Barry Keoghan Clarifies How to Pronounce His Last Name

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Barry Keoghan is wondering what’s in a name.

People have been wondering how to say the Irish last name of the actor from The Banshees of Inisherin, and he was delighted when BBC Radio 1 host Greg James actually said it correctly: “Kee-oh-gan.”

Greg explained to Barry during his March 11th interview on The Breakfast Show that he constantly corrects listeners on how to pronounce Keagan. “Every time I mention it on the radio, people say it’s pronounced differently,” Greg said. “But I always tell them, ‘It is Kee-OH-gan!'”

Barry asked who might be spreading the incorrect pronunciation, with Greg joking it was “everyone.”

But according to Barry, “Until a Keoghan tells you it’s not how you say it, well then you know.”

Greg was especially bothered when people told him not to say the full pronunciation of “-eogan,” because he always did say it!

Greg playfully explained how the radio DJ managed to pronounce Barry’s last name. He joked that after seeing the ending of the 2023 film Saltburn – which featured a nude scene with Barry – he couldn’t stop saying “Barry Ke-oh-gan” for quite a while.

He clarified that it sounds more natural when said a certain way. He pointed out that saying ‘I’m looking at Barry’s Kee-gan’ doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.

Barry certainly agreed, quipping, “No, Kee-gan is wrong. It sounds like an infection.”

But the 33-year-old has been contending with mispronunciations of his last name for quite awhile.

“Some people get it wrong,” he told Variety in 2024. “I mean, even Irish people get it wrong.” 

He realized why people were confused, noting that the letters “K-E-O-G-H” are usually said as “Kee-oh.”

“So if you add an ‘A-N’ [people think] it’s ‘Kee-own,’” Barry said. “But we pronounce the G.”

Interestingly, the Oscar nominee believes his unusual last name may have actually helped his career.

Okay, so Barry told Geek Ireland this in 2022, and it’s just… brilliant! He basically said that having a name people can’t easily say actually helps you get ahead, especially in America. I mean, think about it! It’s like, a weird advantage. I’ve always suspected this, and now it’s confirmed! It totally explains so much, doesn’t it? It’s genius!

He mentioned Saoirse Ronan and the frequent discussions about how to say her name, adding that perhaps having an unusual name can actually be an advantage.

Barry isn’t alone – you might be mispronouncing other celebrity names too! Here’s how to say the names of some of your favorite stars correctly.

The Spider-Man actress told Town & Country in August 2025 that people usually call her “kerr-sten” or “criss-ten.”

However, the correct way to say her name is “keer-sten.” 

“I don’t blame people,” she said. “You just give up.”

Denzel Washington revealed his mother inspired him to start going by Denzel instead of his given name, as he shared a name with his father. He also confirmed that people have been mispronouncing his name for years, and 2025 is no exception.

Denzel Washington corrected Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night show, explaining that his name isn’t pronounced ‘Den-zel’ as many people say. He clarified that the correct pronunciation is ‘Den-zel,’ with the emphasis on the first syllable.

On their podcast, New Heights, Travis Kelce and his brother Jason discussed how to pronounce their last name. Travis ultimately chose to say it as “Kels” instead of “Kel-see.”

Paul Mescal, known for his role in Normal People, jokingly told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that he might have to create his own drink brand because people mispronounce his name so frequently. He clarified this wasn’t a reference to the alcoholic beverage, but to the constant mispronunciation of his name.

He explained that people often mispronounce his name, likely because of the alcoholic drink, Mezcal. He says it happens to everyone, and he actually pronounces his own name ‘Mescal.’ He jokingly wondered if he started a tequila brand, he’d have to name it ‘Mescal’s Mezcal,’ but he’s still undecided about it.

In a February 2022 interview with TopMob News, Taylor clarified how to pronounce his last name, stating the first syllable sounds like “out” rather than “lot.”

Ayo doesn’t usually mind when people misspell or misgender her name, but she really dislikes hearing anyone’s name pronounced incorrectly. So, please make sure to say her name the way she says it – like she did when she introduced herself at the 2022 Emmys.

During a 2022 episode of the Locked In podcast, Alex Warren playfully pointed out Tana’s unique way of pronouncing her last name. She responded by saying the pronunciation was a matter of French origin and not her own doing.

I was so thrilled to finally hear the correct pronunciation of her name! There’s been so much guessing, but she cleared it all up in a TikTok video with Tory Burch. She shared how to say it “the Polish way,” and she actually pronounces her last name as “Rat-Ah-Cow-Skee.” It’s so cool to know the right way now!

Although the singer of “Habits” now often goes by the pronunciation “TOO-LOW,” she explained in 2022 that isn’t the correct way to say her name.

She shared on TikTok that the Swedish pronunciation of her name is ‘Toovaloo,’ but she’s also happy to respond to ‘TUV-LOW’.

Most people remember Raven-Symoné as the star of the Disney Channel show That’s So Raven, but she recently shared something surprising. In a TikTok video from January 2023, she explained that her name has been said incorrectly for years – it’s actually pronounced See-mon-ye.

During a December 2022 interview for Variety’s Actors on Actors, Adam Sandler mistakenly said Oscar winner Brendan Fraser’s name incorrectly. Fraser playfully offered a helpful tip for remembering the correct pronunciation: his last name rhymes with “razor.”

The Haim sisters – Este, Alana, and Danielle – had to explain how to pronounce their last name back in 2013, and many people still say it incorrectly. It’s actually pronounced “Hi-Um,” with two syllables.

But hey, no sweat if you have—even Alana has messed it up. 

“That was one, you’re wrong,” Danielle told her in a 2013 tutorial video.

To which Alana jokingly replied, “I’m not a sister, just so everyone knows. I’m an actress.”

Though it doesn’t happen as often now, the actress from Challengers has frequently had to correct people on how to say her unique name.

Zendaya shared that people often mispronounce her name, assuming it’s more complicated than it actually is. She explained that many say it like “papaya,” but it’s simply pronounced “day.”

I was so thrilled during a Q&A back in October 2022 when Adele actually complimented a fan – me, if I’m honest, I was secretly hoping it would be me! – for saying her name exactly right. She called it a ‘perfect’ pronunciation of ‘uh-dale,’ and it was such a sweet moment. It’s clearly important to her how people say her name, and it felt special she noticed!

Okay, so you will NOT believe this, but I was rewatching Lindsay Lohan’s TikToks (as one does!), and in a video from February 2022 she finally cleared up how to say her last name! It’s ‘Lo-wen,’ seriously! I’ve been saying it wrong my entire life, and it’s just…perfect. I feel so validated knowing I can now pronounce it correctly, thanks to the queen herself!

Alicia Silverstone, known for her role in Clueless, recently shared the correct way to say her name in a TikTok video. While she doesn’t mind if fans mispronounce it, she explained that her mother always insisted on the correct pronunciation: “Ali-SEE-yuh.”

“My name is Kesha. Keh-sha,” the singer said on TikTok. “Not Keisha. Not Ketchup. Kesha.”

According to an interview with Apple TV+, the uncle of actor Justin Theroux shared that everyone – including Justin himself – has been mispronouncing his last name!

Justin Theroux, my nephew, is playing the lead role in the TV series based on my book,” explained author Paul Theroux. He jokingly added that Justin sometimes pronounces his last name with a French flair – “Justin tha-row” – reminding people it’s actually Theroux.

In 2018, the singer surprised everyone when she corrected the pronunciation of her last name. While discussing her engagement to Pete Davidson with Ebro Darden on Beats 1 radio, Ariana revealed that her last name is actually pronounced “gran-dee.”

Chrissy Teigen, author of the cookbook Cravings, recently revealed the correct pronunciation of her last name, surprising many. During a 2018 appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan, she took the blame for years of mispronunciation, admitting she’s “tired of correcting people” after 25 years.

Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot recently explained the story behind her name on Jimmy Kimmel’s show. She shared that “Gadot” means “riverbank” in Hebrew and clarified how to pronounce it (guh-dote). She also revealed her family originally had the last name Greenstein, but her parents decided Gadot sounded stronger and more impactful.

The actor once mentioned on Conan that the only places his last name is pronounced correctly are Sweden and at Ikea.

The celebrity has often talked about how often people mispronounce his name. But he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2011 that he’d never correct them, because he was named after his step-grandfather, who said it the same way.

According to the legendary singer’s IMDb page, her stage name is pronounced shar-day.

I’ve been a fan of his work for years, and I finally learned how to say his last name correctly! Back in 2014, he was on Running Late with Scott Rogowsky and shared that it’s actually pronounced boo-sem-ee. But honestly, he’s super chill about it – he doesn’t bother correcting anyone who says boo-shh-em-me because he figures it’s not technically wrong, which I think is really cool of him.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2014, the Academy Award-winning actress complained that people frequently mispronounce her last name. She joked that she was tempted to record an audio guide just to teach people how to say it correctly.

Make sure you’re pronouncing the name of the Queen’s Gambit star correctly—it’s said like “ahn-yah,” not “awn-yah.”

Actress Amanda Seyfried, known for her role in Mean Girls, shared in a 2012 interview with Hollywood Streams that her last name is actually pronounced “sigh-frid.” She also jokingly mentioned that even her sister pronounces it a bit differently.

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2026-03-13 04:48