I'm trying to pick a pen name.

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

I think I want to do something with my grandmothers' names, Frankie (not a nickname for anything) and Harriet. I currently like either Frankie Harriet or Harriet Frank. Which do you prefer? Any suggestions? I don't mind changing the forms of the names, but I think I prefer Frankie Harriet because its unisex, but I can't get over the fact that Harriet isn't really a last name...think that matters?

Comments

[a-tergo-lupi.livejournal.com]

Frankie Harrier?

As long as you don't mind being associated with either a small-to-medium-sized hound or an airplane.

[lilacmermaid.livejournal.com]

Harriet could be a last name if you spelled it differently -- Herriot (as in James Herriot). In my accent, at least, Harriet and Herriot are pronounced the same.

If you were determined to keep it as Harriet, though, I think Harriet Frank is a lot better ... possibly for the exact reasons you prefer the other name! I'm *not* crazy about unisex names. What I like about Harriet is that even though you know it's a girl's name, it's not super *girly*, if that makes sense.

[queenfinn.livejournal.com]

Frankie Harrington?

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

I was thinking this or Frankie Harrison.

[breenah.livejournal.com]

I think Harriet Franks sounds better than just Frank.

[emilybrianne.livejournal.com]

Frankie sounds juvenile to me, where Harriet sounds respectable and more authoritative. If you were writing children's books or humor, I'd go with Frankie Harriet. If you are writing something you wish to be taken more seriously, I'd go with Harriet Frank.

[krosp.livejournal.com]

I agree.
Could you also bring in a third name from somewhere.... like F. Harriet Mills... or Harriet Lee Franks or something?

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

Actually I do write children's books, but I don't see why that means I shouldn't be taken seriously. But I actually find it hard to believe that someone would ignore a book on the shelf if the author's first name was Frankie, especially since its my very respectable 81 year old grandmother's name. I wouldn't name a child Frankie (because I'm not a huge fan of nicknames as real names), but for a pen name...?

I also want to clarify that I'm not taking personal offense :). Sometimes it comes off that way on the internet when I'm just trying to make a point.

[samaside.livejournal.com]

I agree that Frankie wouldn't be the best name for respectability. I feel like it would also be confusing to people who wouldn't know if the author was male or female.

I like Krosp's idea of doing something with a third name especially with an abbreviated F.

Harriet, on the other hand, I think is a brilliant name for children's author.

Some suggestions:
Frankie Harrington
Frankie Harris
Frank Herriot
Frank Harris
Frances Harrington
Frances Herriot
F. Harriet Juneman
Harriet June Mayes
Harriet Francis Maynard
Harriet Franklin
Harriet François
Francesca Harrison
Francesca Harrington
Francesca Harris

[catean.livejournal.com]

I think the OP meant that if you were writing a more serious book, you might want the name to sound more formal. Whereas it might not matter so much with a kid's book.