Choosing a Burlesque Stage Name - A Practical, Honest Guide Before You Lock One In

Choosing a stage name is one of the most exciting parts of stepping into burlesque. It feels like a milestone, like you’re finally becoming a performer. And because of that, it’s very easy to want to choose something immediately and move on.

But here’s the thing: a stage name sticks. It follows you through classes, shows, posters, introductions, Instagram handles, and awkward MC pronunciations for years. Sometimes decades. So while it feels like a small decision, it’s actually one of the most important ones you’ll make on your burlesque journey.

Prefer to listen to Lila ramble about this rather than reading? Hit play on the audio below:

You don’t need a stage name straight away - wait until you're ready to debut as a soloist

This is the part I say over and over again, because it’s the part people rush.

When you first start learning burlesque, you are still figuring out how you move, what kind of performer you are, and what energy you naturally bring to the stage. That evolves a lot. The person you are in your first few classes is almost never the person you become once you’re ready to perform a solo.

Your stage name should reflect your full persona, not just the version of you that exists right now. That’s why I always recommend waiting until you’re close to debuting before locking anything in. Write ideas down, collect words you love, let things marinate a bit. You will change, and that’s a good thing.

Your name tells the audience who you are before you move

A stage name does a lot of work before you even step on stage. It gives the audience a sense of your vibe, your style, and the kind of performance they’re about to see.

Are you playful? Dark? Glamorous? Camp? Dangerous? Soft? Funny? All of that can live inside a name if you choose thoughtfully.

If you’re just taking classes for fun, this matters less. But if you want to perform, compete, or build a presence in burlesque, your name becomes part of your identity whether you intend it to or not.

Avoid names that are already well known

If a name is already strongly associated with a well-known performer, it’s best to avoid it entirely. That includes obvious variations or mashups of iconic names. For example, something like Dita D’Lish or Roxi Kelly is going to raise eyebrows immediately, because it sits too close to performers like Dita Von Teese, Catherine D’Lish, Roxi D’Lite, or Imogen Kelly.

Even if your intentions are innocent, it can come across as confusing at best and disrespectful at worst. In some cases, you can also wander into trademark or branding territory you really don’t want to deal with.

Local names matter just as much

It’s not just about international stars. You also need to pay attention to who is already performing in your own city.

If someone in your local scene is already using a name, or something very close to it, it’s best to steer clear. Even if you love the name, even if you didn’t realise, it creates confusion very quickly. You’ll get mixed up on posters, audiences will assume you’re the same person, and the more established performer will understandably be frustrated.

Burlesque isn’t like drag, where shared surnames or houses are common. Each performer is their own brand, and names are part of that ownership.

Sound-alikes will absolutely trip you up

A name might look completely different on paper but sound almost identical out loud. When I started, I was constantly confused with another performer named Lita Lynx. Lila Luxx and Lita Lynx sound close enough that we were being billed as each other on posters. It was confusing, annoying, and totally avoidable.

The same goes for names like Dita Champagne in a country where Rita Fontaine already exists. On paper, they look different. Out loud, not so much.

If your name could easily be misheard or misremembered, it will cause problems eventually.

Say it out loud. Then make other people say it.

Say your name out loud. Ask friends to read it without you prompting them. Imagine an MC reading it off a clipboard five minutes before you walk on stage.

If people consistently stumble over it, mispronounce it, or hesitate, that’s a sign it might not be as usable as you think.

This is especially important if you’re using words from another language. A name can be beautiful and still be impractical if no one can say it confidently.

If a name already exists, ask before using it

Sometimes people are very attached to a name because it’s their real surname or has personal meaning. If that name is already in use, the respectful thing to do is to reach out and ask.

Be prepared for the answer to be no. If it is, accept it graciously and move on.

Remember, this name becomes your name

Once you start performing, people will use your stage name constantly. In class, backstage, in emails, and in conversation.

In Australia especially, everything gets shortened. If your name is Rumpelstiltskin, chances are you’re about to become “Rumpy” whether you like it or not. So think about how your name shortens, and whether you’re happy being called that long-term.

If you’re stuck, here are some ways to brainstorm

If nothing feels right yet, don't fret! Try starting with:

• Colours, gemstones, or flowers you love

• Animals or symbols you connect with

• Childhood nicknames

• Words that describe your stage energy

• Alliteration or rhythm

• Translated words, researched carefully

• Variations of your legal name, or your legal name itself if you're comfortable!

  
  

Burlesque name generators can also be fun for inspiration, even if you never use the actual result. Sometimes they just help you notice patterns or sounds you’re drawn to.

Research is non-negotiable

Before you commit to a name, you need to research it properly.

That means:

• Googling it in quotation marks

• Searching it with the word burlesque

• Checking Instagram and YouTube

• Looking through burlesque name databases (if there's any active - this varies)

• Doing a broader international search, including existing brands and performers in other genres

  
  

If it’s already in use, don’t push it. There will be something else that fits just as well, if not better.

Final thoughts

Your stage name should feel like something you can grow into, not something you outgrow. It should feel natural to say, easy to hear, and exciting to step on stage with.

Take your time. Ask for opinions. Try things on. Change your mind. That’s all part of the process.

When you land on the right name, you’ll know. It will feel like it fits - and that’s exactly what you’re looking for.

Happy creating!

xoxo Lila