What initials make up J.K. Rowling’s pen name?

J.K. Rowling’s pen name uses the initials J.K. The “J” comes from Joanne, her first name, while the “K” was chosen in honor of her paternal grandmother, Kathleen.

Rowling’s publishers wanted a name that might appeal broadly to readers, including boys who might otherwise assume that a woman wrote the book. She therefore used initials rather than publishing under Joanne Rowling. Her name appeared as “J. K. Rowling” on the Harry Potter books.

Rowling did not originally have a middle name. Kathleen was added for the pen name, rather than being part of the name on her birth certificate. This is why references may describe her full personal name as Joanne Rowling while still explaining the origin of the “K.”

She later used another pseudonym, Robert Galbraith, for her crime novels. That name was separate from the J.K. Rowling branding used for Harry Potter and related works.