14 Celebrity Names You Might Be Pronouncing Wrong

They've set the record straight

Liezel

• Published in Film & TV
• April 3, 2022

When we see a name, our first instinct is to pronounce it as we read it, right? That's the first stage of learning how to read a word.

More often than not though, we have this preconception of what a name would sound like based on what we've heard around us, in movies, or simply what played out in our head. The thing is, however, that names are one of the trickiest things in the world that we don't often realize is tricky.

It doesn't help that a lot of people aren't really good with names. Say it once to them but don't expect them to perfectly remember it or how you pronounced it.

And while we think the name pronunciation thing only happens to average people who really aren't known worldwide, well, think again. It happens to celebs too.

Every day, some celebs suffer through hundreds if not thousands of people pronouncing their names wrong.

How in the world did that happen, they're so famous? Well, it just spreads from one person to another and soon a whole crowd is pronouncing their name wrong.

Fortunately, a few of these celebs have been given the chance to actually tell the masses how to pronounce their names right. Here are the celeb names you might be pronouncing wrong.

Lindsay Lohan (Pronounced: Lo-Wen)

In her introductory video for TikTok in February 2022, the actress set the record straight on how to pronounce her last name which is "Lo-wen."

Taylor Lautner (Pronounced: Lowt-Ner)

In an interview with E! News, Taylor clarified that the first syllable of his last name rhymes with "out" instead of "lot."

Alicia Silverstone (Pronounced: Uh-Lee-See-Uh)

Alicia set the record straight on how to pronounce her first name on TikTok saying that she's not really bothered if fans don't get it right. She did not, however, that "But my sweet mama didn't like it... so for her... get it right! Ali-SEE-yuh."

Kesha (Pronounced: Keh-Sha)

"My name is Kesha. Keh-sha," said the singer on TikTok. "Not Keisha. Not Ketchup. Kesha."

Justin Theroux (Pronounced: Tha-Roo)

In an interview with Apple TV+, Justin's uncle revealed that everyone has been pronouncing their last name wrong even the actor himself.

"The main character is played by Justin Theroux, my nephew," Paul Theroux explained about the actor who'll be starring in his novel's TV adaptation. He later poked fun at his nephew adding, "Sometimes he calls himself Justin tha-row [laughs]. It's a French name, it's Theroux."

Ariana Grande (Pronounced: Gran-Dee)

The pop star gave quite a shock in 2018 when she explained that her name was actually being pronounced wrong.

While talking about her engagement to Pete Davidson, the popstar discussed whether or not she'll be taking his last name. That's when she blurted out the proper way to say her last name which is apparently "gran-dee."

Chrissy Teigen (Pronounced: Tie-Ghen)

During her 2018 appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan, the model admitted that the mispronunciation was her fault. "It's been 25 years, I'm tired of correcting people," she said.

Gal Gadot (Pronounced: Guh-Dote)

While guesting on Jimmy Kimmel, the actress explained how to properly pronounce her name and revealed that it meant riverbank in Hebrew. "The Gadot used to be Greenstein," she also revealed but her parents apparently felt that Gadot had more oomph.

Jake Gyllenhall (Pronounced: Yee-Len-Hey-Lo)

We know, we know. How in the world, right?

In an appearance on Conan in 2012, the actor revealed that there are only two places where his last name is pronounced correctly: Sweden and Korea.

Ralph Fiennes (Pronounced: Ray-F Fines)

The actor has been pretty open about how often people get his name wrong. However, he said he'd never change his name since he was named after his step-grandfather and it's how the old man pronounced it.

Sade Adu (Pronounced Shar-Day)

According to the singer's IMDb page, her stage name is actually pronounced shar-day.

in 2014, during a panel for Running Late with Scott Rogowsky, the actor confirmed that his name was pronounced boo-sem-ee. However, he doesn't plan to correct people if they say "boo-shh-em-me" because "it's not wrong."

Charlize Theron (Pronounced: There-In)

The actress is a household name, however, in 2014, Charlize told Jimmy Fallon that people constantly botch her last name. "They screw it up," she quipped. "I almost want to make an audiotape on how to pronounce my name."

Amanda Seyfried (Pronounced: Sigh-Frid)

In 2012, the Mean Girls alum revealed that the correct pronunciation of her name was sigh-frid. Although, she did admit that her sister says it differently than her.

Honestly, a lot of these blew our minds. A lot of them have become household names that we never really thought that we might be pronouncing their names wrong.

Now, at least, we can set the record straight. We might have to get used to twisting our tongues a different way this time though since some of these are kind of hard to get used to (looking at you Gyllenhaal).

Which name pronunciation surprised you the most?

Liezel