Ever wonder why your favorite star’s name always sounds a little off? In a series of interviews and social-media posts, Hollywood’s biggest names are stepping in to set the record straight.
Denzel Washington: “Denzel” Not “Den-Zel”
In September 2025, the “Equalizer” star took to Jimmy Kimmel Live! to address a long-standing mispronunciation. “My name is not actually pronounced Denzel,” Washington clarified. He then pronounced it with emphasis on the first syllable: “My name is pronounced Denzel.” The actor explained that the nickname was born from his mother, Lennis Washington, who used the unique spelling to distinguish him from his father, Denzel Washington Sr. “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.”
The Kelce Brothers: “Kel-see” vs. “Kels”
Jason and Travis Kelce have long debated how to say their family name. On the “New Heights” podcast in 2023, their father, Ed Kelce, told the brothers, “At work, that was my work name,” and that everyone at his job used the “Kel-see” version. The brothers eventually agreed that the correct pronunciation is “Kels,” a decision Travis confirmed during a later episode. Ed added, “Do whatever you want, that’s what I did.”
Paul Mescal: “Mess-Cull” Not “Mez-cal”
The “Normal People” actor has faced confusion every time fans try to say his name. In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mescal explained: “People get confused on how to pronounce my name because of the drink mezcal.” He clarified that he pronounces it “Mess-cull” and joked that if he ever launched a tequila line, it would be called “Mescal’s Mezcal.”
Zendaya’s Stress-Guide
Zendaya has taken to social media to educate fans on the proper syllable stress. In a 2016 Allure video, she said, “In case you are wondering it’s Zendaya. Z-E-N Zen, D-A-Y, Day, UH, A.” Her clear, step-by-step guide remains a go-to reference for many.
Kirsten Dunst: “Keer-Sten” vs. “Kerr-Sten”
The “Spider-Man” actress told Town & Country in August 2025 that people usually call her “kerr-sten” or “criss-ten.” She corrected that the correct pronunciation is “keer-sten.” “I don’t blame people,” she said. “You just give up.”
Taylor Lautner: “Lout-Ner” Not “Lot-Ner”
In February 2022, Lautner revealed on E! News that the first syllable of his last name rhymes with “out.” He clarified that it is pronounced “Lout-Ner,” not “Lot-Ner.”
Ayo Edebiri: Pet Peeve About Mispronunciations
Edebiri has never complained about people mispronouncing her name, but she has stated it is her “pet peeve” when anyone gets it wrong. She asked fans to pronounce it exactly as she introduced herself, for example at the Emmys in 2022.
Tana Mongeau: “Mo-Jo” Not “Mon-Go”
Alex Warren called out Mongeau on a 2022 episode of the “Locked In” podcast for her unusual pronunciation. Mongeau responded, “Take it up with the French, I didn’t create it.”
Emily Ratajkowski: “Rat-Ah-Cow-Skee” vs. “Rat-Ah-Kof-Sky”
The model set the record straight in a TikTok shared by Tory Burch. She explained the “Polish way” to say her name and also introduced herself as “Rat-Ah-Cow-Skee.”
Tove Lo: “Toov-a-loo” vs. “TUV-LOW”
The “Habits” singer clarified in a 2022 TikTok that the Swedish pronunciation is “Toov-a-loo,” though she continues to answer to “TUV-LOW.”
Raven-Symoné: “See-mon-ye”
In a January 2023 TikTok, the actress revealed her name has been mispronounced for years and is actually pronounced “See-mon-ye.”
Brendan Fraser: “Fray-zer”
After Adam Sandler accidentally mispronounced Fraser’s name in a December 2022 Variety interview, Fraser offered a trick: “Fraser rhymes with razor.”
Haim: “Hi-Um” vs. “H-a-im”
The sister duo Este, Alana, and Danielle Haim shared a 2013 tutorial video correcting the pronunciation. The four-letter word is actually two syllables: “Hi-Um.” Danielle joked, “That was one, you’re wrong,” while Alana replied, “I’m not a sister, just so everyone knows. I’m an actress.”
Adele: “Uh-Dale”
During a Q&A in October 2022, the singer praised a fan for “perfectly” pronouncing her name as “uh-dale.”
Lindsay Lohan: “Lo-wen”
In a February 2022 TikTok, Lohan set the record straight: her last name is pronounced “Lo-wen.”
Alicia Silverstone: “Ali-See-yuh”
The “Clueless” actress clarified on TikTok that while she doesn’t mind mispronunciations, her mother is “not bothered if fans don’t get it right,” so she urged people to say it “Ali-SEE-yuh.”
Kesha: “Keh-Sha”
The singer said on TikTok, “My name is Kesha. Keh-sha, Not Keisha. Not Ketchup. Kesha.”
Justin Theroux: “Tha-Roo”
Paul Theroux explained in an Apple TV+ interview that the family name is often mispronounced. He noted, “The main character is played by Justin Theroux, my nephew.” He added, “Sometimes he calls himself Justin tha-row [laughs]. It’s a French name, it’s Theroux.”
Ariana Grande: “Gran-Dee”
In a 2018 Beats 1 interview with Ebro Darden about her engagement to Pete Davidson, Grande clarified the correct pronunciation: “gran-dee.”
Chrissy Teigen: “Tie-Ghen”
During a 2018 appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan, Teigen admitted it was her “fault” for the mispronunciation. She said, “It’s been 25 years, I’m tired of correcting people.”
Gal Gadot: “Guh-Dote”
The “Wonder Woman” actress chatted with Jimmy Kimmel about the pronunciation (guh-dote) and the meaning of her last name, which means “riverbank” in Hebrew. She revealed her original surname was Greenstein.
Jake Gyllenhaal: “Yee-Len-Hey-Lo”
In a 2012 Conan appearance, the actor said that the only places where his name is pronounced correctly are Sweden and Ikea.
Ralph Fiennes: “Ray-F Fines”
In 2011, the actor told The Hollywood Reporter he’d never change his name because it was named after his step-grandfather, who pronounced it the same way.
Sade Adu: “Shar-Day”
According to her IMDb page, the singer’s stage name is pronounced “shar-day.”
Steve Buscemi: “Boo-Sem-Ee”
In a 2014 panel for “Running Late with Scott Rogowsky,” Buscemi confirmed his last name is pronounced “boo-sem-ee.” He added he does not correct people who say “boo-shh-em-me” because “it’s not wrong.”
Charlize Theron: “There-In”
In a 2014 Jimmy Fallon interview, the Oscar winner quipped that her name is always botched. She said, “They screw it up. I almost want to make an audiotape on how to pronounce my name.”
Anya Taylor-Joy: “Anne-Ya”
The “Queen’s Gambit” star says her name is pronounced “anne-ya,” not “awn-ya.”
Amanda Seyfried: “Sigh-Frid”
In a 2012 interview with Hollywood Streams, the “Mean Girls” alum revealed the correct pronunciation of her last name is “sigh-frid.” She noted her sister says it differently.
Key Takeaways
- Celebrities are increasingly vocal about how their names should be pronounced, using interviews, podcasts, and social media.
- Mispronunciations often stem from family nicknames, cultural misunderstandings, or industry habits.
- Even well-known actors like Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal have had to correct fans repeatedly.
The growing trend of name-pronunciation advocacy highlights a broader conversation about identity and respect in the public eye. Whether it’s a single syllable or a two-syllable correction, the message is clear: the correct way to say a name matters.
Closing
From “Denzel” to “Mess-Cull,” the list of celebrity names that have been mispronounced is long and varied. By sharing their preferred pronunciations, these stars help fans honor their identities and avoid inadvertent disrespect. The next time you talk about a favorite actor, double-check the syllable stress and give credit where it’s due.
