Dan Cirucci: The REAL Names Of Those Solo-Named 'Stars'

Sunday, September 13, 2026

The REAL Names Of Those Solo-Named 'Stars'

What is it that makes some celebrities insist on being identified by only one name -- no first and last name, just one moniker?

Of course, there's a desire to stand out. That must have been the motivation in the case of the solo branded "stars" of another era -- people like Liberace, Hildegarde, Cantinflas, Capucine, Topol and more recently, Cher and Madonna.

But now the whole one name trend seems to have gotten totally out of hand. Where it used to be the exception, it now seems to be emerging as the norm. And, of course, that defeats the whole purpose because it means that there's nothing exceptional about it anymore.

Which may be fine and, in fact, lead to the end of this nonsense, to which we say "Hooray!" as this is a trend we don't like -- one that's already become tiresome.

And we're gonna blow the cover on the whole thing. So, get ready Zendaya and Pink (see photo) because here are the real names of the whole damned bunch of ya:

Beyoncé: Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter

Cher: Cherilyn Sarkisian

Bono: Paul David Hewson

Drake: Aubrey Drake Graham

Rihanna: Robyn Rihanna Fenty

Sting: Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner

Madonna: Madonna Louise Ciccone

Pink: Alecia Beth Moore

Beck: Bek David Campbell

Shakira: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll

Enya: Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin (Nicky Ryan)

Adewale / Awkwafina: Nora Lum

Common: Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr.

Zendaya: Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman

RuPaul: RuPaul Andre Charles

Iman: Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid

Sinbad: David Adkins

Flea: Michael Peter Balzary

Elvira: Cassandra Peterson

Fabio: Fabio Lanzoni

Zendaya: Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman

RuPaul: RuPaul Andre Charles

Iman: Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid

Sinbad: David Adkins

Flea: Michael Peter Balzary

Elvira: Cassandra Peterson

Fabio: Fabio Lanzoni

Usher: Usher Raymond IV

Bon Jovi: John Francis Bongiovi Jr.

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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