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20 celebrity names you’ve been saying wrong this entire time
Dustin Cohen-USA TODAY

20 celebrity names you’ve been saying wrong this entire time

You've said their names a thousand times, but it turns out you've probably been getting them wrong all along. From Hollywood A-listers to pop music icons, get ready to relearn some of the most famous names in the business.

 
1 of 20

Raven-Symoné

Raven-Symoné
Disney

For years, we've all been saying "Sim-OWN," but the actress has clarified that it's actually "Symon-Yé." That accent mark at the end is doing some heavy lifting, giving it a completely different sound.

 
2 of 20

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington
© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The world says "Den-ZELL," putting the emphasis on the second syllable. In reality, the Oscar winner pronounces his own name "DEN-zel," with the stress on the first syllable.

 
3 of 20

Zendaya

Zendaya
© Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

It's one of the most famous names on the planet, but many still get it wrong. She's corrected interviewers for years, telling them that it’s pronounced "Zen-DAY-uh," not "Zen-DIE-ah."

 
4 of 20

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande
© Robert Hanashiro / USA TODAY

While we all say "Grahn-DAY" like a fancy Italian word, she revealed her family has always said "GRAN-dee." She just stopped correcting people because the grander version stuck.

 
5 of 20

Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen
© Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This viral queen broke the internet when she confirmed her name is actually pronounced "TIE-gan," not "TEE-gan." At this point, she's so used to the wrong version that she just lets it slide.

 
6 of 20

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet
© Kevork Djansezian-USA TODAY

Even though he's accepted the world's saying, "Chala-MET," the actor has previously revealed that it's just not accurate. 

 
7 of 20

Rihanna

Rihanna
© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Most of America says "Ree-AHN-ah," but the music and beauty mogul herself pronounces it the Bajan way: "Ree-ANN-uh." Once you hear her say it, you'll be kicking yourself for pronouncing it wrong this whole time. 

 
8 of 20

Amanda Seyfried

Amanda Seyfried
© Robert Hanashiro / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This one is subtle but makes a big difference. It's Amanda "SIGH-fred," not "SAY-fred." 

 
9 of 20

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron
© Robert Hanashiro / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While the world has settled on "Shar-leez Ther-OWN," the South African star's name actually has a much softer ending. Think, "THAIR-en." 

 
10 of 20

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal
© [NETWORK PROPERTY]-USA TODAY NETWORK

And while this actor's last name actually has a Swedish pronunciation, he's revealed the Americanized "JILL-en-hall" works the same. 

 
11 of 20

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan
© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The "Freaky Friday" actor set the record straight herself in her first TikTok video. We've been stressing the wrong syllable this whole time, saying "Lo-HAN," when she pronounces it "LOW-en."

 
12 of 20

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes
Universal

Most people pronounce her first name with a long E, like "EE-vah." However, the actress has said her Cuban family pronounces it with a long A: "AY-vah."

 
13 of 20

Simu Liu

Simu Liu
© Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Shang-Chi star has been a great sport about correcting people on his last name. He's clarified that there's a "y" sound in there, making it "Lee-ew" rather than the flat "Loo."

 
14 of 20

Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan
© Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY

Chappell Roan wasted no time letting her fans know in a cheeky social media video that they've been getting her name wrong since her rise to fame. "If you've been saying 'shappell rowe-anne,' this is your final warning. It's 'Chappell Roan,' babe," she said

 
15 of 20

Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal
BBC

It's a subtle one, but the Irish actor has pointed out that the end of his name is softer. Think "skull" instead of the hard "cal" sound we tend to use.

 
16 of 20

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig
© Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY

While most of the world says "Crayg," the former James Bond has confirmed the proper UK pronunciation is actually "Cregg." 

 
17 of 20

Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce
© Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

In a revelation that shocked the sports and pop worlds, Travis' brother Jason confirmed the family name is actually pronounced "Kels." Their dad got tired of correcting people, so the whole family just goes with "Kel-see" now.

 
18 of 20

Barry Keoghan

Barry Keoghan
© Robert Hanashiro / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Irish actor's last name is one of the trickiest in Hollywood, but he's broken it down for us. It’s a fast, two-syllable sound that's closer to "KYO-wn" than the three syllables we try to force. Listen to him say it here!

 
19 of 20

Brendan Fraser

Brendan Fraser
Robert Hanashiro / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After decades of hearing his name mispronounced, the Oscar winner recently clarified it's supposed to rhyme with "treasure." The TV show Frasier probably didn't help matters for him.

 
20 of 20

Kesha

Kesha
Peter Ackerman

For years, fans pronounced pop star Kesha's name as "Kee-sha," but the singer behind the hit "TiK ToK" has since clarified that the short "e" sound makes it "Kesh-uh."

Jacquez Printup

Jacquez Printup has been writing about all things entertainment, including reality TV, pop culture, and celebrity news, since his time as a student at Ohio University. Since graduating, he's continued binging seasons of "Vanderpump Rules" and “Big Brother” and talking about them online. His writing has been featured in publications like ScreenRant, Yahoo, RealityTea, Yardbarker, and in the popular television series "The Real Housewives of Atlanta

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