Key Takeaways
- Many celebrities have names that are often mispronounced by their fans, including Denzel Washington, Zendaya, and Taylor Lautner.
- Some celebrities, like Paul Mescal, are bothered by the mispronunciation of their names, while others, like Ed Kelce, don’t mind.
- Celebrities like Kirsten Dunst, Raven-Symoné, and Alicia Silverstone have taken to social media to correct the pronunciation of their names.
- The mispronunciation of celebrity names can be due to various reasons, including cultural differences, lack of exposure to the correct pronunciation, or simply because the name is uncommon.
- Despite the mispronunciation, many celebrities have learned to live with it and some have even found ways to make it work to their advantage.
Introduction to Mispronounced Celebrity Names
A person’s own name is the sweetest sound in their native language, but it turns out that many celebrities rarely hear their names pronounced correctly. While some celebs like Emma Stone and Warren Beatty purposefully go by slightly changed names professionally, other stars have assimilated to the wrong pronunciation so seamlessly that you might not even know it’s incorrect. For instance, Denzel Washington clarified during a September appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that his name is not actually pronounced "Denzel" but rather "Den-Zel". This mispronunciation is something that The Equalizer star actually encourages, as it began with his mother Lennis Washington, who used the unique pronunciation to distinguish between him and his father, Denzel Washington Sr.
The Kelce Brothers and Their Unique Last Name Pronunciation
Similarly, Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce use an incorrect version of their last name – "Kel-see" – which stems from their dad Ed Kelce. The precise surname is actually "Kels". Ed Kelce told his sons during a 2023 episode of New Heights that the mispronunciation started when he was at work, and everybody at work pronounced his name as "Kel-see", so he just decided to go along with it. When it comes to how his NFL star sons go about pronouncing the family title, though, Ed couldn’t care less, saying "Do whatever you want, that’s what I did".
Celebrities Who Correct the Pronunciation of Their Names
Of course, other stars are not so keen about fans saying their names incorrectly. In fact, Paul Mescal would like to officially cut ties from the agave spirit that fans think his last name’s homophone is. The Normal People actor explained to The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that people get confused on how to pronounce his name because of the drink Mezcal, and that he pronounces it "mess-cull". Meanwhile, other stars like Zendaya put out full-blown tutorials to ensure their name gets its stress on the proper syllables. For example, Zendaya said in a video for Allure in 2016 that her name is pronounced "Zen-DAY-uh", and not "Zen-die" or any other variation.
Other Celebrities with Mispronounced Names
There are many other celebrities who have names that are often mispronounced by their fans. For instance, Kirsten Dunst told Town & Country in August 2025 that people usually call her "kerr-sten" or "criss-ten", but the correct way to say her name is "keer-sten". Similarly, Taylor Lautner revealed that the first syllable of his last name rhymes with "out" instead of being pronounced as "lot". Ayo Edebiri has said that it’s her "pet peeve" when people mispronounce anyone’s name, so make sure you pronounce hers like she’s introduced it herself, such as at the Emmys in 2022. Tana Mongeau pronounced her last name as "Mo-Jo" during a 2022 episode of the Locked In podcast, to which she said, "Take it up with the French, I didn’t create it".
Conclusion
In conclusion, many celebrities have names that are often mispronounced by their fans, and while some may not mind, others take to social media to correct the pronunciation of their names. Whether it’s due to cultural differences, lack of exposure to the correct pronunciation, or simply because the name is uncommon, the mispronunciation of celebrity names is a common phenomenon. By taking the time to learn the correct pronunciation of a celebrity’s name, fans can show respect and appreciation for the person behind the name.