A pseudonym is a fictitious name used to conceal someone’s real name. The word pseudonym literally means “false name” and comes from the Greek word pseudonymous meaning “heaving a false name” or “under a false name.” Most of your favorite authors, actors, and musicians are probably pseudonyms. Some just use nicknames or just put their initials, some change their whole names to create personas. A pseudonym can also be called a pen name for writers or a stage name or screen name for actors and musicians. Fictional characters have pseudo names as well. Some people can change their name for criminal activity too. Groups of people can be considered a pseudonym when they have a collective group name: this mainly happens in the music industry. Many creators do this to keep their personal life and work life separate. Like I mentioned some can create personas as a way of separating themselves from what people know them for. For example, Chappell Roan’s real name is Kayleigh Amstutz but prefers to be called Chappell when people talk about her as a way to keep her work life separate and maybe it gives a piece of mind knowing that people aren’t talking about her real self a bit. That’s why some people change their name so when the public talks about them it’s mostly about their persona not them even though it’s still them. I believe it’s a mind over matter kind of thing.
