Celebrities Who Changed Their Name: Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, More

You’ve been spelling Oprah Winfrey wrong all these years.

But that’s OK, because so has she.

The multimedia mogul was born Orpah Gail Winfrey, her first name coming from the Bible’s Book of Ruth, with Orpah being the titular convert’s sister-in-law.

But, as Winfrey explained to the blown-away host of Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, “I was a kid and nobody knew how to spell it.”

So, even though her birthday certificate says Orpah, people mispronounced it so often, the future daytime talk show queen just went with Oprah—and quite the surprise awaited as she came of age.

“I didn’t learn until I was probably 20 or something,” the 72-year-old admitted, “that, ‘Oh, this isn’t really my name.'” 

Keke Palmer quipped back, “Wow, we have so much in common, because I’m actually ‘Eekey.'”

Nope, “I’m just bein’ stupid,” she added with a laugh, but the We Love Boosters actress was born Lauren Keyana Palmer.

Which Winfrey knew, of course. But if you were today-years-old when you found out—about either of these star’s given name—well then just add them to the long list of celebrities who go by alternate monikers.