Miley Cyrus' name isn't actually Miley Cyrus 😱
So where did the name Miley come from? We have the answers...
With hits like 'Malibu', 'Wrecking Ball', 'Midnight Sky', the iconic 'Flowers' and 'Used To Be Young', Miley Cyrus really is one of the biggest stars on the planet, but fans of the singer may be shocked to the core to learn that Miley ISN'T actually her real name!
So where did the name Miley come from? Well, wonder no more, as we have all the answers here. From her real name, to how she became known as Miley, read on to understand a little bit more...
What is Miley Cyrus' real name?
Despite being in the spotlight for a huge number of years, it may come as a surprise to many as they discover that her birth name is actually Destiny Hope Cyrus... not Miley!
Fans have previously taken to X, formerly Twitter, to express their shock at the revelation. One user wrote in 2018: 'Why did i just realize Miley Cyrus’s real name is Destiny Hope Cyrus....', with another adding: 'I was today years old when I learned Miley Cyrus’ real name is Destiny Hope what.' (sic)
Another wrote: 'Am I the only person who didn’t know Miley Cyrus’ real name was destiny hope?', with another shocked user writing: 'Sooo am I the only one who never knew Miley Cyrus’s real name is Destiny Hope. This whole time I thought her name was Miley 😭'. (sic)
Other fans of the superstar singer were then quick to question their level of love, wondering how they didn't know this fact if they were 'real fans'.
An X user called Lucy jokingly wrote: 'How did no one know that @MileyCyrus real name is Destiny.. Call yourself true fans 😂😂 jk i thought everyone knew lol'. (sic)
Where did the name Miley come from?
Miley's family nicknamed her 'Smiley' as a baby, as she was such a smiling, happy baby. They later shortened it to Miley, and Miley herself made the decision to change her name when she was younger, using her nickname 'Smiley' as the inspiration. In 2008, the 'Wrecking Ball' singer then changed her name from Destiny to Miley legally! Her official name is now Miley Ray Cyrus, honouring her grandfather, politician Ronald Ray Cyrus.
Her character's name in hit Disney show Hannah Montana was also Miley Stewart - so that could be a telling sign too!
Check out these other celebrities' real names:
Camila Cabello
Real name: Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao
Rag'n'Bone Man
Real name: Rory Graham
Bruno Mars
Real name: Peter Gene Hernandez
Rihanna
Real name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
P!NK
Real name: Alecia Beth Moore
Lady Gaga
Real name: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
Nelly
Real name: Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr.
Stormzy
Real name: Michael Omari
Calvin Harris
Real name: Adam Richard Wiles
Lil Nas X
Real name: Montero Lamar Hill
Iggy Azalea
Real name: Amethyst Amelia Kelly
Ke$ha
Real name: Kesha Rose Sebert
Nicki Minaj
Real name: Onika Tanya Maraj
Katy Perry
Real name: Katheryn Hudson
Alicia Keys
Real name: Alicia Augello Cook
Lana Del Rey
Real name: Elizabeth Grant
Macklemore
Real name: Ben Haggerty
Miley Cyrus
Real name: Destiny Hope Cyrus
AJ Tracey
Real name: Ché Wolton Grant
Zayn Malik
Real name: Zain Javaad Malik
Jason Derulo
Real name: Jason Joel Desrouleaux
Pitbull
Real name: Armando Christian Pérez
50 Cent
Real name: Curtis James Jackson III
Usher
Real name: Usher Raymond IV
Charli XCX
Real name: Charlotte Emma Aitchison
Jessie J
Real name: Jessica Ellen Cornish
Aitch
Real name: Harrison Armstrong
Snoop Dogg
Real name: Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr
Ellie Goulding
Real name: Elena Jane Goulding
will.i.am
Real name: William James Adams Jr.
Fergie
Real name: Stacy Ann Ferguson
Jax Jones
Real name: Timucin Fabian Kwong Wah Aluo
SAINt JHN
Real name: Carlos St. John Phillips
Kanye West
In October 2021, Kanye West announced he had legally changed his name to Ye, with the application being approved by LA Superior Court judge Michelle Williams.
John Legend
John Legend's real name is John Roger Stephens. He told us that the name John Legend was a nickname used by some of his friends.
You can hear Miley Cyrus hits on the MFR playlist!
Now read:
Miley Cyrus: Everything to know about the global superstar
9 of Miley Cyrus' most successful songs of all time
Miley Cyrus through the years from Disney to 'Flowers'