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Pseudonyms are fictitious names used by authors, actors, singers, and even criminals. They are often used for marketing, to separate works into different genres, or to protect the author’s identity. Some authors use androgynous pseudonyms or initials to avoid gender bias. Actors and musicians use stage names to create a different persona. Pseudonyms can also be used for protection, such as in the case of a whistleblower. Gang members and organized crime also use nicknames for anonymity.
A pseudonym is a fictitious name most often associated with authors, although actors, singers, rappers, and even those in organized crime often use a pseudonym instead of their birth name. Aliases are also used for practical reasons when the real name is not known, as in the case of the County Coroner labeling an unidentified body as “John Doe” or “Jane Doe”.
Pseudonyms, or pseudonyms, are used in the literature for a variety of reasons, but mostly for marketing. Readers of an author expect his books to fall within a specific genre. If the author writes a novel outside of that genre, a pseudonym will keep the work separate. This way, the writer can build a fan base in both genres without disappointing fans with work that falls outside the realm of expectation. This facilitates fan loyalty, which translates into sales and keeps publishers happy.
Other authors such as sisters Pamela and Mary O’Shaughnessy collaborate on fictional mystery novels by publishing them under the pseudonym Perri O’Shaughnessy, a combination of their names with a nod to Perry Mason.
Female authors sometimes assume an androgynous pseudonym or simply use their initials if they believe their gender may be a deterrent to gaining an audience. One example is Joanne Kathleen Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, who has publicly stated that (when her work was still unknown) she didn’t believe that little boys would be so inclined to pick up a book written by a woman, and for those who did, might be teased for liking it. She avoided the potential trap of success by simply leaving the genre out of her alias her. (Once her work became famous, many kids were really surprised to learn that “JK Rowling” was a woman.)
Actors, singers, and rappers often use a pseudonym (stage name) to create a different persona than their legal names would evoke. Norma Jeane Mortenson (then Baker) became Marilyn Monroe. Roy Herald Scherer Jr. became Rock Hudson. Marshall Mathers became Eminem. Often pseudonyms are adopted legally in place of the original name, especially in the entertainment industry.
Someone might even take a pseudonym to protect themselves, as in the case of a whistleblower. One of the most famous aliases of the last century was Deep Throat, the unknown source who provided Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward inside information about the Watergate scandal. Deep Throat’s identity remained a subject of speculation for over 30 years, until May 31, 2005, when former Secret Service official W. Mark Felt made history by publicly claiming the alias.
Pseudonyms that function closer to nicknames (descriptive names) are often taken among gang members where they provide a degree of anonymity. Organized crime also uses nicknames, often incorporated into their actual name, such as Jimmy “The Weasel” Fratianno, Charles “Lucky” Luciano and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel.
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