The mysterious last names of celebrities who only go by their first name revealed including Zendaya, Prince and Madonna

In a world where everyone wants to be a household name, these stars have managed to shine so brightly that they are known exclusively by their first name.

The mystery following these iconic mononyms has long left fans wondering what their last names are?

As Zendaya continues to dominate headlines due to her recent engagement, speculation regarding her last name has been swarming. 

Read on to uncover the real last names behind these A-listers’ famous first names. 

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Zendaya attends the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.
Zendaya left fans wondering what her last name was when she debuted an engagement ring. (Amy Sussman/Getty)

Zendaya 

As Zendaya sets her sights on tying the knot to fellow actor Tom Holland, fans have been left wondering about her name.

Will she add Holland to her name or hyphenate it, or will she remain a one-named icon?

The Euphoria star’s full name is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, though she will always remain the Zendaya to us.

Prince 

Prince in 2015.
In the 90s, musician Prince was referred to as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. (Getty)

Before Prince was The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, the singer was born Prince Rogers Nelson. 

On his 35th birthday, the late star changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, leaving fans wondering what his real name was. 

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Releasing the news in a statement, he said: “It is an unpronounceable symbol whose meaning has not been identified. It’s all about thinking in new ways, tuning in 2 a new frequency.” 

Henceforth, he was referred to as ‘The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.’

Madonna

Madonna
Madonna was named after her mother. (Getty)

A single-name sensation since the ’80s, Madonna is known exclusively as a mononym. 

The queen of pop’s real name is Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone, and it was given to her in honour of her mother. 

“My mother is the only other person I have ever heard of named Madonna,” she told TIME

“I never had trouble with the name … I went to Catholic schools. And then when I got involved in the music industry, everybody thought I took it as a stage name. So I let them think that … It’s pretty glamorous.”

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Prince Harry and Prince William

Prince harry and Prince William
The royal brothers do have a formal last name. (Getty)

Prince Harry and Prince William are almost exclusively known by their royal title and first name, but they do have surnames! 

England’s future king is named William Arthur Philip Louis, while Prince Harry was born Henry Charles Albert David.

Shakira

Shakira
Shakira has a long name. (John Nacion/WireImage/Getty Images)

Known professionally as Shakira, the Waka Waka singer has a lengthy full name. 

The star was born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, though she is also well-known as the “Queen of Latin Music”.

Adele

Adele Las Vegas residency
Adele’s name is an alliteration dream. (Instagram)

With pipes like Adele’s, nobody needs to question your last name! If you were curious, the singer’s real name is Adele Laurie Blue Adkins.

Björk

Björk’s name is as unique as her enchanting music, though most people don’t know her surname. 

The Icelandic singer’s full name is Björk Guðmundsdóttir, reflecting her cultural background. 

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Kesha

Kesha
Kesha was formerly known as Ke$ha. (Getty)

Kesha may have dropped the dollar sign in her name, but she is still known by her mononym.

The Better Days singer, who is known for her party anthems, was born Kesha Rose Sebert.

Usher

An R&B icon, Usher comes from a long line of Ushers, being the fourth in his family line to receive the name.

The star is known formally as Usher Raymond IV, though we will always know him by his first name. 

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Usher
Usher is the fifth member of his family to have his first name. (WireImage)

Will.i.am

Will.i.am, the Black Eyed Peas singer, changed his first name into a moniker inspired by his music style. 

The star’s stage name aligns with his futuristic identity, though his real name is William James Adams Jr.

will.i.am
Will.i.am’s real name is William. (Getty)

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Hello, I’m Khan Saab, the author behind many of the articles on usacouples.com. I graduated with a degree in Computer Science from the University of Punjab in Pakistan. Writing has always been a passion of mine, and through this platform, I get to share my thoughts and ideas on topics that matter to me and, hopefully, to you as well. I’m excited to connect with readers like you and share insights that can make a difference in your life. Thanks for being part of this journey with me,

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