What was the birth name of C.S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia?

C.S. Lewis was born Clive Staples Lewis on 29 November 1898 in Belfast, Ireland, then part of the United Kingdom.

The initials “C.S.” came from his first and middle names. Lewis was commonly known as “Jack” to friends and family, a nickname he adopted during childhood rather than a form of his legal name.

Lewis later became a literary scholar, Christian writer, broadcaster, and novelist. His best-known works include The Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, and The Screwtape Letters. His brother, Warren Hamilton Lewis, was usually called Warnie and became an important companion and correspondent.

A frequent mix-up is assuming that “C.S.” stands for a two-word name such as Charles Stephen. It does not: the initials are Clive Staples. Lewis used several names in different contexts, but his birth name remains the formal answer.