Denzel Washington has recently clarified the correct pronunciation of his name, addressing a widespread mispronunciation. During a September 3 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, the acclaimed actor, famous for his role in Malcolm X, insisted that his name is pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable, contrary to popular belief.
While discussing his admiration for NFL players who share his first name—including Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward and two others on the Arizona Cardinals—Washington joked that they were named after him, despite people consistently mispronouncing his name.
The Origin of Washington’s Name Pronunciation
Though widely recognized as “Denzel,” the actor revealed that his actual name pronunciation places stronger emphasis on the first syllable: “Den.” Washington explained that the altered pronunciation started with his mother, Lennis Washington, to distinguish him from his father, Denzel Washington Sr. The similarity caused confusion at home, prompting her to choose a unique way to say his name.
“My name is not actually pronounced Denzel,”
Washington stated on Jimmy Kimmel’s show, followed by his example: “My name is pronounced Denzel.”
“My mother would say, ‘Denzel?’ and we’d both show up,”
he recalled.
“So she said, ‘From now on, you’re Denzel.’ That’s how we got it pronounced Denzel.”
This explanation highlights how a simple family adjustment led to a name pronunciation widely different from the original intent, yet it stuck over time.
The Phenomenon of Mispronounced Celebrity Names
Denzel Washington is not alone in this experience. Many celebrities go by names that are either mispronounced or altered, sometimes for professional reasons or due to family decisions. For example, Travis Kelce and his brother Jason debated their surname’s pronunciation on their New Heights podcast. Traditionally “Kelce” is pronounced as one syllable, “Kels,” but they often use “Kel-see.” Their father Ed Kelce embraced the mispronunciation after hearing it at work.
“At work, that was my work name,”
Ed Kelce explained.
“Everybody at work did that so I just said, ‘Fine, screw this, I’m gonna do that.’”
When asked what advice he would give his sons about pronouncing their last name, Ed responded,
“Do whatever you want, that’s what I did.”
Similarly, Emma Stone adopted her stage name professionally because “Emily Stone” was already taken in the Screen Actors Guild. She has spoken openly about using a different name professionally to differentiate herself.
“It’s sort of like when you register a business and you can’t have the same name as someone else,”
Stone shared on Today.
“I’ve been saying Emily my whole life. You can call me whatever you want. You can make up a name.”
Other Stars with Commonly Mispronounced Names
Several other celebrities have publicly corrected how their names should be pronounced, showing that name mispronunciation is a frequent issue in show business.
Clarification from Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst, widely recognized for her role in the Spider-Man films, pointed out that many mispronounce her name as “kerr-sten” or “criss-ten.” The correct pronunciation places the emphasis on the first syllable with a long “ee” sound: “keer-sten.”
“I don’t blame people,” Dunst confessed. “You just give up.”
Insights from Taylor Lautner and Emily Ratajkowski
Taylor Lautner corrected the common mispronunciation of his last name by emphasizing that the first syllable rhymes with “out” rather than “lot.”
Model Emily Ratajkowski, whose Polish last name often causes confusion, clarified her name’s pronunciation in a TikTok video shared by Tory Burch. She provided the traditional Polish way to say it, “Rat-Ah-Kof-Sky,” but also introduced herself as “Rat-Ah-Cow-Skee.”
Raven-Symoné and Brendan Fraser Speak Out
Raven-Symoné revealed in a TikTok video that her name has often been mispronounced, but is truly pronounced “See-mon-ye.”
Brendan Fraser, following an on-air slip-up by Adam Sandler during a Variety interview, offered a mnemonic for the correct pronunciation of his last name: it rhymes with “razor.”
Popular Musicians and Actors Share Their Name Pronunciations
Singer Adele praised a fan who pronounced her name as “Uh-Dale” during a Q&A session, revealing this is the correct pronunciation.
Actress Lindsay Lohan set the record straight on TikTok, pronouncing her last name “Lo-wen,” which differs from the common mispronunciations.
Alicia Silverstone, the actress known for Clueless, asked fans to respect the pronunciation “Ali-SEE-yuh,” joking that although she isn’t bothered, her mother prefers it said correctly.
“But my sweet mama didn’t like it… so for her… get it right! Ali-SEE-yuh.”
Singer Kesha emphasized her name’s pronunciation on TikTok, correcting fans who say “Keisha” or “Ketchup.”
Actor Justin Theroux’s family has struggled with his last name. His uncle, novelist Paul Theroux, explained that the French surname should be pronounced “Theroux” with a soft ending, though Justin himself sometimes pronounces it differently.
“The main character is played by Justin Theroux, my nephew,”
Paul said, adding humorously,
“Sometimes he calls himself Justin tha-row [laughs]. It’s a French name, it’s Theroux.”
Pop icon Ariana Grande stunned fans by revealing the correct pronunciation of her last name: “Gran-Dee,” a departure from what many assumed.
Chrissy Teigen admitted on Live With Kelly and Ryan that she is tired of correcting people on the pronunciation of her last name, which is said “Tie-Ghen.”
“It’s been 25 years, I’m tired of correcting people,”
Teigen expressed.
Additional Noteworthy Name Pronunciations
Gal Gadot, the Wonder Woman star, explained her last name’s pronunciation as “Guh-Dote” and shared it means “Riverbank” in Hebrew. She also revealed her family’s original surname was Greenstein before it was changed.
Jake Gyllenhaal shared on Conan that his last name is correctly pronounced only in Sweden and at Ikea, as “Yee-Len-Hey-Lo.”
Actor Ralph Fiennes, whose name is often mispronounced, confirmed that he pronounces his as “Ray-F Fines,” a nod to his step-grandfather’s pronunciation.
Singer Sade Adu’s stage name is pronounced “Shar-Day,” aligning with her IMDb profile.
Steve Buscemi clarified on a panel for Running Late with Scott Rogowsky that his last name is pronounced “Boo-Sem-Ee,” though he doesn’t mind the variant “boo-shh-em-me.”
Charlize Theron, the Oscar winner, shared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that her last name is frequently mispronounced.
“I almost want to make an audiotape on how to pronounce my name.”
Anya Taylor Joy corrected fans by pronouncing her first name “Anne-Ya” instead of the often-heard “Awn-Ya.”
Amanda Seyfried informed audiences about the proper pronunciation of her last name as “Sigh-Frid,” admitting her sister uses a different pronunciation.
Why Proper Name Pronunciation Matters
Correctly pronouncing names, especially for public figures, carries significant personal meaning and respect. With Denzel Washington’s revelation, fans and fellow celebrities are reminded that names often hold deeper family or cultural significance, and deviations can lead to a sense of disconnection or misunderstanding.
This conversation brings attention to the broader issue of identity and recognition in public life, where a name is a fundamental part of who someone is. For those in the spotlight, sharing the authentic pronunciation can reclaim their identity amid widespread misrepresentation.
As awareness grows, future interviews and public interactions may see a sharper focus on the accuracy of name pronunciations, fostering greater respect for individual histories and backgrounds.
