You've Been Mispronouncing Rihanna's Name This Entire Time
Everyone knows that the most iconic celebs only go by their first name. For actors, the list is rather short, populated by the likes of Zendaya, Fabio, and Mo'Nique. But the list of singers is rather extensive. Think Madonna, Beyoncé, Prince, Cher, Drake, Bono, Pink, and Shakira – to list a few.
Of course, we can't forget Rihanna, who's been a pioneering figure in music for nearly 20 years. Since her debut in the mid-'00s, Rihanna's name has become synonymous with gritty, sultry pop and R&B anthems, which chronicle the triumphs and pitfalls of love and life. Paired with her down-to-earth personality and killer fashion sense, Rihanna has cultivated a brand made up of millions of adoring fans, 69.5 million monthly Spotify listeners, and a coveted spot on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires.
Honestly, even that barely scratches the surface of her long list of accolades and awards. In addition to racking up numerous high-profile awards, such as multiple Grammy, American Music, and Billboard awards, Rihanna has also been lauded by Harvard for her humanitarian efforts, according to Hola!. Still, despite Rihanna's widespread visibility, we've apparently been mispronouncing her name for her entire career.
Rihanna has schooled fans on how to say her name
The average Rihanna fan pronounces her name as "Ri-ah-na," emphasizing the "ah" sound in the middle. However, that pronunciation is incorrect, according to the star herself. Back in 2019, when promoting her Fenty pop-up shop with British Vogue, Rihanna introduced herself as "Rih-anna," placing emphasis on "Anna." And while it's only a slight deviation, it has stirred up some strong opinions online.
"Today I learned Americans all pronounce Rihanna's name wrong," tweeted one user. Meanwhile, another fan wrote, "Y'all know what also lives in my head free of charge... the fact that I've become so accustomed to hearing Rihanna's name pronounced wrong that when she's saying correctly I'm like.." One person pointed out the length of time Rihanna had allowed fans to say her name incorrectly, tweeting, "Isn't it crazy that we all pronounce rihanna's name wrong but she never corrects us."
With that said, not all of Rihanna's fans have been saying her name wrong. NBC6 News Anchor Chernéy Amhara once proudly tweeted, "I purposely pronounce Rihanna's name correctly on air because everyone else says it wrong."
Rihanna technically isn't her real name
One more thing: Rihanna isn't technically her first name anyway. Rihanna's real name is actually Robyn Rihanna Fenty, which means that she derived her stage name from her middle name. Why Rihanna chose to go this route has never been revealed. However, "Rihanna" definitely sounds better suited for a performer than "Robyn." With that said, her last name does get put to good use, as Fox News notes that it's the name she uses for her various businesses: Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, and Savage X Fenty.
Funny enough, this revelation also inspired interesting reactions from her fans. Years ago, when Rihanna kicked off her burgeoning empire, some of her fans seemed shocked to find out that "Fenty" wasn't a random name she made up. And while there were many perplexed fans, a tweet by music producer Alex Medina perfectly sums up the rest: "I was today years old when i learned that FENTY was Rihanna's last name." Oh well. At least now, when Rihanna sings her popular hit, "What's My Name," her fans will know how to respond.