Mononym
American
Madonna
Madonna uses a one-name professional identity based on the birth name Madonna Louise Ciccone. Uses her real first name only.
- Birth or original name
- Madonna Louise Ciccone
- Name-change type
- Mononym
Some stars need only one word. Others have adopted symbols, theatrical personas or names so distinctive that a surname would almost spoil the effect. Not all are legal changes, so each entry is labelled carefully.
A stage name, pen name, ring name or mononym can be used publicly without replacing the person's legal identity. We use precise labels so a professional name is not accidentally presented as a legal change.
A name used publicly for work. It may never appear on official documents.
A change reported as having been formalised through the legal process available in that country.
A publishing or sporting identity, usually separate from the person's legal name.
A one-word name, nickname or middle name used as the public identity.
Madonna uses a one-name professional identity based on the birth name Madonna Louise Ciccone. Uses her real first name only.
Rihanna was born or originally known as Robyn Rihanna Fenty and became famous under a different professional name. Goes by her middle name.
Adele uses a one-name professional identity based on the birth name Adele Laurie Blue Adkins. Uses first name only.
Shakira uses a one-name professional identity based on the birth name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll. Uses first name only.
Sia uses a one-name professional identity based on the birth name Sia Kate Isobelle Furler. Singer-songwriter.
Lorde was born or originally known as Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor and became famous under a different professional name. Adopted a regal-themed stage name.
Zendaya uses a one-name professional identity based on the birth name Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman. Uses first name only.
Iman uses a one-name professional identity based on the birth name Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid. Supermodel.
Flea was born or originally known as Michael Peter Balzary and became famous under a different professional name. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist.
Fabio uses a one-name professional identity based on the birth name Fabio Lanzoni. Model and actor.
Dido uses a one-name professional identity based on the birth name Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong. Uses first name only.
Lily Savage is a stage persona created by Paul O'Grady. Paul O'Grady created Lily Savage, the sharp-tongued drag persona that made him nationally famous.
Dame Edna Everage is a stage persona created by Barry Humphries. Long-running comic character.
Cher was originally named Cherilyn Sarkisian and the change was publicly reported as legal. Legally changed her name to just Cher.
Prince is associated with an unusual public name or symbol adopted by Prince Rogers Nelson. Changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol in the 1990s.
Ye was originally named Kanye Omari West and the change was publicly reported as legal. Legally changed his full name to Ye in 2021.
Prince (symbol era) is associated with an unusual public name or symbol adopted by Prince Rogers Nelson. Adopted an unpronounceable symbol, known as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince.
Metta World Peace was originally named Ronald William Artest Jr. and the change was publicly reported as legal. NBA player legally changed his name in 2011.
Chad Ochocinco was originally named Chad Javon Johnson and the change was publicly reported as legal. NFL player changed surname to Ochocinco to match his number 85.
Warrior was originally named James Brian Hellwig and the change was publicly reported as legal. The Ultimate Warrior legally changed his name to Warrior in 1993.
A mononym is a one-word name. Some stars use their birth first name, while others create a completely new single-word identity.
Yes. Cherilyn Sarkisian was reported to have legally changed her name to Cher.
Prince adopted an unpronounceable symbol during a contractual dispute and was widely called The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. It was an unusual public identity rather than an ordinary spoken name.
A one-word name may be possible, but it can cause practical problems with organisations and systems that require both a first name and surname.
These links support selected additions and key examples. The wider list was built from the research spreadsheet supplied for this project and editorially reorganised for clarity.
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