“Some names are about honor. Some are about practicality. Whatever the motivation behind it, once established, a name paired with an idea can create a powerful model for success.” — Danielle Ohl
Few people recognize the name Reginald Kenneth Dwight. Conversely, it is a relatively safe bet to assume most people know the name Elton John.
The point? Dwight and John are the same person.
Names aren’t everything, but in 1967, John legally changed his to honor former Bluesology bandmates Elton Dean and singer Long John Baldry. John was probably not the first or even the most prominent name-changer, but his onomastic metamorphosis represents a significant cultural trend. Generations of writers, musicians, artists and, for want of a better term, media personalities (what exactly do you do again, Perez Hilton?) shed their original moniker for something a little more glamorous.
Just a few months ago, the inimitable Justin Bieber decided that, for a few glorious moments, he would continue his (again, for want of a better term) illustrious career under the name “Bizzle.” His motive has yet to be determined. Unfortunately, British rapper Lethal Bizzle pressured the young star to revert to plain old Justin.
Though the switch didn’t stick, the Biebs’ attempted image revamp is eye-opening, raising the question: Why do so many celebrities feel the need to adopt nicknames?
Rap icons Kanye West and Jay Z shed some light on the situation. Though Kanye West is his original name, the rapper has built a cultural empire — and a critically acclaimed album, 2013’s Yeezus — off his alternate stage name “Yeezy.” By creating the pseudonym and referencing it in a number of his songs, he successfully established himself as a pop culture talking point. The name Yeezy is something to know; to speculate about; to drop when “Blood On the Leaves” comes on and you think you’re cool. There is even a line of shoes called Air Yeezy. In the rap game, shoes speak for themselves.
Similarly, Jay Z, formerly Shawn Carter, decided somewhere along the arc of his skyrocketing career to make a nickname for his nickname. He adopted the nickname HOVA, or Hov, to reinforce his mental position as the No. 1 artist in the rap game, linking himself with God, or Jehovah. Undeniable egotism aside, this might have been a stroke of genius. HOVA serves as a powerful psychological force. It is now colloquial and thus indoctrinated. Though opinions vary, statistics don’t: Jay Z boasts a net worth of $520 million.
Of course, talent and business savvy played a role in building this kind of commercial success, but the name swap is what, in the end, makes Superman out of Clark Kent. It helps mold a man into a legend. Plus, it sounds pretty cool.
Some names are about honor. Some are about practicality. Whatever the motivation behind it, once established, a name paired with an idea can create a powerful model for success.
No, a name isn’t everything, but for a celebrity, it’s certainly a start.
