alternative name; alias
General term for a name used in place of one's real name; can be a pseudonym, alias, or alternate designation.
He uses an alias online.
assumed name in a brothel
Historical term for a pseudonym used by a customer in a red-light district to maintain anonymity.
Used for performers, such as actors or entertainers, who adopt a professional name different from their real name.
In the Edo period, customers in the pleasure quarters would sometimes give assumed names.
That actor works under a stage name, not his real name.
芸名 specifically refers to a performer's stage name, whereas 替え名 is a broader term for any alternative name.
Standard kanji spelling for 'alternative name'.
Variant spelling using 代 (substitute).
Abbreviated spelling; less common.
Compound of 替え (substitute) + 名 (name). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term has been used since at least the Edo period.