We all love and adore our favorite K-Pop idols and their work. They have left an impression on the audience and have made a name for themselves in their fields and industry. While they have established their names in the industry, the name we all know them by is often not their original name but an adopted stage name. Let’s find out the real names that our favorite K-Pop idols were born with.
1. IU
IU is one of the most successful singers, songwriters, and composers in South Korea. She started her career at the age of fifteen years. She is also an actor and has acted in many dramas. Some of her acting projects include Pretty Man (2013–14), The Producers (2015), Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), and Hotel Del Luna (2019). This multi-talented artist was born Lee Ji-Eun. She debuted with the stage name IU which means "I and You become one through music," according to LEON Entertainment.
2. Rose
She is part of the South Korean girls’ group Blackpink. Rose was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to South Korean immigrants. Rose is her stage name short of her full name Roseanne Park. She also has another name that is her Korean name, Park Chae-Young. She is also nicknamed “the golden voice” among her fans as her voice is famous in the industry and among her fans for having a distinct vocal. Rose has also released songs as a solo artist, like Gone and On the Ground.
3. Lisa
Lisa is also a member of the South Korean girl’s group Blackpink. Lisa is a Thai singer, dancer, and rapper. She is based in South Korea. Lisa is short for Lalisa, which is her real name. Her full name is Lalisa Manobal. Lisa debuted as a solo artist with an album named Lalisa, after her full name. But Lalisa wasn’t born with this name. At her birth, she was named Pranpriya Manobal. She changed her name legally to Lalisa from Pranpriya after a fortune-teller advised her to do so for success.
4. RM
RM is a member of the South Korean boy band BTS (Bangtan Boys). He is a rapper and songwriter. RM stands for Rap Monster, a name he chose during his trainee days. He then changed his name from Rap Monster to RM in 2017 as he felt he could not connect with the name anymore. RMs real name is Kim Nam-Joon. His stage name Rap Monster was derived from a song's lyrics that he composed after listening to San E's "Rap Genius."
5. Belle (Cignature)
She is a member of the South Korean girls’ group Cignature. She is half Korean and half Filipino. She is a singer and a dancer. Before becoming a member of Cignature, she was a member of GOOD DAY, and her stage name was Lucky. Both of these names are her stage names, and her real birth name is Jin Hyeon Ju.
6. JOOHONEY
JOOHONEY is a South Korean rapper. He is a member of the South Korean boy group MONSTA X. He was born in Seoul, South Korea and he has a younger brother. His real name is Lee Joo-Heon. His birth name was Lee Ho-Joon, but he changed it to Lee Joo-Heon. JOOHONEY has also released a single with Hyorin and San E.
7. Jay B (GOT7)
He is a South Korean singer, actor, and songwriter. He is a member and leader of the South Korean boy band group Got7. He debuted as a member of the boy band duo JJ Project. He is part of the R&B soul crew Offshore as Def, as well. Before adopting the stage name Jay B, he was called JB. His real name, which was given to him at his birth, is Lim Jae-Beom. He made his acting debut with the drama series dream high aired in 2012.
8. Do-A (ALICE)
Do-A is a South Korean singer and rapper. She is a rapper of the South Korean girl group ALICE. ALICE was initially known as ELRISI. It was rebranded in 2022. Do-A used to go by her stage name Bella, and when the band was rebranded to ALICE, she changed her stage name from Bella to Do-A. But none of these names are her real name. She was named Choi Yoon Ah at her birth.
9. DAWN
He is a South Korean rapper, dancer, and singer-songwriter. Dawn used to be a member of the South Korean boy band Pentagon. After leaving his group Pentagon and departing from his then agency Cube Entertainment he debuted as a soloist with a changed stage name P NATION. He made his solo debut in 2019, by releasing his single called "Money." His actual birth name is Kim Hyo-Jon. He was born in 1994.
10. GISELLE
She is a member of the South Korean girl group “aespa” under SM Entertainment. GISELLE is her stage name. She is half Japanese and half Korean. She has been nicknamed Riri. Her birth name is Uchinaga Aeri. The Japanese version of her name is Eri. She is multilingual and can speak three languages English, Korean, and Japanese.
