Proof You’ve Been Pronouncing Lionel Richie’s Name Wrong

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Lionel Richie’s name has a detail Keke Palmer wasn’t looking for.   

It’s going to be hard for her to ignore this now. The actress from Nope recently revealed that she discovered fans have been saying the singer Adele’s first name incorrectly for years.

Keke Palmer, 32, shared a story from a recent interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She said she and Lionel Richie were relaxing, having tea, and chatting so casually she worried the microphones were picking up everything they said. He started talking about his own life, beginning with, ‘You know…’

Lionel Richie, 76, was speaking when someone interrupted him. He shares children Nicole Richie, 44, with his ex-wife Brenda Harvey, and Miles Richie, 31, and Sofia Richie, 27, with Diane Alexander. The interrupter mispronounced his name as “lye-nell” instead of “lye-nol,” which surprised Keke Palmer.

She playfully remembered saying, ‘Wait a second! You’ve been pretending to be ‘Lye-nol’ Richie this whole time? You’re actually Lye-nell?’ She explained she had to pretend she already knew, responding with a cheerful ‘Oh, Lye-nell!’ Now, she and Lionel are very close friends. ‘He’s my new best friend, everyone!’ she exclaimed.

Okay, so she finally talked about Darius! You guys, she said they’re hanging out again soon, which is AMAZING. And she promised Jimmy Fallon she’d tell him how it goes! I’m literally dying to know what happens – Leodis is the cutest, and they just seem so good together, even after everything. I need updates, seriously!

Lionel Richie hasn’t said how to pronounce his name, but he’s happily shared his joy about becoming a grandfather. He’s especially delighted with his growing connection to his grandchildren, including his daughter Sofia and her husband Elliot Grainge’s oldest child, 20-month-old Eloise. Sofia and Elliot are expecting another baby soon.

“It’s incredible,” he shared with TopMob News in October 2024. “She’s small enough to carry around in my pocket—I can take her anywhere!”

In fact, Lionel described how he could metaphorically just eat her up. 

He described the adorable phase when a baby’s legs become chubby ‘drumsticks’ that you can’t resist touching. He apologized, then added that it’s also the age where a gentle puff of air on their tummy brings a sweet smile to their face.

Keep reading to see more celebrity names you’ve probably been mispronouncing…

“It’s incredible,” he said to TopMob News in October 2024. “She’s small enough to carry in my pocket and take everywhere with me.”

In fact, Lionel described how he could metaphorically just eat her up. 

Oh my gosh, it’s the best, isn’t it? That stage when their legs get so chunky, like little drumsticks, and you just have to kiss them! And I’m always apologizing, but I can’t help but gently blow on their tummy and watch that adorable little smile spread across their face. It’s just the sweetest thing ever!

Keep reading to see more celebrity names you’ve probably been mispronouncing…

In an August 2025 interview with Town & Country magazine, the Spider-Man actress revealed that people often mispronounce her name, saying it as either “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, as he shares the same name as his father. He also confirmed that people have been mispronouncing his name for years, and it’s been happening since 2025.

Denzel Washington corrected Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night show, explaining that people often mispronounce his name. He clarified that it’s actually pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable – ‘Den-zel’, not ‘Den-zel’.

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 Normal People, jokingly told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that he might need to create his own drink brand because people so often say his name wrong.

He explained that people often mispronounce his name, likely because of the alcoholic drink Mezcal. He pronounces his own name ‘Mescal’ and jokingly considered naming a tequila brand ‘Mescal’s Mezcal’ if he ever launched one, though he’s still unsure if he would.

In a February 2022 interview with TopMob News, Taylor clarified how to pronounce his last name, stating the first syllable rhymes with “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 introduced it, like she did at the 2022 Emmys.

During a 2022 episode of the podcast Locked In, 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.

The model recently clarified how to pronounce her name in a TikTok video posted by Tory Burch. She explained the correct Polish pronunciation and also shared that she says her last name as “Rat-Ah-Cow-Skee.”

Okay, so everyone thinks they know how to say Tove Lo’s name, right? Like, ‘TUV-LOW’? She actually set the record straight in 2022 and, honestly, it’s not even close to how most people say it! I was so relieved she cleared it up, because I’ve been secretly agonizing over getting it right for years.

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 a surprising fact. In a January 2023 TikTok video, she explained that her name has been said incorrectly for years – it’s actually pronounced See-mon-ye.

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

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.

You know, it’s funny – I often hear people mispronounce my name! I think they see it written down and assume it’s something super complicated, like ‘papaya’! But it’s actually really simple – it’s just ‘day’. I shared this a while back, and it still makes me smile to think about it.

In October 2022, the popular singer publicly complimented a fan for pronouncing her name correctly – as “uh-dale” – while asking a question.

In a TikTok video from February 2022, Lindsay Lohan accidentally clarified the correct pronunciation of her last name: “Lo-wen.”

Alicia Silverstone, known for her role in Clueless, recently shared the correct way to pronounce her name on TikTok. 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, who is my nephew, is playing the lead role in the TV series based on my book,” Paul Theroux shared. He jokingly added, “He sometimes pronounces our last name ‘tha-row’ – it’s French, you know, Theroux!”

In 2018, singer Ariana Grande surprised everyone when she revealed the proper way to pronounce her last name. While discussing her engagement to Pete Davidson with Ebro Darden on Beats 1 radio, she unexpectedly clarified that her name is pronounced “gran-dee.”

Chrissy Teigen, author of the cookbook Cravings, recently revealed the correct pronunciation of her last name, surprising many fans. During a 2018 appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan, she explained that she feels responsible for the common mispronunciation and admitted she’s simply tired of correcting people after 25 years.

Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot recently explained the story behind her last name to Jimmy Kimmel. She shared that “Gadot” means “Riverbank” in Hebrew and is actually a change from her family’s original last name, Greenstein. Her parents decided Gadot sounded stronger and more impactful.

Okay, so you are NOT ready for this. I was rewatching old Conan clips, and in 2012, he asked about how people mess up his last name! And honestly, it’s amazing – he said the only two places on Earth where people actually say it right are Sweden and… Ikea! I mean, Ikea! It’s the most perfect thing ever, and I’ve been obsessed ever since.

The celebrity has often talked about people mispronouncing his name. But he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2011 that he wouldn’t correct them, because he’s 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.

During an appearance on the show Running Late with Scott Rogowsky in 2014, actor Nick Offerman, known for Fargo, revealed that his last name, Boomsma, is actually pronounced boo-sem-ee. However, he admits he doesn’t bother correcting people who say boo-shh-em-me, explaining that pronunciation isn’t technically incorrect.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2014, the Academy Award-winning actress complained that people consistently 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—she says it like “ahn-yah,” not “awn-yah.”

Actress Amanda Seyfried, known from Mean Girls, jokingly reminded people of the character Karen Smith after sharing in a 2012 interview with Hollywood Streams that her last name is actually pronounced “sigh-frid.” She did add, though, that her sister pronounces it a different way.

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2026-02-04 17:50