brady/Bradley
Branch/Briar
Brewer/Brewster
Brian/Bryan/Bryant
Bright
Brooke/Brooks
Brown/Browne
Bruce
Burnett
Burris/Boris
Byer/Buyer/Byers
Folks, the chances of Beach/Beech/Birch being misinterpreted do exist. I would avoid it.
posted by TrishaU at 2:31 AM on August 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Some of these surnames are so common that spelling mistakes occur due to assumptions (Black/Blake) or from personalisation by others with that name (Brown/Browne).
Proceed with caution.
You may also need to think about how the name can be misspelled by someone on the phone or by someone reading your signature.
Good luck!
Under "Attorneys," who must make an excellent first impression --
Bailey
Ball/Bell/Ballard
Baker/Baxter
Barber
Barham/Barnum
Barnes/Barns/Burns
Barr/Burr
Barry/Berry
Battle
Bauman/Beaumont
Bay/Bays/Base/Bass
Bentwood/Brentwood
Birdwell
Black/Blake
Blaine/Blair
Bowler
Brady/Bradley
Branch/Briar
Brewer/Brewster
Brian/Bryan/Bryant
Bright
Brooke/Brooks
Brown/Browne
Bruce
Burnett
Burris/Boris
Byer/Buyer/Byers
Folks, the chances of Beach/Beech/Birch being misinterpreted do exist. I would avoid it.
posted by TrishaU at 2:31 AM on August 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
You could go all Brontë and be a Branwell
Or my maternal surname, Brook which goes really well with an ‘ie’ ending first name.
posted by honey-barbara at 3:29 AM on August 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Or my maternal surname, Brook which goes really well with an ‘ie’ ending first name.
posted by honey-barbara at 3:29 AM on August 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Or my maternal surname, Brook which goes really well with an ‘ie’ ending first name.
One-syllable Brk names also sound very fresh and snappy with one-syllable first names. So if the -ie ending is optional, you've got two different flows that are both nice in their own ways!
posted by Baethan at 4:00 AM on August 18, 2023
One-syllable Brk names also sound very fresh and snappy with one-syllable first names. So if the -ie ending is optional, you've got two different flows that are both nice in their own ways!
posted by Baethan at 4:00 AM on August 18, 2023
I like Banner as suggested above because it:
a- cryptically suggests that you may have a secret alter ego. "Hulk Smash!"
b- will be what goes on the headline of your books: "Banner Headline" (cheesy but noone has to know except us)
c- is you just hoisting your own independent flag in the world. I read elsewhere that a "Banner" in this sense comes from "from Old English bannan "to summon, command, proclaim"
posted by aesop at 8:03 AM on August 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
a- cryptically suggests that you may have a secret alter ego. "Hulk Smash!"
b- will be what goes on the headline of your books: "Banner Headline" (cheesy but noone has to know except us)
c- is you just hoisting your own independent flag in the world. I read elsewhere that a "Banner" in this sense comes from "from Old English bannan "to summon, command, proclaim"
posted by aesop at 8:03 AM on August 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Boyd
Berrycloth
Berg
Boynton
Bard
Bright
Brook
Bailey
Benton
Blue
Barber
Backer
Bell
Barton
Bond
Bridge
Blackwell
Bullock
Bartlett
Bravo
Buckley
Bender
Bernard
Bean
Birch
Bright
Bird
Bruno
Brenner
Bold
Brink
Beckham
Burford
Border
Bedford
Blackwood
Badger
Blythe
Barrow
Button
Brumley
Brumble
Brook
Bay
Bridge
Blume
Beecher
Bird
Brock
Bee
Bixby
Bridgewater
Bradbury
Brave
Bountiful
Belong
Backer
Balm
Beam
Bedrock
Banner
posted by Lay Off The Books at 8:21 AM on August 18, 2023
Berrycloth
Berg
Boynton
Bard
Bright
Brook
Bailey
Benton
Blue
Barber
Backer
Bell
Barton
Bond
Bridge
Blackwell
Bullock
Bartlett
Bravo
Buckley
Bender
Bernard
Bean
Birch
Bright
Bird
Bruno
Brenner
Bold
Brink
Beckham
Burford
Border
Bedford
Blackwood
Badger
Blythe
Barrow
Button
Brumley
Brumble
Brook
Bay
Bridge
Blume
Beecher
Bird
Brock
Bee
Bixby
Bridgewater
Bradbury
Brave
Bountiful
Belong
Backer
Balm
Beam
Bedrock
Banner
posted by Lay Off The Books at 8:21 AM on August 18, 2023
In his journal of a 1937 song-hunting trip through Appalachia, Alan Lomax mentions meeting a Kentucky woman called (Mary) Barnacle. Would your shortened first name work with that?
posted by Paul Slade at 1:02 PM on August 19, 2023
posted by Paul Slade at 1:02 PM on August 19, 2023
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