Take Our Quiz: Literary Pen Names
- Editors
- Mar 1, 2023
- 2 min read
Howard Allen Frances O’Brien is a famous author that you definitely know. Chances are, you’ve read Howard’s work. Howard’s work is iconic…
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
What do you mean you don’t know who I’m talking about?
Of course, you know Howard!
But... you may know her better if I referred to her by her pen name, Anne Rice.
Anne, formerly Howard, was named after her father. After being bullied at school, she declared her name would be “Anne,” first telling this to her teachers and later legally changing the name. She ended up marrying Stan Rice. She also published under the names Anne Rampling and A.N. Roquelaure for her more erotic work so she could publish freely and authentically.
I’m no stranger to pen names. Annie James Thomas is a pen name, and I don’t think I’ve ever tried to hide that fact. Anne is my middle name and James and Thomas are family names. I’ve got a pretty decent list of publications that reside in my professional field and I figured it might be weird to see “Health outcomes of XYZ” next to “The Boy Who Brought the Sea.” Talk about confusing.
So, we thought it might be fun to test your knowledge of noms de plume! This week, we’re providing you with a list of pen names and real names to see how well how you fare. Without further ado, let the quiz begin!
Instructions: Match the pen name on the left with the real name on the right! Leave us a comment below with how you did! (If I’m being honest, I probably couldn’t pass my own quiz.)
Scroll for the answers!
Answers: 1-H, 2-C, 3-G, 4-D, 5-A, 6-E, 7-F, 8-J, 9-I,10-B
I was surprised to see Anne Rice's original name was Howard Allen, and that she used Anne Rampling for her erotic work. Reading this during my coffee break Image to Image AI
I always find stories about pen names fascinating because they reveal how authors shape their identities and creative freedom. Anne Rice’s journey especially shows how personal experiences can influence the names people choose to share with the world. I also think it’s interesting how different genres sometimes inspire writers to separate their work under different identities. Reading this reminded me of how communities around games like Ragdoll Hit also create unique usernames and personas online, which adds another layer of creativity and self-expression.
Not gonna lie, I expected another low-quality randomizer, but this star wars name generator is actually fun to play with. Good source of inspiration for writers, gamers, and anyone building a sci-fi character.
I clinched the Retro Bowl College title because their QB overthrew a wide open WR on 4th down in the final minute. I laughed so hard I had to pause the game just to breathe.