In his later years, Edward Gorey — known for his eerie crosshatch drawings and stories — lived in Yarmouth, MA, which happens to be where I grew up. So the town and school libraries were always stocked with Gorey books, and I read those books over and over again as a kid.
One interesting thing about Gorey is that he published under dozens of bizarre pen names, all of them anagrams of “Edward Gorey.” Here are some examples:
- D. Awdrey-Gore
- Deary Rewdgo
- Dewda Yorger
- Dogear Wryde
- E. G. Deadworry
- Ogdred Weary
- Raddory Gewe
- Regera Dowdy
- Waredo Dyrge
We’ve already come up with Ben Franklin-style pen names, so I thought it would be fun to try some Edward Gorey-style pen names this time around.
Here are a few anagrams for my name, Nancy Man:
- Anna C. Nym
- Ann McNay
- Cam Nynan
- Macy Nann
- Myc Nanan
- Myna Cann
- N. N. Cayman
- N. Y. MacNan
- Yna McAnn
Can you come up with any Gorey-style pen names for your name?
Sources: Futility Closet, Edward Gorey – Wikipedia
Image: Cover of The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey
This was really tricky! My name is Erin Olinger. Here’s what I came up with:
Elinor Grine
Linn E. Gorrier
Ernie Gilnor (or Irene Gilnor)
Lorin I. Green
Gino L. Reiner (or Lino G. Reiner)
Lonnie Grier
Ginnie Roler
Lori Neering
Leo I. Grinner
Norine L. Geir
Glenn I. Orrie
Some of these are plausible in the real world, right? But nothing jumps out at me with Edward Gorey-style awesomeness.
It’s harder than it looks, isn’t it?
Here are a few more for your name:
Reni Leg-Iron
Oriel Grinne
Nini R. leGore
Rio N. Leering
Rinne I. Ogler
There’s also “Ron Lingerie,” but that one seemed a bit too conspicuous…
Not much for my name, but I came up with:
Ayah Snarl Fresh
Faery Hash Snarl
Rhea Flash Yarns
Lane Frays Harsh
Elan Frays Harsh
Sera Fan Harshly
Ashlar Shay Fern
Ashlar Hays Fern
I’ve left all the Feral, Anal, Renal, Snarfs, etc. off as options…
A few more:
Shanshara Flyer
Halasy Fern-Rash
Fraynah Slasher
Sashly H. Near-Far
Sherry Shafalan
Ray Half-Harness
Harry Sasha Nelf
Shanara Freshly
Farsena Harshly
Hashay Falser, RN
Wow Nancy! You either have an impressive knack for anagrams, or a lot of free time! If I ever wind up needing a pen name or a stage name or something, I’m totally going with Nini R. leGore. That one cracks me up!
It might be too long past for Sharalyn to read this, but Sharalyn, if you’re listening, I love the contrast between your real life name and the anagrams. Sharalyn is soft and pretty and feminine. But some of the anagrams have that gnarly dark Lemony Snickett or Edward Gorey quality that is so cool. If I were you, every time I made a mistake or said something unkind, I’d blame it on my alter-ego: Ayah Snarr Flesh.
I kinda like that too! Ayah Snarr Flesh was my favorite too. :-)
@Erin – I cheat! :) I use the Internet Anagram Server to find something interesting to start off with, then do the rest of the anagram in my head. Doesn’t take too long if you do it that way.
I don’t think i need to go further than Lance ViCozenny
I really like it :)
Although Lacy Zen Connevi is pretty cute!