Overnames

Overnames are names adopted in addition to or instead of a person’s legal name in public contexts. They function as a public identity or persona and can be permanent or temporary, depending on purpose and context. In literature and performing arts, overnames most commonly appear as pen names or stage names, such as when authors publish under a name different from their birth name, or when performers adopt a professional name to distinguish their onstage persona from private life. In everyday use, overnames include online handles, usernames, and pseudonyms used on social media, forums, or gaming platforms. A business may also operate under a doing-business-as name, or DBA, which serves as a trade name separate from the legal corporate name.

Overnames are distinct from informal nicknames in that they are selected for public presentation and branding, and they may be legally protected as trademarks or covered by copyright and literary rights when tied to authored works. Adoption can be motivated by privacy concerns, audience expectations, cultural or personal identity, or practical considerations such as ease of pronunciation or memorability. In many jurisdictions, the legal framework governs which names can be used in contracts or official documents, and the use of an overname may require registration or notification to relevant authorities or platforms.

In scholarly discussions, the term "overname" is less common than "pseudonym," "pen name," or "stage name," and some writers use it interchangeably with these terms. Regardless of label, the underlying function is to manage public identity, authorship, or brand while separating private life from public presentation.