What is a pseudonym?
A pseudonym is a name someone uses that isn’t their legal name. Writers often use pseudonyms, also called pen names, when they want to publish without revealing their identity.
The word comes from Greek roots: “pseudo” means false, and “onym” means name. So it’s literally a “false name.” But that doesn’t mean it’s fake work. Some of the most respected writers in the world have used them.
Writers, artists, and creators have been using pseudonyms for centuries across every culture and language. We pulled together 20 translations that show how universal the idea really is.
| Language | Word | Pronunciation (approx.) |
| French | pseudonyme | suh-do-neem |
| Spanish | seudónimo | seh-oo-DOH-nee-mo |
| German | Pseudonym | psuy-doo-NEEM |
| Italian | pseudonimo | pseh-OO-doh-nee-moh |
| Portuguese | pseudônimo | pseh-OO-doh-nee-moo |
| Dutch | pseudoniem | psuh-do-NEEM |
| Swedish | pseudonym | SEH-do-neem |
| Russian | псевдоним (psevdonim) | psev-do-NEEM |
| Polish | pseudonim | pseh-OO-doh-neem |
| Turkish | takma ad | TAHK-mah ahd |
| Arabic | اسم مستعار (ism musta’ar) | iss-moon moo-sta-AR |
| Hebrew | שם בדוי (shem beduy) | shem beh-DOO-ee |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 笔名 (bi ming) | bee-meeng |
| Japanese | 仮名 (kana) | kah-nah |
| Korean | 개명 (gaemyeong) | gkah-myung |
| Hindi | छद्म नाम (chhadm-naam) | chhuh-dm nahm |
| Bengali | ছদ্মনাম (chadmanām) | chuhd-duh-NAAM |
| Greek | ψευδώνυμο (psevdónymo) | psehv-DOH-nee-mo |
| Vietnamese | bít danh | beet zanh |
| Swahili | jina bandia | JEE-nah ban-DEE-ah |
What stands out is how many of these terms translate literally to something like “fake name,” “hidden name,” or “borrowed name.” The practice might be subtle, but the language isn’t. Most cultures are pretty blunt about the fact that pseudonyms are deliberate masks.
Why does this matter?
Because even though the internet feels global, most of us still think about writing and identity through a very English, very Western lens. But the urge to separate the self from the work is everywhere. Whether you’re writing under a pseudonym in Paris or publishing as a handle in Hanoi, you’re part of a long tradition.
Examples of pseudonyms from around the world
Some of the most impactful authors in history used pen names. George Eliot. Voltaire. Elena Ferrante. Even Dr. Seuss. And in non-English speaking countries, pen names have played key roles in resistance movements, underground publishing, and cultural commentary.
In France, the Enlightenment writer François-Marie Arouet wrote as Voltaire. He used dozens of pen names over his lifetime, but Voltaire stuck.
In Japan, the novelist Haruki Murakami writes under his real name, but many manga artists and entertainers use pen names. The popular manga artist Eiichiro Oda, creator of One Piece, keeps a low profile and rarely uses his legal name in public-facing appearances—sometimes masking or censoring his face. Hideaki Sorachi of Gintama fame is also a pen name.
In Ghana, the journalist and activist Mabel Dove Danquah wrote under pen names during her time writing for newspapers in the 1930: “Marjorie Mensah” in The Times of West Africa; “Dama Dumas” in the African Morning Post; “Ebun Alakija” in the Nigerian Daily Times; and “Akosua Dzatsui” in the Accra Evening News. During civil wars, pre-independence years, and under military regimes, writers in West Africa often used pseudonyms to protect themselves while speaking out against political abuse.
In Russia, the 19th-century writer Fyodor Dostoevsky sometimes published anonymously or pseudonymously as a journalist. And during the Soviet era, dissidents like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn often distributed samizdat (self-published underground texts) without names to avoid persecution, according to the BBC.
And of course, Elena Ferrante is a modern example. The Italian author of My Brilliant Friend has never revealed her identity publicly, though many sleuths have gone to great lengths to uncover it (mostly by following the money trail), much to the chagrin of her fans.
These aren’t footnotes. These are major voices. And their use of pseudonyms didn’t dilute their work, but amplified it.
One pen name. A hundred uses.
Some people use pseudonyms for privacy. Others for politics. Others just because their real name doesn’t feel like a fit for what they’re writing.
Whatever the reason, it helps to know that the concept travels. That the idea of separating the creator from the content isn’t niche — it’s universal.
If you’re thinking about writing under a pen name, we can help. We’ve worked with pseudonymous authors across multiple languages, time zones, and platforms.
It doesn’t matter what the name is. What matters is what you’re trying to say. Learn more about our ghostwriting service today.
Mo is the founder and CEO of Column Content, a thought leadership content agency that helps leaders get seen. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
