Pen name help?

[indicinderelly.livejournal.com]

So I strongly dislike my last name. I refuse to let my father's family name take credit for anything I do (or at least, my writing). I've also posted about not being too fond of my first name, it being a boys name (though, after some chats with people here I have become less loathing of it, so thanks :) for that)

I'm usually very interested in the meaning of names for symbolism, foreshadowing, etc. But for a pen name (though I'm still curious of meanings) I'm willing to forget about it for something that fits so well.

I would most likely use a middle name with the pen name, but it's not critical that there be one.

I'd love to hear any suggestions you have for first, middle, and/or last(sur?) names. I'm into classics and creative names.

Here are a few I have tried in the past (I write a By line to feel it out):

Emmalina Embers Eve
Samantha Grace
Annaliese Rhythme (anna-leece-ay)(rhyth-may)
Cassandra Claire Chapman

I don't think those fit me very well, but I love the names. If you can provide a few suggestions I'll play mix-and-match for awhile. Thanks :)

Comments

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

As samaside said, Casey is a legitimate surname (there is a list here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey) of already famous people with the surname Casey). The list I came up with:
Alison Casey
Carla Casey
Cate Casey
Emma Casey
Gemma Casey
Hanna[h] Casey
Jennifer Casey
Lydia Casey
Marie Casey
Michele Casey
Nina Casey

I think it should definitely be a pretty popular, feminine name if you're writing a pop-culture mockery. You don't want to be using a name like Agatha or Brunhilda even though names like that are kind of fun too.

[indicinderelly.livejournal.com]

I wasn't trying to say it wasn't legit, sorry. Just never heard it before.

I *love* the name Cate spelled with a C (everyone around here uses a K which is fine but I love the C) and I can even see using Cate Casey. But one of the lead characters in my first novel is Lavinia-Cate and goes by Cate to some. I think it's bad to use a character's name as yours and vice versa?

Emma I also love. Nina was my best friend in HS who's moved on now so for sentamental/sappy/sad reason I probably wouldn't use that, but I like it.

That's a good point about the popular, feminine name. It makes a lot of sense I just never thought of it that way.

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

I actually prefer it with a K too, but I think Cate Casey looks better, lol.

But yeah with pen names, you should really use a pen name that you could just as easily give to a character. For example, J.K. Rowling could just go by Joanna K. Rowling, but J.K. seems to fit in better with the genre.