Do you have a name you give for when you don’t want to give your real name?
I have a few:
Will DiCoca
Mike Johnnyranger (usually when there’s a sign-in sheet)
Onowa Ugundalé (online sign-ins)
I’ll mix things up with different spellings or first names, like Mike becomes Mick or Michael, or Will becomes Walt, or Ugundalé becomes Ugundelay, or I’ll throw a middle initial in, etc.)
I signed a friend’s wedding book Hugh G. Rection. He later told me he knew it was me right away. The new Mrs was pissed. The marriage lasted under five years, including time in counseling.
When I order fast food, I never have them call out my monosyllabic name when my order is ready, because all monosyllabic names sound the same when suddenly blurted out. So I use my middle name, Edward.
Occasionally, I use Henry Jacobs, which is the name of an obtuse interviewer talking to a doped jazz musician in a Lenny Bruce routine.
My Starbucks name is Stella, or occasionally, if I’m feeling it, Zelda. I learned once how embarrassing it is to give a silly name while wearing a nametag with your mundane real name on it. The coffee seller gave it a good loooong look, nodded at me, then wrote “ZELDA” extra big on the cup…