Wait! What’s Their Real Name?

Many authors have adopted pen names, but their real names reveal intriguing stories behind their choice to use pseudonyms.

One of the most popular authors in recent history was Howard Allen Francis O’Brien. Does that name sound unfamiliar? How about the name Anne Rice, writer of Interview with the Vampire? Well, believe it or not, Howard and Anne are the same person.

When I found this out, I was shocked. The story behind her name is amusing. When she was born, Anne’s mother wanted to name her after her father, Howard. Anne was not thrilled with this. So, on the first day of school, when asked her name, she said, “Anne.” The name Rice comes from her marriage; thus, the famous Anne Rice was born.

Many of us know authors who have used pen names. However, there are many people we assume are using their real names who aren’t. After learning about Anne Rice, I decided to see how many other authors weren’t called what I thought.

My first surprise was Toni Morrison. She was born Chloe Wofford. "Toni" was simply a nickname. Morrison later regretted not using "Chloe" when she published her first book, The Bluest Eye.

Maya Angelou’s name is probably my favorite since her first name is the same as my mother’s. Angelou was born Marguerite Ann Johnson.

Then you have John Le Carré. Born David John Moore Cornwell, the spy novelist had a good reason for using a pen name—he was a spy himself!

George Orwell’s real name was Eric Arthur Blair. It seems perfectly suitable, so why change it? He didn’t want his family to be embarrassed by the fact he once lived in poverty.

The complicated Ayn Rand had an equally complex name (for English speakers, that is). Alissa Zinovievna Rosenbaum was a Russian émigré who was an unnamed Finnish writer inspired to take on the name Ayn.

If you are a fan of The Mortal Instruments series, you are familiar with Judith Lewis, otherwise known as Cassandra Clare, which some might consider a much better name for a fantasy author.

The name George was very popular among women who wanted to disguise their gender. Both Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot) and Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin (George Sand) were fans.

Of course, science fiction legend Alice Sheldon chose the name James instead—James Tiptree Jr. Fun fact: although most people knew Tiptree was a pen name, the common consensus was that the author must still be male because of the writing style.

And finally, we have bestselling author John Twelve Hawks, whose real name is…? Yeah, that’s a mystery yet to be solved.

And there are many more! Stan Lee (Stanley Lieber), Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson), and even famous fantasy author Robert Jordan (James Oliver Rigney Jr.). What about your favorite author? Do you know their real name?

Pamela M.
Antioch Branch