Why Do We Use Pen Names

It turns out that Theodore Dalrymple is really Anthony (A. M.) Daniels, though not the British actor with the same name. I just found out as I was googling something else and stumbled onto this information by accident. The picture to the right is from The Brussels Journal a few years ago.

Turns out he sometimes is Edward Theberton and perhaps others as well. I immediately thought of some lady novelists of the 19th century, and men too—e.g. Mark Twain instead of Samuel Clemens—but the early 20th century was famous for Hollywood "stage" names too, and of course, both Christian and Muslim communities are famous for these name changes. When I googled the word "pseudonyms" I was reminded of many others of these being used by various people for a very long time, right up to the present, and for very many reasons, or none.

The Wiki article on Anthony Daniels says he "chose a name that sounded suitably dyspeptic, that of a gouty old man looking out the window of his London club, port in hand, lamenting the degenerating state of the world." He neglects to add that his laments are witty, truthful and really well written.

Concealing one's real identity for whatever reason seems to be the main reason we use fictitious names, though various traditions are another significant reason. It seems to be a human trait.