Making Artist Names For Musicians 101 

“What’s in a name…” This statement from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet conveys the idea that naming things is meaningless. However, names are what makes one unique from the other. And as musicians, everyone is striving towards uniqueness and appeal. To make a NAME in the industry, you need a NAME that stands out.

One way musicians identify themselves is through the use of a stage name. This moniker becomes part of their creative identity, whether a variation of their real name or something entirely different. When creating your artist name, there are a few crucial things to take into account, such as considering personal influences and keeping your target audience in mind.

In this article, we’ll be answering the following questions:

1. Why Have an Artist Name?
   
   
2. How To Create An Artist Name?
   
   
3. Taking Help from AI?
   
   

Why Have an Artist Name?

An artist name, popularly known as a stage name can be viewed as a pseudonym or a professional name that musicians often keep for various reasons. It could be used to avoid confusion, cultivate a persona, simplify their original name, pay homage, or prevent stereotyping. Having a cool artist's name in today’s day and age also aids in making them unique and building a fanbase. 

There are a lot of examples of popular artists who use stage names: 

• Bruno Mars goes by his stage name, "Bruno," which is also his nickname. For some reason, he thought adding "Mars" to it made it sound cool and spacey. Bruno Mars' real name is Peter Gene Hernandez, but he decided to use his nickname as his stage name so that people wouldn't think of him as a Latin singer.
   
• Eminem is the stage name of Marshall Bruce Mathers III. He uses this name to reflect his rapper persona and style, which is characterized by his unique lightning-fast flow, impeccable lyricism and more often than not, confrontational and aggressive themes. The name “Eminem” is distinctive and notable, which helps him stand out in the music industry. By utilising this stage identity, Eminem can maintain a level of separation between his personal life and his artistic character, which allows him to more freely express himself through his music.
   
  

• Beyoncé uses her first name as her stage name to honour her father. The mononymous stage name is unique as well as memorable. She has been using this name since 2003 and her chartbuster tracks don’t let anyone forget it.
   

 Always think of the long-term when you choose a moniker or stage name for yourself. It can open doors for you but it also needs to define you as an artist. At first, trendy names might seem good, but they can go out of style very quickly. Pay attention to making a name that will last forever, not one that will go out of style.

Note: Your Artist Name sticks with you for a long period, so consider if it can grow on you or if you will require changing it in the future. Would your name still fit if your style evolved?

One of the best examples here is Lady Gaga. Her name has stayed influential even after genre shifts from Pop Music to Jazz and still stays influential now when she has ventured into an acting career.

How To Create An Artist Name?

In the current space of digital media and music, an artist's name isn’t just a musician nickname. Rather, it is a way to showcase your brand and to market yourself easily. Finding your own voice, developing your own brand identity, and incorporating it into your artist name is an excellent method to assist music listeners in recognising you from other musicians and understanding your unique story. 

However, creating a stage name isn’t as boring as I make it sound! You can have fun with it and experiment. After all, it is YOUR name. Here is what you could do to make your musician name sound cool, unique and special:

• Your Real Name:
  
  

There is nothing more unique than the name you already have. It is already a striking factor that you connect with. However, you could try re-arranging your name if your first, middle, or last name is interesting and catchy, you can play about with keeping it as is or rearranging the lettering to make it more distinctive.

Note: Do not take childhood nicknames (that you liked) lightly. They can be helpful and catchy. They are often easy, distinctive and already yours!

• Think About Your Influences: 

Art, Literature, Music and Films are a great mode to take inspiration from. They influence and impact you deeply and you always carry them with you subconsciously. It could be the name of a fictitious character you relate to, a phrase you like, an acronym or anything that remotely catches your fancy. The moniker of the Foo Fighters was derived from what Allied Flying Aces termed UFOs in the Second World War. 

Note: Your influences are already present in your art. Don’t be afraid to highlight those!

• Instagram Handle: 

Coming back to the point of creating a brand, Instagram usernames can be helpful to create a stage name for yourself. Digital music heavily relies on the use of social media to create a buzz and market music. The usernames on Instagram can really stick around like they did with JVKE (after his song Golden Hour went viral). This could also help you to be recognized quickly if you are constantly posting content on social media. 

Taking Help from AI?

In the past few years, technology has been developing, evolving, upgrading and becoming more accessible. One such technological marvel is AI and while the world is split on how and to what extent can AI usage and its effects go, I say, make hay while the sun shines.

If you’re stuck in a never-ending loop of brainstorming, ideation and selection of a stage name for yourself, using AI could simplify the process of deciding a cool artist name. Chat GPT or Google’s Gemini could come up with unique and interesting names for you or your project. Random Name Generators online such as Namify and BrandSnag could also be used to seek out a name that you like.

Note: AI might simplify the naming process for you but it surely can’t beat you at creativity. Use AI as a tool to find the right direction to go into but add a little twist with your creativity and originality. It’s YOUR name at the end of the day. Find what truly works out for you and do not rush into it.

Final Thoughts: 

Choosing the appropriate stage name is more than just choosing something catchy—it's about building an identity that genuinely embodies your artistry and sets you apart in the music business. Whether you draw inspiration from an artist you commend or invent something new altogether, your stage name should resonate with you and your music. Take your time, test out different ideas, and make sure that it feels genuine to you, as this moniker will be with you throughout your journey as an artist. 

We at GreaseRelease, have a bunch of curators on our network who are looking for new & exciting music to push on their massive playlists. If you make music and want to reach a wider audience, check out our submission platform and get a chance to reach millions of listeners! Submit your tracks now!

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