# Celebrities with last names which are never used **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254 "2004-10-26T16:34:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/1 "2004-10-26T16:34:35Z")
Britney Paris Christina Ben Michael (actually probably the only sports figure I can think of who falls into this) Conan Saddamn I didn’t even have to type their last names, and most of you already know who I’m talking about. They have last names, but some of you probably don’t even know what they are. Those names, just their first names, will be spoken in tabloid tv promos and put on the front cover of magazines, and although some of them are pretty common (I’m sure everyone knows a couple other Bens or Christinas outside of stardom), everyone already knows who they are talking about. This is just getting the list started, but what other first names have been claimed by a celebrity? ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/2 "2004-10-26T16:36:01Z")
Ahnold Cher ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Sayid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jack\_Sayid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Sayid)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/3 "2004-10-26T16:36:51Z")
Johnny Bono Cal ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/4 "2004-10-26T16:44:13Z")
Kinky\* \*Friedman, country western singer and mystery writer ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/5 "2004-10-26T17:34:21Z")
The British Royal Family. Their last name (Windsor) is never used in any propper address to the members. Madonna is the most popular star that I don’t know the last name of ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/6 "2004-10-26T17:40:34Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Britney > > Paris > > Christina > > Ben > > Michael (actually probably the only sports figure I can think of who falls into this) > > Conan > > Saddamn > > I didn’t even have to type their last names, and most of you already know who I’m talking about. They have last names, but some of you probably don’t even know what they are. Those names, just their first names, will be spoken in tabloid tv promos and put on the front cover of magazines, and although some of them are pretty common (I’m sure everyone knows a couple other Bens or Christinas outside of stardom), everyone already knows who they are talking about. This is just getting the list started, but what other first names have been claimed by a celebrity? I support your idea that you can probably figure out who these people are by just their first name but the idea that people don’t commonly use their last name or don’t even know what it is does not any sense whatsoever. I almost always see and hear them referenced by both. Even by your list, I assumed that you were referring to Michael Jackson but it seems that I was wrong based on the later text. Madonna and Cher (and Twiggy if you want to go way back) are the only oned that fit your criteria in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/7 "2004-10-26T17:44:51Z")
nah, Michael Jackson’s one media name is Jacko. Michael (Jordan) always stood out to me because was the one single basketball player who was always refered to by his first name instead of a nickname or his last name, whether it was in newspapers/magazines, live commentary, etc. Sometimes in commercials it was shortened to Mike (you know…be like mike), but his last name was nearly never spoken. oh yeah, I remembered one more sports figure. Nomar! ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/8 "2004-10-26T17:50:53Z")
**Cilla** (UK & Ireland Dopers only) ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/9 "2004-10-26T17:53:14Z")
**fusoya** and in years past, Pele. Although they are not always referred to by one name: would Dubya count? How about O.J.? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/10 "2004-10-26T18:03:48Z")
**Hilary** can only mean one person Indeed, I said “Hiliary is one of my favorite people” to an eight year old, and he replied 'Hilary Rodmen Clinton?" ---
**Author:** ![MrJones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@MrJones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJones)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/11 "2004-10-26T18:21:13Z")
Nobody mentioned Prince (or whichever symbol he currently uses to identify himself). His full birth name is Prince Rogers Nelson. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/12 "2004-10-26T18:21:37Z")
mmmm…Hillary Duff… ---
**Author:** ![hocow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hocow/32/4112_2.png) [@hocow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hocow)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/13 "2004-10-26T18:39:57Z")
Roseanne Aalliyah (sp?) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/14 "2004-10-26T18:47:27Z")
Do we mean people whose stage name is a single first name? Hildegarde (remember her?) Elvira Or those who use their last name, but are known familiarly only by their first? Pedro (in Boston) Marilyn (in movies, there is only one 🙂 ) Groucho Harpo Chico Zeppo Reggie (in baseball) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/15 "2004-10-26T18:51:03Z")
Ann-Margret Ming-Na ---
**Author:** ![Waccoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Waccoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waccoe)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/16 "2004-10-26T18:59:15Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Ben > > Michael (actually probably the only sports figure I can think of who falls into this) As a Brit, I have no idea who Ben is…Stiller?..Affleck?.. really don’t know. I can guess Michael with the sports clue but doers it really work? What about Michael Douglas? In Britain, even with the sports clue, Owen or Schumacher would be just as likely a guess these days. I think Derek should work, shouldn’t it? Elton Courteney KD and OJ ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/17 "2004-10-26T19:23:30Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Britney > > Paris > > Christina > > Ben > > Michael (actually probably the only sports figure I can think of who falls into this) > > Conan > > Saddamn > > I didn’t even have to type their last names, and most of you already know who I’m talking about. They have last names, but some of you probably don’t even know what they are. Those names, just their first names, will be spoken in tabloid tv promos and put on the front cover of magazines, and although some of them are pretty common (I’m sure everyone knows a couple other Bens or Christinas outside of stardom), everyone already knows who they are talking about. This is just getting the list started, but what other first names have been claimed by a celebrity? I had to stop and think a minute about Ben. I’ll have to disagree with Michael, though. Without the sports context, I’d be clueless. Jackson? Moore? Another sports figure everyone’s missed is Shaq. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/18 "2004-10-26T19:23:35Z")
Evita! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/19 "2004-10-26T19:28:11Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > The British Royal Family. Their last name (Windsor) is never used in any propper address to the members. > Madonna is the most popular star that I don’t know the last name of FWIW, it’s Ciccone. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254/20 "2004-10-26T19:43:17Z")
Elvis. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-last-names-which-are-never-used/271254.md?page=2)