There are many reasons for choosing a stage name. Maybe your real name is too long or doesn't have very pleasant characteristics. Either way, you will need a name that is easy to remember and that helps you affirm your personal style.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Change Your Real Name
Step 1. Simplify your name
In many cases, stage names are just simpler versions of the real ones. If your name is particularly long or difficult to pronounce, it can help to simplify it. Here are some real-life examples:
- Yves Saint Laurent (born Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent).
- Rudolph Valentino (born Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Pierre Filibert Guglielmi by Valentina D'Antonguolla).
Step 2. Anglicize your name
While this is controversial, some people decide to change their name to appeal to Western audiences. It is a technique similar to simplification, often involving changing one ethnic name or too difficult to pronounce into another short and easy to remember. Some examples:
- Freddie Mercury. (Born Farrokh Bulsara)
- Kal Penn (born Kalpen Suresh Modi).
Step 3. Use your mother's maiden name
You can substitute it for the name or surname. It will help if your mother's surname is catchy or easier to pronounce and remember than the one you have. As with almost all of these methods, the best way to gauge the effectiveness of your choice is to ask people what they think. Some examples include:
- Katy Perry (nee Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson) chose to use her mother's name when she transitioned from gospel to pop music.
- Catherine Deneuve (nee Catherine Fabienne Dorléac) chose to use her mother's surname to distinguish herself from her sister Françoise, more famous at the time.
Step 4. Use your middle name
Substitute it for your first or last name. You can follow this advice when your surname is difficult to pronounce or too common, such as "Rossi". Famous actress Angelina Jolie (nee Angelina Jolie Voight) is the most famous example of this technique.
Step 5. Use a name only
If your first name, middle name or surname are particular, you may decide to use only one of them. Choose the one that's easier to pronounce, simpler to remember, and more catchy. Some examples include:
- Beyoncé (born Beyonce Giselle Knowles).
- Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone).
- Rihanna (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty).
Method 2 of 3: Choose a Name Based on an Image
Step 1. Choose a flirty word to include in your stage name
Create a name related to the gender or culture you want to be identified with. For some musical styles, such as heavy metal or punk, you may want to create a wild or intimidating character. Adding a word like "Zombie" or "Rotten" might help. Some examples include:
- Sid Vicious (born John Simon Ritchie).
- Slash (born Saul Hudson).
Step 2. Stylize your name with numbers, dashes or special characters
Styling your name is a common tradition in hip-hop and can help you create an urban and street-related character. Following this trend can help you if you have ties to pop or hip-hop music. Some examples include:
- 2pac (born Tupac Amaru Shakur).
- E-40 (born Earl Stevens).
- Ke $ ha (born Kesha Rose Sebert).
Step 3. Think about what your influences are
Many choose stage names that refer to the people and things that inspired them. What better way to pay homage to a particular tradition and recall it? Some examples include:
- Cassie Ramone of the Vivian Girls chose her surname inspired by The Ramones group.
- Lady Gaga's name was inspired by Queen's song "Radio Ga Ga".
Method 3 of 3: Create a Name from Scratch
Step 1. Think about the meanings of the words you use
All words have connotations and the ones you choose for your stage name should reflect the style, culture and genre that belong to you. People are more drawn to terms related to the genre they are interested in. While it is now a cliché, there is a reason why so many surf rock bands use the word "beach" in their name.
Step 2. Make sure your name is easy to find and pronounce
If you want people to be able to find you on the web, choosing "Pencil" as your stage name wouldn't help. A stage name is effective if by searching for it on Google you are the only item that appears. If people don't understand the name when you say it or don't know how to spell it after hearing it, these are all obstacles preventing it from being remembered.
Step 3. Choose a name that you can justify with a story, even a fictional one
If you've found an easy-to-remember and unique stage name, everyone will ask you what its origin is. You shouldn't just say "It sounded good," so pick one that has real meaning to you, even if it only means a little bit.
- Bono has chosen as his stage name a nickname he had as a child, bono vox, which in Latin means roughly "beautiful voice".
- Slash says his stage name is the nickname he had as a kid because he was always running around all over the place.
Step 4. Test your name
Ask friends and everyone you know for their opinion. The name you have chosen may be associated with too obscure a reference or not easy to understand when pronounced in a busy bar. Asking a second and third opinion is very important, because your stage name has a lot of influence on the impression you want people to have of you.
Advice
- Make sure your stage name makes you feel comfortable. If you want to work in show business and already have a following, changing your stage name could slow your progress.
- There are rules within actors' associations that limit the use of a stage name to one person. If you've chosen a stage name, make sure it's not already in use. Do some research on online databases to check that it is truly unique.
