Stage names are often given by the company to artists before their debut. Some people love it right away, while others are less thrilled. Here are five K-pop idols who hate (or hate) their nicknames!
1. VIVIZ Umji
(Photo: International News)
5 K-Pop idols who don’t like their nicknames
During her appearance on the SBS PowerFM Cultwo Show in 2019, Umji revealed that she doesn’t really like her nickname.
Umji, whose real name is Kim Ye Won, has revealed that she does not like the name the company gave her. She thought it would be better to promote herself under another name, and she disliked it so much that she tried to come up with other names like Yeondoo and Ahrang.
Umji means thumb in Korean, which was most likely the reason why the idol didn’t like this name. She only liked it after being promoted as GFRIEND.
2. RM BTS
(Photo: Korean Economic Journal)
5 K-Pop idols who don’t like their nicknames
In 2017, Rap Monster (Kim Namjoon) changed his name to RM, by which he is now known. Before changing his nickname, the idol was known as Rap Monster for five years.
The stage name comes from a text he wrote as an apprentice that he liked. However, in the course of further promotion, he realized that the person he wanted to show and the music he wanted to release no longer fit the Rap Monster name. Due to his reluctance to be called Rap Monster, he started introducing himself as Rapmon or RM.
He decided to change his name to RM to be more in line with the music he is going to release.
3. Oh my girlfriend Yubin
(Photo: Enter Media)
5 K-Pop idols who don’t like their nicknames
In January 2022, WM Entertainment announced that Oh My Girl member Binnie would be using her last name, Yubin, for promotion.
In March, the girls’ group appeared on the “Cultwo Show” SBS PowerFM. There, Yubin revealed that it actually took three years to convince the label to change the nickname! She revealed that she is much happier promoting herself by her name, saying that she adores them and gets good energy when people call her by her real name.
4. Kep1er Huening Bahiyyih
(Photo: iMBC Entertainment – MBC)
5 K-Pop idols who don’t like their nicknames
Kep1er member Huening Bahiyyih spoke loudly about not liking being called Huening Bahiyyih or Bahiyyih. During a performance in “CHEKITACE,” Huening Bahiyyih reveals that she gets discouraged when people call her Huening Bahiyyih.
Instead, she wants to be called Hiyyih, the shortened version of her name. It is worth noting that all other members only use their first names as stage names – only Huening Bahiyyih contains the surname.
5. Weekly Monday
(Photo: MBN)
5 K-Pop idols who don’t like their nicknames
Monday, who was born Kim Jimin, was given the stage name by her company. Monday didn’t seem to know when asked what her stage name meant. Most likely it will match the group name, Weekly.
However, it seems that the idol does not like her. She has repeatedly expressed her dissatisfaction with this name. In fact, during an interview, she once said, “Who likes to have the day of the week as a name ?!”
Which K-pop stage name is your favorite? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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With a screenplay by Alexa Lewis
