List of literary initials

A large number of authors choose to use some form of initials in their name when it appears in their literary work. This includes some of the most famous authors of the 20th century – D. H. Lawrence, J. D. Salinger, T. S. Eliot, J. R. R. Tolkien, etc. – and also a host of lesser-known writers.

Well-known initials and their corresponding full names are listed below.

A

A. A. Milne – Alan Alexander Milne
A. B. Guthrie – Alfred Bertram Guthrie
A. B. "Banjo" Paterson – Andrew Barton Paterson
A. C. Benson – Arthur Christopher Benson
A. C. Q. W. – Anna Cabot Quincy Waterston
A. C. Waldron – Adelaide Cilley Waldron
Addie C. S. Engle – Addie Clarissa Strong Engle
A. D. Hope – Alec Derwent Hope
A. D. Miller – Andrew D Miller
A. E. Coppard – Alfred Edgar Coppard
A. E. Housman – Alfred Edward Housman
A. E. W. Mason – Alfred Edward Woodley Mason
A. Flowerdew – Alice Flowerdew
A. J. Ayer – Alfred Jules Ayer
A. J. Cronin – Archibald Joseph Cronin
A. J. Liebling – Abbott Joseph Liebling
A. J. P. Taylor – Alan John Percivale Taylor
A. K. M. Adam – Andrew Keith Malcolm Adam
A. L. Barker – Audrey Lilian Barker
Alice B. S. Turner – Alice Bellvadore Sams Turner
A. L. Kennedy – Alison Louise Kennedy
A. L. Rowse – Alfred Leslie Rowse
A. M. Homes – Amy M. Homes
A. N. Wilson – Andrew Norman Wilson
Annie M. G. Schmidt – Annie Maria Geertruida Schmidt
A. O. Scott – Anthony Oliver Scott
Arthur C. Clarke – Arthur Charles Clarke
A. R. Morlan – Arlette Renee Morlan
A. S. Byatt – Antonia Susan Byatt
A. S. J. Tessimond – Arthur Seymour John Tessimond
A. S. King – Amy Sarig King
A. S. Neill – Alexander Sutherland Neill
A. W. Kinglake – Alexander William Kinglake

B

B. F. Skinner – Burrhus Frederic Skinner
B. M. Wilson – Bertha May Wilson
B. S. Johnson – Bryan Stanley Johnson

C

C. A. Lejeune – Caroline Alice Lejeune
Celeste M. A. Winslow – Celeste Mary Augusta Winslow
C. H. B. Kitchin – Clifford Henry Benn Kitchin
C. H. Stranahan – Clara Harrison Stranahan
C. J. Sansom – Christopher John Sansom
C. L. R. James – Cyril Lionel Robert James
Cornelia J. M. Jordan – Cornelia Jane Matthews Jordan
C. M. Sawyer – Caroline Mehitable Sawyer
C. P. Cavafy – Constantine Petrou Cavafy
C. P. Snow – Charles Percy Snow
C. S. Calverley – Charles Stuart Calverley
C. S. Forester – Cecil Scott Forester
C. S. Lewis – Clive Staples Lewis
C. V. Wedgwood – Cicely Veronica Wedgwood

D

DBC Pierre – Dirty But Clean Pierre
D. C. Moore – David Moore
D. H. Lawrence – David Herbert Lawrence
D. J. Enright – Dennis Joseph Enright
D. J. Taylor – David John Taylor
D. K. Broster – Dorothy Kathleen Broster
D. M. Thomas – Donald Michael Thomas

E

E. Annie Proulx – Edna Annie Proulx
E. Nesbit – Edith Nesbit
E. B. C. – Essie Blythe Cheesborough
E. B. White – Elwyn Brooks White
E. C. R. Lorac – Edith Caroline Rivett Lorac (pseudonym)
Edward P. Jones – Edward Paul Jones
E. E. Brown – Emma Elizabeth Brown
E. E. Cummings – Edward Estlin Cummings
E. E. Smith – Edward Elmer Smith
E. F. Benson – Edward Frederic Benson
E. G. A. – Emily Gillmore Alden
E. H. Carr – Edward Hallett Carr
E. H. Young – Emily Hilda Young
E. J. Eames – Elizabeth Jessup Eames
E. L. Benedict – Emma Lee Benedict
E. L. Doctorow – Edgar Lawrence Doctorow
E. L. Dorsey – Ella Loraine Dorsey
E. L. James – pseudonym of Erika Leonard
E. L. Konigsburg – Elaine Lobl Konigsburg
E. Lockhart – pseudonym of Emily Jenkins
E. L. S. – Emily Lee Sherwood Ragan
E. M. Delafield – Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood (pseudonym)
E. M. Forster – Edward Morgan Forster
E. R. Braithwaite – Edward Ricardo Braithwaite
E. S. L. Thompson – Elizabeth Shepherd Lamb Thompson
Estelle M. H. Merrill – Estelle Minerva Hatch Merrill
Ernest J. Gaines – Ernest James Gaines
E. T. A. Hoffmann – Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann
E. V. Sheridan – Emma Viola Sheridan
E. Vale Blake – Euphemia Vale Blake
E. W. Swanton – Ernest William Swanton

F

F. Burge Griswold – Frances Burge Griswold
F. C. Burnand – Francis Cowley Burnand
F. E. Fryatt – Frances Elizabeth Fryatt
F. O. Matthiessen – Francis Otto Matthiessen
F. R. Leavis – Frank Raymond Leavis
F. Scott Fitzgerald – Francis Scott Fitzgerald

G

G. B. Edwards – Gerald Basil Edwards
G. B. Shaw – George Bernard Shaw
G. D. H. Cole – George Douglas Howard Cole
G. K. Chesterton – Gilbert Keith Chesterton
G. M. Trevelyan – George Macaulay Trevelyan
George R. R. Martin – George Raymond Richard Martin

H

H. A. Rey – Hans Augusto Rey
H. A. R. Gibb – Hamilton Alexander Rosskeen Gibb
H. B. Goodwin – Hannah Bradbury Goodwin
H.D. – Hilda Doolittle
H. E. Bates – Herbert Ernest Bates
H. E. G. Arey – Harriett Ellen Grannis Arey
H. E. P. – Harriet Eudora Pritchard
H. G. Wells – Herbert George Wells
H. H. Munro – Hector Hugh Munro (pen name: Saki)
H. J. Massingham – Harold John Massingham
H. L. Gold – Horace Leonard Gold
H. L. Mencken – Henry Louis Mencken
H. M. M. – Helen (M.) Merrill Egerton
H. M. Tomlinson – Henry Major Tomlinson
H. N. K. Goff – Harriet Newell Kneeland Goff
H. P. Lovecraft – Howard Phillips Lovecraft
H. R. F. Keating – Henry Reymond Fitzwalter Keating
H. S. – Henrietta Skelton
Hunter S. Thompson – Hunter Stockton Thompson
H. T. C. – Helen Taggart Clark

I

I. A. Richards – Ivor Armstrong Richards
Iain M. Banks – Iain Menzies Banks
I. F. Stone – Isidor Feinstein Stone
I. McC. Wilson – Ibbie McColm Wilson

J

J. Meade Falkner – John Meade Falkner
James A. Michener – James Albert Michener
James M. Cain – James Mallahan Cain
James T. Farrell – James Thomas Farrell
Jane T. H. Cross – Jane Tandy Hardin Cross
J. B. Priestley – John Boynton Priestley
J. D. Beresford – John Davys Beresford
J. D. Robb – Nora Roberts
J. D. Salinger – Jerome David Salinger
J. E. McConaughy – Julia Eliza McConaughy
Jerome K. Jerome – Jerome Klapka Jerome
J. F. O'Donnell – Jessie Fremont O'Donnell
J. F. Powers – James Farl Powers
J. G. Ballard – James Graham Ballard
J. G. Farrell – James Gordon Farrell
J. H. Prynne – Jeremy Halvard Prynne
J. H. Plumb – John Harold Plumb
J. I. M. Stewart – John Innes Mackintosh Stewart
J. K. Rowling – Joanne Rowling (The K honors her grandmother Kathleen, but is not part of her legal name.)
J. L. Carr – Joseph Lloyd Carr
J. M. Barrie – James Matthew Barrie
J. M. Coetzee – John Maxwell Coetzee
J. M. Synge – John Millington Synge
J. M. Winton – Jeneverah Maria Winton
John D. MacDonald – John Dann MacDonald
J. P. Donleavy – James Patrick Donleavy
J. R. Ackerley – Joe Randolph Ackerley
J. R. R. Tolkien – John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
J. T. – Jeanette Threlfall
Julia C. R. Dorr – Julia Caroline Ripley Dorr

K

K. A. Applegate – Katherine Alice Applegate

L

L. – Lois Bryan Adams
L. Frank Baum – Lyman Frank Baum
L. Sprague de Camp – Lyon Sprague de Camp
L. A. G. Strong – Leonard Alfred George Strong
L. H. Myers – Leopold Hamilton Myers
L. M. Montgomery -Lucy Maud Montgomery
L. P. Hartley – Leslie Poles Hartley
L. Ron Hubbard – Lafayette Ronald Hubbard
Luella J. B. Case – Luella Juliette Bartlett Case

M

Mary C. F. Hall-Wood – Mary Camilla Foster Hall-Wood
Mary C. Billings – Mary Charlotte Billings
Mary E. C. Bancker – Mary Elizabeth Cradinger Bancker
Mary S. B. Shindler – Mary Stanley Bunce Shindler
M. E. Banta – Melissa Elizabeth Banta
M. E. Beauchamp – Mary Elizabeth Beauchamp
M. E. C. Bates – Martha Elizabeth Cram Bates
M. E. L. – Mary Elizabeth Lee
M. E. M. Davis – Mollie Evelyn Moore Davis
M. E. Moragne – Mary Elizabeth Moragne Davis
M. E. W. Sherwood – Mary Elizabeth Wilson Sherwood
M. F. K. Fisher – Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher
M. J. Akbar – Mobashar Jawed Akbar
M. J. Hyland – Maria Joan Hyland
M. Night Shyamalan – Manoj Shyamalan
M. R. James – Montague Rhodes James
M. Wintermute – Martha Wintermute
M. R. M. – Mary Rootes Thornton McAboy

N

Neil M. Gunn – Neil Miller Gunn
N. F. Simpson – Norman Frederick Simpson
N. Scott Momaday – Navarre Scott Momaday

O

O. E. Rølvaag – Ole Edvart Rølvaag
O. Henry – pen-name of William Sydney Porter
O. Douglas – pen-name of Anna Masterton Buchan

P

P. B. Shelley – Percy Bysshe Shelley
P.C. Cast - P.C.Cast
P. C. Wren – Percival Christopher Wren
P. D. James – Phyllis Dorothy James
P. D. Eastman – Philip Dey "Phil" Eastman
Pearl S. Buck – Pearl Sydenstricker Buck
P. G. Wodehouse – Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
P. H. Newby – Percy Howard Newby
Philip K. Dick – Philip Kindred Dick
P. J. O'Rourke – Patrick Jake O'Rourke
P. N. Furbank – Philip Nicholas Furbank
Poppy Z. Brite – pseudonym of Melissa Ann Brite
P. L. Travers -Pamela Lyndon Travers

R

R. Crumb – Robert Dennis Crumb
R. A. Lafferty – Rafael Aloysius Lafferty
R. A. Salvatore – Robert Anthony Salvatore
R. C. Hutchinson – Ray Coryton Hutchinson
R. C. Lehmann – Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
R. C. Robertson-Glasgow – Raymond Charles Robertson-Glasgow
R. C. Sherriff – Robert Cedric Sherriff
R. D. Blackmore – Richard Doddridge Blackmore
R. E. Vernède – Robert Ernest Vernède
R. G. Collingwood – Robin George Collingwood
R. H. Mottram – Ralph Hale Mottram
R. H. Tawney – Richard Henry Tawney
R. J. Yeatman – Robert Julian Yeatman
R. K. Narayan – Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami (original name)
Robert A. Heinlein – Robert Anson Heinlein
Robert B. Parker – Robert Brown Parker
Robert C. O'Brien – pen-name of Robert Leslie Conly
R. L. Stevenson – Robert Louis Stevenson
R. L. Stine – Robert Lawrence Stine
R. M. Ballantyne – Robert Michael Ballantyne
R. R. Palmer – Robert Roswell Palmer
R. S. Thomas – Ronald Stuart Thomas

S

Sarah J. C. Whittlesey – Sarah Johnson Cogswell Whittlesey
S. E. Hinton – Susan Eloise Hinton
S. E. Lister – Sophie Elizabeth Lister
S. L. Twiggs – Sarah Lowe Twiggs
S. M. I. Henry – Sarepta Myrenda Irish Henry
S. M. Perkins – Sarah Maria Perkins
S. O. Johnson – Sophia Orne Johnson
S. P. Somtow – Somtow Papinian Sucharitkul
S. T. Joshi – Sunand Tryambak Joshi
S. Y. Agnon – Shmuel Yosef Agnon

T

T. Coraghessan Boyle – Thomas Coraghessan Boyle
T. B. Macaulay – Thomas Babington Macaulay
Thomas M. Disch – Thomas Michael Disch
T. E. Hulme – Thomas Ernest Hulme
T. E. Lawrence – Thomas Edward Lawrence
T. H. Green – Thomas Hill Green
T. H. White – Terence Hanbury White
T. J. Binyon - Timothy John Binyon
T. S. Eliot – Thomas Stearns Eliot

U

U. A. Fanthorpe – Ursula Askham Fanthorpe
Ursula K. Le Guin or (once) U. K. Le Guin – Ursula Kroeber Le Guin

V

V. C. Andrews – Cleo Virginia Andrews
V. S. Naipaul – Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul
V. S. Pritchett – Victor Sawdon Pritchett

W

W. Somerset Maugham – William Somerset Maugham
W. B. Yeats – William Butler Yeats
W. E. Henley – William Ernest Henley
William T. Vollmann – William Tanner Vollmann
W. C. Sellar – Walter Carruthers Sellar
W. D. Ehrhart – William Daniel Ehrhart
W. E. B. Du Bois – William Edward Burghardt Du Bois
W. G. Sebald – Winfried Georg Sebald
W. H. Auden – Wystan Hugh Auden
W. H. Davies – William Henry Davies
W. S. Gilbert – William Schwenck Gilbert
W. S. Graham – William Sydney Graham
W. S. Merwin – William Stanley Merwin

Y

Y. L. E. – Mary Whitwell Hale (the concluding letters of her name)

Z

ZZ Packer – Zuwena Packer (second Z is decorative)

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