Demi Moore has stunned fans by revealing the “correct” way to pronounce her name. Despite her iconic status in Hollywood over the past four decades, most fans have been saying it wrong all along.
In a recently resurfaced clip from her 2017 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Moore set the record straight. Fallon mentioned how many people pronounce her name as “Deh-mee,” similar to singer Demi Lovato. However, Moore clarified that her name is actually pronounced “Duh-mee.”
Why “Duh-mee” works better
The Ghost star explained that the pronunciation “Duh-mee” simply “works better” with her last name. She even compared notes with Lovato, revealing that both their families are from similar parts of the U.S. — Moore’s family is from New Mexico, while Lovato’s hails from Texas. Despite these similarities, they intentionally pronounce their names differently.
“Demi and I had a great conversation about this because she’s from Texas and I’m from New Mexico, so our families say our names the same way,” Moore said. “But we individually both pronounce it differently. It works better with our last names. Like, ‘Deh-mee Lovato’ sounds really good. And ‘Duh-mee Moore’ sounds really good.”
Celebrity name pronunciation blunders
Moore’s revelation has sparked a wider conversation about celebrities whose names are often mispronounced
For instance, former child star Raven-Symoné shocked fans last year by revealing that her last name is pronounced “see-mon-ye” and not “Si-moan.” The 39-year-old actress, best known for her role in The Cosby Show, calmly corrected the decades-long mistake during an interview.
Meanwhile, Brendan Fraser also addressed the widespread mispronunciation of his name. “No one’s ever gotten my name right.” He explained that his surname should be pronounced like “razor,” not “Fray-zsur” like the TV show Frasier.
Adele’s accent matters
Other stars have also joined the name game. Adele, for instance, revealed that her name is pronounced “uh-dale” instead of “uh-dell.” This small but significant detail reflects her North London roots and accent.
Ariana Grande’s family tradition
Ariana Grande admitted that her family traditionally says their last name as “gran-dee” rather than the widely used “gran-day.” She confirmed this during an interview, noting that the “gran-dee” pronunciation has always been used in the Grande household.
Zendaya’s name challenge
For Euphoria star Zendaya, her name is often mispronounced as “Zen-dye-uh.” However, the correct way to say it is “Zen-day-yuh.” Zendaya has corrected fans many times, emphasizing the importance of getting it right.
Timothée Chalamet goes French
Then there’s Timothée Chalamet, whose name is meant to be pronounced with a French accent. Many fans call him “Timothy,” but the 29-year-old actor has repeatedly stated that the correct pronunciation is “Timo-tay.” In an interview with Frank Ocean, he shared that his full name is “Timo-tay Shala-may.”
Demi Moore’s career triumphs
The conversation around celebrity name pronunciations highlights just how often fans get it wrong. Yet, these stars take the mix-ups in stride, using the opportunity to connect with their audiences and share personal anecdotes.
Meanwhile, Demi Moore has been making waves beyond her name revelation. The 62-year-old recently celebrated a Golden Globes win for her performance in the body horror film The Substance. Her critically acclaimed role earned her the Best Actress award, marking a major career milestone.
After her emotional acceptance speech, Moore celebrated the victory with her daughters — Rumer, 36, Scout, 33, and Tallulah, 30 — whom she shares with ex-husband Bruce Willis. The family’s close bond was evident as they partied together, marking another joyful chapter in Moore’s life.
A lasting impression
From pronunciation surprises to career triumphs, Moore continues to captivate fans, proving she’s not just a Hollywood legend but also a relatable and down-to-earth star. As fans adjust to saying “Duh-mee,” her story serves as a reminder of the importance of individuality and staying true to oneself.
