The public has known the country singer Billy Ray Cyrus for a long time. It will be hard to refer to him by something other than his whole name. The "Achy Breaky Heart" singer made the announcement himself that he is in the process of officially changing his long name to something much shorter. Later this summer, he will only answer to that name.
Just Cyrus
Billy Ray is not going overboard with a new name. Actually, he is shortening his name by dropping his first name and middle name and will be answering to just his last name. Cyrus will be his official name.
The country singer admits that this has been a long time coming. He has wanted to go by the one name long before he became famous.
Explanation of the one name
The 55-year-old singer explained in a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine the story behind the name change. He was born William Ray Cyrus, but he couldn't get Mercury Record to change his name. Therefore, he is going to the hospital where he was born in Bellefonte, Kentucky on August 25, 1961, to legally change his name. After August 25, 2017, he will be able to use Cyrus on all legal documents.
Billy Ray's daughter, Miley Cyrus, is already using a stage name. The 24-year-old singer's real name is Destiny Hope Cyrus. She was given the nickname "Smiley" because she used to smile so much as a baby.
She later changed it to "Miley."
People with three names
People are wondering if this will give Billy Bob Thornton any ideas. There is a long list of famous people who use their first, middle and last Names. Some of those people include Frank Lloyd Wright, Billy Dee Williams, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, John Quincy Adams, George Washington Carver, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kathy Lee Gifford, David Allen Grier, Neil Patrick Harris, Jennifer Love Hewett, James Earl Jones, Martin Luther King, Edgar Allan Poe, Sally Jessy Rafael, James Earl Ray, and many others.
These people use what is called a polynym or multiple names.
People known by one name
People who are known by a single name use what is called a mononym. After August 25, Billy Ray Cyrus will join a long list of famous people who are known by one name only. They include Oprah, Prince, Beyonce, Adele, Sade, Prince, Cher, Bono, Madonna, Usher, Ciara, Zendaya, and many others.
Notice in they polynym group, there are many names from different groups. However, no president is known by a mononym. A mononym is usually a stage name for actors, actresses, singers, and other celebrities.
