What Is Sophie Kinsella's Real Name? The Story Behind the Name She/Her
Sophie Kinsella → Madeleine Sophie Wickham (née Townley)
Sophie Kinsella's real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham (née Townley).
- Known as
- Sophie Kinsella
- Real name
- Madeleine Sophie Wickham (née Townley)
- Category
- Writers
Sophie Kinsella was the pen name of English author Madeleine Sophie Wickham, born Madeleine Sophie Townley (1969–2025). She wrote the best-selling Shopaholic novels.
How they got the name
The pen name came from her own family. "Sophie" was her middle name, and "Kinsella" was her mother Patricia's maiden name. Before the pen name she published her first novel, The Tennis Party (1995), under her married name, Madeleine Wickham. (Wikipedia: Sophie Kinsella)
Amazing facts
- She wrote The Tennis Party at 24, and it was published when she was 26. (Wikipedia: Sophie Kinsella)
- She studied at New College, Oxford, starting in Music and switching to Philosophy, Politics and Economics after a year. (Wikipedia: Sophie Kinsella)
- She worked as a financial journalist, including at Pensions World, before writing fiction. That's a fitting background for the creator of a shopaholic heroine. (Wikipedia: Sophie Kinsella)
- Her first two Shopaholic books were adapted into the 2009 film Confessions of a Shopaholic. (Wikipedia: Sophie Kinsella)
FAQ
What was Sophie Kinsella's real name?
Madeleine Sophie Wickham, born Madeleine Sophie Townley.
Where did the name Kinsella come from?
It was her mother's maiden name.
Did she write under any other name?
Yes, her early novels came out as Madeleine Wickham.