selftitled

Self-titled is an adjective used to describe a work whose title is the creator’s own name or stage name. The convention is especially common for music albums, where an artist introduces or reaffirms their identity by naming the work after themselves. The term can also apply to other media, such as films or books, when the work bears the creator’s name as its title. In some cases, an established artist releases a project that is titled with their own name, making it self-titled rather than descriptive.

The term contrasts with descriptive or thematic titles. A formal synonym is eponymous, though self-titled is the more common expression in everyday music discourse. Spelling varies: most style guides prefer self-titled (with a hyphen); some sources show selftitled as a variant. Both forms indicate the same concept and are understood in reference to a work that names the artist rather than a subject or theme.

Many well-known self-titled releases are cited as emblematic of the approach. Examples include The Doors (the Doors), Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac), Van Halen (Van Halen), and The Band (The Band). These albums are often noted for signaling a direct declaration of artistic identity and for influencing branding and fan recognition. In cataloging and criticism, self-titled works are sometimes discussed alongside other eponymous releases, with attention to whether the title functions as a personal identifier or as a broader branding statement.