Just recently, it was revealed that J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame had written a crime novel under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Quite a few reknowned writers have done that actually. Actors and actresses quite often adopt a stage name or screen name which is catchier or easier to remember or just sound better than their real name. And this got me thinking.
Do you use a real name when you blog or do you too, use a pen name or pseudonym? Should you use your real name?
I’m one to talk aren’t I? No one in their right minds would think I was really named “Paris B” LOL! 😀 My parents just weren’t that imaginative thankfully! I might have been laughed out of school and developed a complex. Or I might have been the coolest kid in school. Darn! 😛
But “Paris B” is what I blog under and the nom de plume I have been using ever since I set up my first blog over 7 years ago. It was a little more elaborate than this before, but Paris B will do for now 😉 There were reasons why I chose to adopt a nom de plume and why I will continue to use my nom de plume which I’ll share with you. There is no right or wrong way. Just your way.
So, I’d love to hear the story behind your blogging identity and whether you have chosen to use your real name or adopt a pseudonym 🙂 Here’s why I use a pseudonym.
A pseudonym helps with privacy
In my case, I chose to adopt a pseudonym because I wanted to keep my non-blog life private. I am a private person as I’ve shared before this, and I like to keep it that way. It’s ok for me if no one recognises me on the street. I don’t crave that sort of publicity. I suppose I am more like a writer and less of a public figure in that regard. I let my words do the talking, not me.
I have opened up a little more than usual in the past few years, but for the most part, I prefer to keep my cards close to my chest. I’m not embarrassed about my real name, but I know how easy it is to track down a person and their personal details just using their full name and I’d prefer not to go there.
When the pseudonym fits the blog personality better
The other reason I choose to blog under “Paris B” is because it just felt right for a beauty blog. A little glamorous, a little mysterious and a little fun. My real name isn’t half as much fun. I don’t think my parents planned for me to be an actress that’s for sure! 😛 When pressed, I go by the name “Sue” which isn’t half as glamorous, I think you’d agree 😉
I like to think of “Paris B” as my social face, and I can keep my real name and identity for my professional face. I dare say, it is rather awkward when the two worlds collide, which thankfully has only happened once or twice todate 😛 It surprised us both, that’s for sure!
The pseudonym could take on a life of its own
Does it bother me that “Paris B” is associated with My Women Stuff, or that I may not be receiving the accolades (or brickbats) due to me personally instead of letting “Paris B” take all the credit (or flack)?
Well, no it doesn’t. I suppose “Paris B” has evolved into a character and personality of her own, infused with a lot of my traits and values but with a more interesting name to front the blog. Paris B sure has a lot more fun than plain ol’ Sue 😛
Be sure to use a name to identify yourself
Whichever route you choose, I will highly recommend that you pick a name to identify yourself when you start blogging. Having a name, real or made up, makes you easier to relate to and for people to find some affinity with you. It is easier for me to relate to a “Paris from mywomenstuff.com” than to relate to “that blogger from mywomenstuff.com” or just “My Women Stuff”. The last has a faceless, flat tone to it and can make it harder to warm up to the person behind the blog because there doesn’t seem to be one behind the blog at all!
How do you pick one? Well, there’s always your real name if you’re stumped and aren’t as paranoid as I am. Or you could use a nickname or maybe a name you’d call yourself if you could.
Real name or make it up?
I’ve noticed that many bloggers I associate with go by their real names. A couple don’t but it hasn’t cramped their blogging style. The common thread is that almost everyone has a name, real or made up. It makes it easier for us all to relate to each other and to identify each other. Yes, I answer to “Paris” these days as much as I answer to my own name. You could say, I’ve grown into my “Paris B” persona. She lets me do things I might never do, and go places I could only dream of going to. I have a lot to thank her for! 😀
If you blog, do you use your real name or a pseudonym? As a reader, does it matter to you either way and do you find yourself identifying more closely to someone with a name?
It doesn’t bother me if a blogger doesn’t use a name, but it does make me feel a little more detached from them. Interacting with a blog doesn’t feel like interacting with a person if you have to refer to them by their blog name, unless of course they adopt a spin on their blog name for themselves. But it doesn’t always work 🙂 Your turn!
Paris B
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Interesting topic and something that I hold close to me 🙂 Similarly, I’ve evolved from geekchic to LeGeeque but to most friends who know me from the virtual world, I’ve simply been known as Geek. (I remember Tine would always refer to me as geek to Tim.)
When I kicked my blog off many yonks ago, I was blogging primarily on beauty products as well as technical crap – stuff I wanted to get off my chest. It worked out well because I’m passionate about all things pretty and nerdy 😀
Hahaha my parents also know you as Geek and refer to you as that as well. The only people whom I still use your real name in front of are your husband and SY, which just feels WEIRD 😛
I remember you as Geekchic! But I think LeGeeque suits you better somehow 😀 I too call you Geek and refer to you as Geek. Can’t be anything other than Geek to me LOL!
What an interesting topic! Hehe! 😀 I don’t mind whether a blogger uses his / her real name or a nickname, as long as he / she gives herself a name for us to call and relate to! Would be weird otherwise! 😀
Mine is a pseudonym as well – I’d like to keep my private life, well, private! 😀 I started using that in forums even before I started blogging because I didn’t want to give out my real name, and it stuck until today 😀 Most friends whom I got know from the forums or my blog still call me Jenn in real life! 😀
I agree Jenn! And to realise this isn’t your real name is mind boggling! LOL!! I too prefer when there’s a name as a point of reference. Otherwise, it can be really awkward! What do we call the owner – admin?
*cough* I remember the initial (full) version of Paris B… and the backstory of how it came about… *wink*
Those who know me in real life would know that rinnah is quite connectable to my real name. I wanted something that was distinctly separate from personal me, but yet still having a link of sorts to who I am. Convoluted much? 😛 I also went through a number of pseudonyms in my younger years before finally settling on this one, which I’m pretty comfortable with.
Haha I’m sure you do Rinnah! We’ve come a long way from those days eh? 😉 I think Rinnah does suit you perfectly. Someone once referred to you using your real name and for a moment I was confused until I worked it out 😛
I have three blogs; one personal, that’s filled with images and posts I find funny or pretty, one for a handbag brand, and one about my school life. For my personal and school blog I use my first name, because those are two “real” facets of me. However for the handbag one, I go by Admin M because it adds a hint of professionalism (it’s fan-made) and also because people who do not like it are very vocal!
You have a point Lynnie – much depends on the contents of our blogs and the sort of audience we blog for. I have seen how vicious people can be online undercover of anonymity and it really is scary! But a blog for a handbag brand sounds so much fun! Is it a very popular brand? 😀
In some circles, yes, but it’s more of a regional thing in the U.S. I still have a lot of fun with it though! =D
Hahahah who doesn’t know who PB is in the blogosphere? I know people who can’t really remember your full blog name but when I said Paris B, they’re like YES I KNOW WHO SHE IS! 😛
My, I blog under my nickname Tine. It’s shortened from my real name (the nickname was given to me at birth by my late grandma who couldn’t pronounce my name). Back when I first started blogging, it’s not commonly used and I didn’t want people to know who I was. I didn’t post any pictures of myself for the first 2-3 years. Now that people can put a face to my blog, I’m still happy to use Tine because it’s just part of the blog that I’m so used to. I used to be called Tine Tine or Ah Tine by my family and close friends that initially, it was mighty strange for people I don’t know to call me that as well. Now, it’s like pfft 😛
Haha omg you kidding me 😛 The day the personality outsides the blog, gone case la 😛 I remember when I first came across your name after you left a comment back in the good ol’ days of Blogger and I couldn’t decide if you were Tine (tin) or Tine (tyne) Haha! It all became clearer after I knew what your real name was, thanks to Bee 😀 Gosh! Those were the days yeah? 😀
Funny thing is, for the first 20 years of my life, I’ve always been Tin. No one ever spelled it Tine. Then I went to college and suddenly, it’s Tine. I tried correcting so many people so many times that I’m not a fork and won’t be pronounced as such 😛 Didn’t work at all. In the end, I figured I won’t fight it anymore and just used Tine instead. I still get people pronouncing my name as “tyne” and why wouldn’t there? It’s a fork after all! 😛
I use my real name! I’m not clever enough to think of a pseudonym haha! I kind of hate my name though-I don’t feel I look like a Tracy. It’s such a kiddie name I think!
Aww it doesn’t sound like a kiddie name at all to me! I think you do suit being a Tracy quite well and you don’t really hear these names anymore do you?
Lily is my real name. It actually never occurred to me to use a pseudonym. It doesn’t bug me whether a blogger uses his or her real name as long as there’s a name 🙂
Yeah, it does bug me when a blogger has no name. It’s like “erm… what do I call you? [Insert blog name]?” It’s awkward, both when introducing yourself and when people want to “speak” to you 🙂
I just use a short name from my name….because i wasn’t creative enough to think of another name you see. and i supposed using a short name is still ‘safer’ from using the whole name, we all know what sort of info we are able to google….especially when we have friends of ‘detective quality’. LOL
LOL Indeed! Anything will pop up on Google these days and you just never know who’s searching and digging!
When I started my blog I thought about a pseudonym but I didn’t think about any good one so I opted to use only my name without my last names; so it’s me but no that personal. Also for me it’s more comfortable.
What impressed me about you was when I received the package and saw Paris B instead of your name, that made me think about what you’re saying today.
Haha yep, I use PB for my blog material so it transcends everything blog related 🙂 I always find foreign names very interesting and to be honest, I would never have been able to tell if it was a real name or not! haha 😀
Seriously? Well it’s my real name the difference between names in Spanish and English is that we use both last names, father’s and mother’s instead of only the father’s one. So is name/names and both last names.
That’s interesting Efrain! With the Chinese, it’ll be Family name (Father’s) then our real name so some Chinese have just 2 names, others 3. It is rare that we have 4 unless we have an English name in front!
It doesn’t bother me if a blogger use his/her real name or not, but I do agree that having a name is really important, the name represents a person behind the post, and without it, it just seems a bit soul-less.
Emma is my real name and I don’t really bother with that privacy thing that much, it’s not like I have my full name, my ID card number out. It’s just a name. It doesn’t show people my private life.
I actually think people with English names have it easy in this regard haha 🙂 You can use just your first name and no one would be any wiser. Of course, I have seen those who want to be more “professional” put their full name online but then I suppose they know what they’re getting into.
As a reader, I am ok with bloggers using either their real name or pseudonym. When I first started reading your blog, I actually thought Paris B was your real name. Hahaha. The name really sounded cool and mysterious. Only as I read more of your blog that I figured out you do actually have a real name 🙂
hehe… I think it would have been cool to have Paris B as my real name right? Guess my parents weren’t hipster enough back then LOL!
You do like a Miss Paris to me. You know how sometimes when someone tells you their name and you’d go, honestly if you’re not called by that name, I would not know which other name would fit you? I remember how the B came about. That was quite marvelous. If you really carry the real name Paris B, I would be really intrigued and would love to get to know you in person too. Lol. Name makes a person eh. Just like names called Serenade for example. Sue is beautiful too! Cheers to a lovely weekend.
I know what you mean! Sometimes, I think we grow into our names and having one is so important to allow people to identify with you. A name like Serenade would be so awesome… except it sounds so Zen and peaceful and I’m anything but LOL! 😀 Hope you’re enjoying the long weekend!
I use a pseudonym as well for the same reasons you posted and up till now I haven’t posted a single picture of myself in the blogosphere. There is a few names that I go by on the virtual world. I don’t mind if a blogger doesn’t use his/her real name, just as long as I know how to address him/ her properly 🙂
Good on you CY 🙂 I tried to hide for years, but it got really hard as I went along so I’ve given up. I try to keep photos down to a minimum though. I always say my blog is about my blog, not necessarily all about me 🙂 But you’re right. Like you, I don’t care if it’s their real name or not, so long as there’s a name in there somewhere!
well, Paris from my women stuff does have a lot of your personality and i think its a separate identity. i do use my real name, just a different spelling (which makes the whole lot of difference and a different last name, not exactly, its just not my real name per se!) but earlier i had tried being anonymous by not revealing my name but found it rather difficult to cope up. i can’t respond to any other name so stuck to a variation of mine. in between i had used my real name but wasnt comfortable but now i am fine. and, the entire blog does sound like my own but giving me the space i want. even i like to keep my personal life separate which does hinder my blogging activities quite a lot. i prefer not to post pics either. somehow its a mania with me and just once i attended a blogger meetup and obviously i could not say not to pics but that’s long lost and buried 😀 m so sorry to bug you with this long a story 😀
Haha thanks for sharing, Swati and never apologise for a long story, I love reading stories! 😀 I always thought Swati was your real name. Or well, a variation of it because it has a very pretty ring to it (and since I don’t understand Hindi, it could well be a name!) But I know what you mean about trying to stay anonymous and not succeeding too well. I think anonymity only takes a blog so far, before it gets a little overlooked in favour of bloggers/blogs that are more prominent. There is this sense of voyeurism where people want to know everything about everyone, so the more people put themselves forward, the more others want to read about them. I have noticed this stumbling block myself, but I’m not ready to put myself out there that way so I suppose I’ll have to take what I can get! 🙂 Not to worry, just because you don’t have a face online, doesn’t mean you aren’t a good or credible blogger! 😉
hehe…thanks Paris 🙂 the pseudo-name i use is also a name actually. it means morning dew 🙂 yeah, i do feel tempted to sometimes put a face or something looking at others but then i feel uncomfortable so leave it at that!!! and, thanks for the assurance 🙂
Aww “morning dew” is so pretty! I’m glad you chose it because it sounds so fresh too! I think sometimes putting our faces online takes a lot of courage. I really salute those who can do it and do it well! I’d rather not most of the time, if I can help it hehe…
Haha for me it’s both! Sunny is a name I’ve been using since I was 12 or so (I don’t know how it is in Malaysia, but in Taiwan almost everyone gets an English name when they start learning English), but it only got on my passport (as an AKA) last year! It’s not a pseudonym, but it’s not my “real” name (which is a bit forgotten because even my mom starts talking about me as “Sunny” now). Since I had no idea it’d be a beauty blog when I started my blog, I went with a name that is derived from “Sunny.” I guess that makes it foolproof? LOL
That’s very interesting, Sunny! I never thought Sunny was your real name (or as real as it gets hehe) We don’t have a similar practice here re: having English names, but many people do give themselves one, sometimes to conform or sometimes because they like it, or sometimes, because their Chinese name is so hard to pronounce (especially when talking to non-Chinese) that they just give up and use an English name haha! But it is so interesting to know of the practice in Taiwan and you even get it on your passport! Wow! Did you pick your own name, or was it bestowed on you? You do strike me as a Sunny – I think it’s the tone of voice that comes across in your blog. It sounds… sunny haha 😀
Hey Paris, as far as I know, picking an English name is still common practice in Taiwan. I know all about the “why make it easier for others” theory, but it’s definitely too late for me! I don’t know how many put the name on their passport, but it’s really easy. Theoretically you need proof, but they didn’t ask for any when I put it on my new passport.
I picked Sunny after reading about the name somewhere when I was 12. They wanted to call me Jenny in the beginning. Can’t say I regret going with Sunny instead!
LOL No, you’re definitely a Sunny. I’m glad you picked the name and I still can’t get over the fact they let you put it on your passport! I don’t think I’d ever get Paris B on mine hehe… 😉
I suppose I’m a bit of a weird one because I comment using a nom de plume (although I did once toy with the idea of starting a blog). Like you, I prefer to keep my online life separate from my private life. I suppose when you have a distinctive name, even using only your first name isn’t an option. I seem to have settled upon this one for beauty blogs, but it’s not like I have any particular attachment to it.
It came about because one day I wanted to comment on something and I didn’t have a name, I think it was from a song I had just listened to and thought “that’ll do” and put it down. In hindsight, I wish I had used something a little crazier that was obviously a pseudonym and didn’t look like it could be a real name. I’m loathe to change it now though, because I know that some bloggers do recognize the “persona” I have built up from this name.
As for bloggers, I don’t mind so long as I can use some sort of name to address the voice behind the blog. It is weird addressing a blog administrator and like you said, harder to form an attachment. In the beginning I thought your real name was Paris, but it didn’t take me long to find it wasn’t. I remember when I first found out what the B stood for, I was amused for sure! What an interesting name that would have been if it was real. The name certainly fits the blog.
You know the most fun ones though? When they tie into the blog’s name neatly but can still stand on their own as a blogger name. A few examples: Sunny from mostlysunny (above me, hi!), peach from alapeach and The DrivellerKate from drivelaboutfrivol (genius name!) to name just a few.
No, I don’t think you weird at all! When I comment (if I’m not using my PB persona) I use a nom de plume too. Can’t have my real name floating about, even in the comments haha! 😀 I like your name actually. I like how it seems to transcend cultures, so you can quite easily be Asian or European! Love it 😀 I’m terribly amused by those of you who know/remember what the B stands for. It was such a hilarious name. Not embarrassed about it, just thought it was far too long to fit and B did the job haha! 😀 You’re right about the blog/blogger names that evolve from each other. I think it’s very innovative and very distinctive and such an easy way to introduce yourself and your blog!
BTW, if you’re still toying with the idea of starting a blog, just do it! 😉
I use my given name – with an unorthodox spelling because I like Ys and Qs in names and more obviously, to differentiate myself from other similarly named individuals out there. 😀
I have to admit, it does look very distinctive! 😀
haha, you guess! Mine is pretty easy.
Honestly, I had thought that you are really called Paris. Like, probably not your given name, but one that you gave yourself for work, or something. Anyway, I seriously love your pseudonym! So cool. There are lipsticks called Paris, and those are always pretty pinks.
I like Tine’s one too… I had never really managed to guess her name until she sent me something.
I used to think it was your name to be honest LOL! No idea why. Maybe a Chinese spelling or something, until you mentioned once that it wasn’t 😛 I know what you mean about giving yourself a name. Sometimes, it’s just so much easier having an English name especially when I went to Uni and no one could pronounce my Chinese name. I never really caved in though but then my friends all called me by a variation of my real name and it stuck! It wasn’t Paris though haha!
I blog with my name and not a pseudonym. My name is a little bit too long so I shorten it and made it sound a little bit more catchy (just a little bit!!!). Hence, the name Hani Lutfi. Everybody knows me by this name now and even when I’m at school and people can read my name tag, they would still call me Hani Lutfi. When they find out my full name though, they go crazy saying it’s a nice name. Nice name but very difficult to pronounce!!!
Aww I’m sure your full name is beautiful! I like the name Hani – it sounds so sweet and demure 😀 I think you did a good job making it catchy. It certainly has a rhythm to it
Hanny is not really my real-life English name as well! I got this name from kindergarden because I went into a Catholic kindergarden and most of the kids there have English names so my parents built it from my Chinese (official) name. ^.^ However, there are only a handful of people who know me by my Chinese name now hah hah hah. I use Hanny way to much.
Hence, the truly “artificial” part of my pseudonym the “last name” part, which is Daforcena. It adds a little mystery to the persona, no? That way my social circle can tune into my blog through the “first name” part, and I can still keep my privacy to a great extent ^.^
Very mysterious last name, Hanny! I think it’s unique. I mean, we hear of Hannah, but not often of Hanny and I suppose, it’s also easier to carve an identity, sometimes, when people can actually pronounce and spell you “name” properly instead of botching your real name haha!