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Help"Victorian Gothic" pseudonym for a heroine (and her "very normal" real name)
Idea is in its infancy, but... I'm envisioning a romantic heroine in a late Victorian setting around Halloween. She uses a pseudonym when working as a "medium" (charlatan), and has a background as both an actress and circus performer. Her pseudonym is quite romantic, dramatic, and stage-y. But she actually grew up in the gutter (think Whitechapel or St. Giles, London) and has a very "typical" real name.
For the pseudonym... I thought of Lavinia, but didn't think that went hard enough, so to speak. And then I thought of Lachrimae, but decided that was trying way too hard. :-P Basically, I think it should sound like it came from Poe or someone similar (or from one of the novels Northanger Abbey was making fun of).
Whereas her real name is something astonishingly "normal." Biblical isn't a requirement, but it might make sense. It can't be Mary, Sarah, Ann/Annie, or Catherine, because I'm already using those and I'd rather not repeat names. Elizabeth might work, but I'm not 100% sold yet.
Surnames are a mystery at this point. I'm leaning toward something fancy, maybe even French, for the pseudonym, but her real name being something short and no-nonsense, like... Briggs? Maybe.
Anyway, at this point I'm open to a lot of suggestions!
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For the pseudonym... I thought of Lavinia, but didn't think that went hard enough, so to speak. And then I thought of Lachrimae, but decided that was trying way too hard. :-P Basically, I think it should sound like it came from Poe or someone similar (or from one of the novels Northanger Abbey was making fun of).
Whereas her real name is something astonishingly "normal." Biblical isn't a requirement, but it might make sense. It can't be Mary, Sarah, Ann/Annie, or Catherine, because I'm already using those and I'd rather not repeat names. Elizabeth might work, but I'm not 100% sold yet.
Surnames are a mystery at this point. I'm leaning toward something fancy, maybe even French, for the pseudonym, but her real name being something short and no-nonsense, like... Briggs? Maybe.
Anyway, at this point I'm open to a lot of suggestions!
***
Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
Replies
Harriet, Lavinia and Hepsibah are three of the names used by my poor silk winder Victorian relations. They too would be shocked at how their names are now viewed. Susannah, Sophia and Violet were also used by poor relations on the other side of my family
For her real name
Hannah
Ruth
Rachel
Rebecca
Agnes
Ethel
Olive
Esther
Gertrude
Linda
Possible last names
Olney
Clarke
Gibson
Gilson
Ford
Tait
Beesley
Barrow
Cadwell
Brownsell
Barford
Wade
Bishop
Rance
Webster
Faulkner
Summerfield
Rivière
Tansley
Cranston
Arrandale
Anthoine
Gaston
Garson
Gratacap
Farquharson
Colquhoun
For her real name
Hannah
Ruth
Rachel
Rebecca
Agnes
Ethel
Olive
Esther
Gertrude
Linda
Possible last names
Olney
Clarke
Gibson
Gilson
Ford
Tait
Beesley
Barrow
Cadwell
Brownsell
Barford
Wade
Bishop
Rance
Webster
Faulkner
Summerfield
Rivière
Tansley
Cranston
Arrandale
Anthoine
Gaston
Garson
Gratacap
Farquharson
Colquhoun
This message was edited 10/1/2024, 12:02 PM
Hepsibah, now that is a name, lol! It doesn't really suit my character, though--but I wonder if it could be her mother's name, perhaps? All the other names you mentioned in that paragraph, though (besides Lavinia), are being used by characters in other stories of the series this will be a part of (I've seen Susan & Susannah suggested a few times, along with Abigail, and I'm like, "Dang, I can't use those, either!").
Hannah & Ruth are both nearing the top of the list. For surnames, Clarke is a good one, along with Ford and Wade (I've become convinced it should be one syllable).
Hannah & Ruth are both nearing the top of the list. For surnames, Clarke is a good one, along with Ford and Wade (I've become convinced it should be one syllable).
One of my Victorian great-great-great grandmothers was named Lavinia and she was from little backwater town in Cornwall, I think she'd be delighted to know someone from London would choose her name as a fancy moniker! LOL
Real name ideas (mix and match as you please):
Susan Cook
Ellen Soper
Jane Ward
Maud Bray
Martha Hull
Pseudonym:
If she's from the gutter, she probably wouldn't be terribly knowledgeable about classical names, because she didn't get any sort of education. She could get something from literature and popular culture, or maybe something from Christian legends?
Salome springs to mind immediately
Endora, Endorla, Endorrina, something like that (from the Witch of Endor, in the bible)
Devorah (a prophetess in the Bible, and a very uncommon name for someone of her class and time)
Eponine (from Hugo)
Haidee (from Byron's poem)
Christabel or Geraldine (from Coleridge's poem)
Lydia
Philomena
Evelina
Elladora
Alternatively she doesn't even need to use a surname as a fancy medium. Think of creatives and performers like Ouida, Vulcana, Musidora, Colette, Corilla, or Modjeska. She could also not have a FIRST name, and go as a Madame Something or Mrs. Something, just like Madame Blavatsky, Madame Rachel, or "La Loie" (Loie Fuller).
Victorians were super knowledgeable about the meanings of flowers, so you could choose a flower name that is quite fancy:
Real name ideas (mix and match as you please):
Susan Cook
Ellen Soper
Jane Ward
Maud Bray
Martha Hull
Pseudonym:
If she's from the gutter, she probably wouldn't be terribly knowledgeable about classical names, because she didn't get any sort of education. She could get something from literature and popular culture, or maybe something from Christian legends?
Salome springs to mind immediately
Endora, Endorla, Endorrina, something like that (from the Witch of Endor, in the bible)
Devorah (a prophetess in the Bible, and a very uncommon name for someone of her class and time)
Eponine (from Hugo)
Haidee (from Byron's poem)
Christabel or Geraldine (from Coleridge's poem)
Lydia
Philomena
Evelina
Elladora
Alternatively she doesn't even need to use a surname as a fancy medium. Think of creatives and performers like Ouida, Vulcana, Musidora, Colette, Corilla, or Modjeska. She could also not have a FIRST name, and go as a Madame Something or Mrs. Something, just like Madame Blavatsky, Madame Rachel, or "La Loie" (Loie Fuller).
Victorians were super knowledgeable about the meanings of flowers, so you could choose a flower name that is quite fancy:
This message was edited 10/1/2024, 11:55 AM
For the real names, I like Ellen & Jane, and Cook & Ward, the most. And you're right that she wouldn't know much about Classical mythology or history other than some passing references--she'd know more about the Bible and Shakespeare, etc., given that's she's self-taught literate.
But your point about the language of flowers is something I hadn't even considered, and I'm kind of kicking myself for it, lol! I really like Celandine, or Amarantha.
But your point about the language of flowers is something I hadn't even considered, and I'm kind of kicking myself for it, lol! I really like Celandine, or Amarantha.
My first thought for her alias first name is Lucretia. Lucretia Moon? It does depend on what sort of persona she's going for with her medium act. French? Eastern European? And it depends how literate/educated she is.
As for her regular name, well, I'm thinking Lizzie, maybe not even short for Elizabeth. That was often done, especially among the lower classes.
Lizzie Lovejoy?
As for her regular name, well, I'm thinking Lizzie, maybe not even short for Elizabeth. That was often done, especially among the lower classes.
Lizzie Lovejoy?
For surnames (real), I've been thinking one-syllable, no-nonsense punches: Banks, Hunt, Crewe, Rye...
What I'm envisioning so far is that she's not formally educated, but pretty much self-taught literacy based on a limited collection of book (possibly stolen, still working out those details), plays in particular: Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dickens, etc. Maybe Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Definitely the Bible. So she'd know about famous English writers, but not much about Classical mythology or history.
The persona is "half French and grew up on the Continent," so I've been looking at French surnames for the pseudonym (if it's even part of the name she gives out, and not just "Madame [first name]").
I didn't realize that about diminutives as real names in the 19th century, that being a common thing. I thought that was more modern.
What I'm envisioning so far is that she's not formally educated, but pretty much self-taught literacy based on a limited collection of book (possibly stolen, still working out those details), plays in particular: Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dickens, etc. Maybe Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Definitely the Bible. So she'd know about famous English writers, but not much about Classical mythology or history.
The persona is "half French and grew up on the Continent," so I've been looking at French surnames for the pseudonym (if it's even part of the name she gives out, and not just "Madame [first name]").
I didn't realize that about diminutives as real names in the 19th century, that being a common thing. I thought that was more modern.
Yes, diminutives as full names was very common. Names like Annie, Eliza, Fanny, Tom, Dick and yes, Harry, were all in the top 100 for Victorian-born babies.
Real name:
Honora, Elise, Phyllis, Mavis, Wilma, Rosalie, Lillian, Adeline, Sabrina, Virginia, Charlotte, Irene, Miriam, Viola, Camille, Marian, Vivian, Doris, Keziah, Phoebe, Ruth, Henrietta, Nora, Lenore, Marjorie.
Pseudonym:
Iseult, Cassandre, Astraea, Faustina, Galatea, Cressida, Minerve, Fenella, Amity, Lalage, Opaline, Allegra, Esmée, Mercia, Guinevere, Evanthe, Cosette, Moira, Sibylla, Branwen, Valkyrie, Rhiannon, Viviette, Félicie, Muirne, Carnelian, Ysella, Noire, Lionella, Freesia, Oriella, Saturna, Isalie, Mélitte, Lauria, Julietta, Thaddea, Glencora, Winry, Ysobel, Morella, Endora, Réjane, Imperia, Narice, Cateau, Emeline, Lurline, Ninetta, Velouria.
Honora, Elise, Phyllis, Mavis, Wilma, Rosalie, Lillian, Adeline, Sabrina, Virginia, Charlotte, Irene, Miriam, Viola, Camille, Marian, Vivian, Doris, Keziah, Phoebe, Ruth, Henrietta, Nora, Lenore, Marjorie.
Pseudonym:
Iseult, Cassandre, Astraea, Faustina, Galatea, Cressida, Minerve, Fenella, Amity, Lalage, Opaline, Allegra, Esmée, Mercia, Guinevere, Evanthe, Cosette, Moira, Sibylla, Branwen, Valkyrie, Rhiannon, Viviette, Félicie, Muirne, Carnelian, Ysella, Noire, Lionella, Freesia, Oriella, Saturna, Isalie, Mélitte, Lauria, Julietta, Thaddea, Glencora, Winry, Ysobel, Morella, Endora, Réjane, Imperia, Narice, Cateau, Emeline, Lurline, Ninetta, Velouria.
Some of your "real name" suggestions I actually like for the pseudonym: Rosalie, Camille/a, Lenore, and Marjorie. Ruth is becoming a top contender for the real name.
For the pseudonym, I like Allegra, Cressida, Sibylla, and Astraea the most.
For the pseudonym, I like Allegra, Cressida, Sibylla, and Astraea the most.
Jane Harris and Ruth Collins are both great suggestions (and you're the third person to suggest Ruth, which is becoming a top contender). Of the pseudonyms, I really like Artemisia. I feel like would've become familiar with the artist's work at some point, as well.
Rebecca was a thought I had, with the nickname Becky. Hannah is also a good name for her. And I might like Bethany better than Elizabeth (though it might imply that her birth family was Catholic, and I'm unsure if that's a background I want to choose for her).
Magdalena is an interesting choice for the pseudonym! It's a different genre (Biblical) than most other suggestions, which I think would imply a more honest nature. Hmmm...
Magdalena is an interesting choice for the pseudonym! It's a different genre (Biblical) than most other suggestions, which I think would imply a more honest nature. Hmmm...
Helen Briggs, who called herself Hippolita after reading The Count of Otranto. Hippolyta might be the spelling in the database, but Helen visits traveling libraries.
Louise Briggs aka Carmilla (of vampiric fame)
Frances Briggs aka Evadne
Kate Briggs aka Morwenna
Nancy Briggs aka Hecate
Sally Briggs aka Ravenna
Flossie Briggs aka Esmeralda
Ellen Briggs aka Isidora
Nell Briggs aka Menodora
Lucy Briggs aka Zenobia
Tess Briggs aka Ophelia
Alice Briggs aka Appoline
Ruth Briggs aka Raphaelle
Fanny Briggs aka Adèle
Margaret Briggs aka Juliette
Diana Briggs aka Aurelia or Aurelie
Ann Briggs aka Helene
Louise Briggs aka Carmilla (of vampiric fame)
Frances Briggs aka Evadne
Kate Briggs aka Morwenna
Nancy Briggs aka Hecate
Sally Briggs aka Ravenna
Flossie Briggs aka Esmeralda
Ellen Briggs aka Isidora
Nell Briggs aka Menodora
Lucy Briggs aka Zenobia
Tess Briggs aka Ophelia
Alice Briggs aka Appoline
Ruth Briggs aka Raphaelle
Fanny Briggs aka Adèle
Margaret Briggs aka Juliette
Diana Briggs aka Aurelia or Aurelie
Ann Briggs aka Helene
I doubt I'm going with Briggs, but I'm glad you did the pairings nonetheless (I'm determined to have it be a one-syllable English name). For her real name, I like Frances, Lucy, and Ruth (another commenter mentioned this) the most.
For the pseudonyms, I think Carmilla might be a little too obvious, but it (like Camille in another comment) has me thinking Camilla could actually be a good choice. I also like Isidora/Isadora, Ophelia, and Genevieve. And maybe Selene/Selena.
For the pseudonyms, I think Carmilla might be a little too obvious, but it (like Camille in another comment) has me thinking Camilla could actually be a good choice. I also like Isidora/Isadora, Ophelia, and Genevieve. And maybe Selene/Selena.
Ooooh, Cordelia! I like that. I also like Marcella (insisting upon the Italian pronunciation?) and Eudora for the fake name. Beauparlant is just... wow, that's a great one, even if it kind of screams "FRAUD!" were she to encounter anyone of some linguistic knowledge. (Fontaine is more practical, and also sounds great.)
Hunt is a good surname for her. I've also been thinking about Banks...
Hunt is a good surname for her. I've also been thinking about Banks...
Ruth is a good idea for her real name, I like it. I also like Edith, or Eden.
Camille as a feminine English name feels a little too modern, but I actually think Camilla is a very good idea for the fake name.
Camille as a feminine English name feels a little too modern, but I actually think Camilla is a very good idea for the fake name.