Nicknames and Pseudonyms: What is one's motivation behind the choice?

Question

Some name themselves after Sumerian Kings and Gods (wink!). Others gave themselves funky modern names after certain music icons.

What is the significance behind these choices?

Is it simply the desire to summarize themselves into a simplified symbolism to represent who they are? Or give a hint as to their life's philosophies?

Why does one feel the necessity to have names other than their real ones?

I'd very much like to know your take, please. And have fun with this one!

RaaN: Yes, I do understand how convenient anonymity is in allowing a person to express their thoughts and opinions in all honesty and forthrightness without being a certain and visible target of negativity. Thanks.

So_cybored: Interesting choice, rather enigmatic, if I may say so. Thanks

YD: Yes, the name is a peculiar thing, where it is one of those aspects in life willed upon us without our having the opportunity to have a say in the matter, despite it being something so defining as to our characters. Hence the reason some are compelled to re-define themselves by having aliases, I believe.

RayRay: Ah, certainly. To some this would not seem to be an issue at all but simply a matter of convenience. I do realize how the vantage point is different with everyone, hence my question. I simply wanted to know and appreciate diversified opinions. And thank you, for yours.

LoneRanger: Authors are probably the ones to benefit most from pseudonyms. We might live right next to them and not know that they actually have dozens of bestsellers under their belts. And thanks for reminding me that we do not normally choose our own nicknames!

Guru: You offered some, umm, different and rather insightful viewpoints as to the psychology behind those dissatisfied with their original names. Thank you.

Shai Shammai: The name as a symbolic representation of the self or what their little philosophies are. I think a lot of the screen names I read here are chosen for those reasons too. And just so you’d know, Shahrizat really IS my birth name. And I wear it like a badge! It gave me some trouble at school at first, because even here where I live, the name is considered strange. It actually means “a city person” in Persian.

Stars in my Eyes: Formally Starman, am I correct?  I can guess from some of your q’s that you chose your screen name because of your affinity with astronomy. Power to you! And yes, we do give endearing names to our loved ones, don’t we? Thanks

Answer 1

The Symbol of the name is a powerful one. When we name ourselves, if we took a nickname or pseudonym on this forum as an example, we are creating a meaningful description of ourselves.

A "Don Juan" may see himself as a great lover of women and takes this symbol as an expression of that desire or perception.

A "shahrizat" may wish to be seen as Noble or Divine as a wish fulfillment.

I use my real Name, but I choose my Hebrew version rather than my English version. Why, because it is significant to me, meaningful, that I be seen and understood as a Jew. But also, I enjoy the appellation because of what I understand of its meaning. My name in Hebrew means (roughly) "that which is a ruin". I find meaning from my own ruin (pun intended) and that is why I chose to use it.

We choose names and tags and pseudonyms because they consciously or subconsciously give meaning to our lives, importance to ourselves.

Answer 2

1. A general dislike of one's name. Often arising out of bad experiences during formative years.

2. Envy. The desire to be someone other than who they are.

3. Memories. The name reminds them of something from the past that would rather be forgotten. (Children named after a despised or abusive parent, for example.)

4. Existential crisis. In having a poor identity construction (low-self esteem), a new name becomes a new identity.

5. Prejudice. Growing up in a multicultural society, some names are the source of suffering for many people. What if you had named your child "Saddam" before Saddam hit the news.

6. Shame. Some names provide an ethical, racial or cultural story about someone who does not necessarily look the part. Some names are more common to geographic zones (Buford) and times (Tiffany).

Answer 3

It is a nice question, I should say! This is so because I have thought about MY OWN name , many times .I come to the following conclusion.

When I was born I didnot choose my name. They gave one , based on very many reasons , best known to the parents. ( This varies from continent to continent , country to country ... and so on) . Around the age of 1 or 2 I learnt to turn my head when a certain name was called, muchas a puppy would do. responding to a particular sound.

As I grew up the name stuck to me and in all records too. By comparing with the other names in the school, college tc. I found mine not so appealing to me . So I longed for a more acceptable non official name . Some were totally different from my imposed name, some toucjing the fringes of my name. I chose one that I liked better . From then on , when ever I met people I started to tell them this "nick"name along with my imposed name. I liked be called so .

This is the story. But I made the same mistake when MY son was born. I named him and , now , he has been using the name HE likes.

Answer 4

Anonymity is security and freedom at the same time. And such individual freedom and security is power and being powerful means to be individual so one is likely to chose a name that expresses their individuality. But since no anonymity is usually complete and friends know the individual's true identity the name will have to have to be some honest expression of who that person is. For myself I chose simply a phontic alternative to my actual name since so many would know who I was anyway.

Answer 5

A name brings power over the person called. Picking your own name takes that power back. It is a shield to hide true identity and gives freedom to express yourself when learned inhibitions may prevent you. (Is that an incomplete sentence or a very complete sentence?) People get a name at birth, nicknames in school and lovey names from their spouse. It is very personal to handle our handles.

Answer 6

Psuedonyms are a way to hide oneself. I use a "pen-name" when writing in a genre that my main audience might not respond well to. Plenty of authors do it. They may write non-fiction under their real name, then write erotica under a pen-name so their non-fiction fans won't get turned off.

Nicknames are usually given instead of chosen. I've had several nicknames. Usually their short descriptors. My favorite: Low-crawl, from when I played paint-ball. I was good at ambush tactics.

Answer 7

There is a different answer for every individual. For many it was not a result of deep reflection. It was only chosen at the moment and would have been different at another time.

Answer 8

My id tells you the answer