pseudonym is a fictitious name used by an individual as an alternative to their legal name.
Usually, pseudonyms are names invented by writers, poets, journalists, artists and other famous people who are unwilling or unable to sign their own works.
Etymologically, the term “pseudonym” originated from the Greek pseudonyms, which means “one who uses or gives false names”.
The pseudonym is not always totally different from the original name, it may be just a change of letter or another, or because the given name is very different or difficult to understand.
Television, theater, film and music artists adopt pseudonyms that they consider impactful or that could be more successful.
The pseudonym is protected by law when it acquires the same importance as the official name.
Pseudonym and Heteronyms
While pseudonyms are just the creation and use of a false name to sign a work or artistic work, the so-called heteronyms they are creations of entire names and personalities.
Among the artists who most used heteronyms is Fernando Pessoa, who by creating a pseudonym also changed his personality, creating a multiplication of identities and developments of the “I”.
The main heteronyms of Fernando Pessoa were Alberto Caeiro, Álvaro de Campos and Ricardo Reis.
famous pseudonyms
- Lenin = Wladimir Ilitch Ulyanov
- Stalin = Yossef Dzhugasvili
- Alan Kardec = Léon Denizart Rivail
- Mark Twain = Samuel Clemens
- Lady Gaga = Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
- Good Nights, Dr. Semana, Lélio Malvolio, Plato, Sousa Barradas and others = Machado de Assis
- Mary Westmacott = Agatha Christie
- Richard Bachman = Stephen King
- Harlequin, Belial, Brás Patife, The Lame Devil and others = Olavo Bilac.