List of people known by one name

This is a list of people famous enough to be known unambiguously by one of the following:

• A one word nickname (Shaq)
• A one word first name (Madonna)
• Their only known name (Aristotle)
• A one word stage name or pseudonym (Houdini)
• A one word pen name (Voltaire)

The reason for such distinctions is that countless artists, composers, philosophers, politicians, writers, scientists and sports figures are known for their last name. It is quite common and regular for last names to be used to identify historic and pop culture figures. It is another thing all together to be known uniquely within the criteria listed above.

Note that this list does not include fictional characters, such as Gandalf (from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth books) or Neo (from the 1999 movie The Matrix).

Table of contents: # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z See also

#

• 2pac, (1971-1996), American rapper

A

• Aaliyah, (1979-2001), American R&B singer
• Abati, (1512-1571), fresco-painter of Modena
• Abraham, (approx. 1980 BC-1890 BC), Biblical patriarch
• Absalon, (c. 1128-1201), Danish archbishop and statesman
• Akhenaton - Egyptian Pharaoh and founder of a brief monotheistic religion
• Akihito, (born 1933), current Emperor of Japan
• Aneirin, (6th/7th century), British poet
• Ansgar, (801-865), missionary, archbishop
• Aristophanes, (ca. 446 BC-385 BC), Ancient Greek playwright
• Aristotle, (384 BC-322 BC), Ancient Greek writer and philosopher
• Arsenio, (born 1955), American talk show hist
• Ashanti, African-American singer
• Attila, (AD 406?-453), Mongol leader

B

• Basho, (1644-1694), haiku poet
• Bez - dancer for the Happy Mondays
• Bjork, (born 1965), Icelandic musician
• Bird, (1920-1955), jazz musician
• Bix, (1903-1931) jazz musician
• Blondie, singer
• Bono, (born 1960), lead singer of Irish rock band U2
• Bootsy, (born 1951), American funk musician
• Bourvil, (1917-1970)
• Boz, (1812-1870), British writer more commonly known as Charles Dickens
• Brandy, African-American singer and actress
• Brutus, (c. 85-42 BC), conspirator against, and murderer of Julius Caesar
• Buddha - Indian religious philosopher, founder of Buddhist religion, aka Guatama Siddhartha
• Buju, (born 1973), Jamaican singer
• Butterbean - boxer

C

• Caesar, (circa 100 BC-44 BC), common form of reference to Julius Caesar
• Caligula, (12-41), Roman emperor
• Cam'ron - American rapper
• Cajeme, rebel
• Canaletto, (1697-1768)
• Cantinflas, (1911-1993)
• Cappadonna - rapper
• Caprice - model
• Capucine, (1931-1990), European actress
• Capulina, Mexican comedy actor
• Caravaggio, (1573-1610), Italian Renaissance painter
• Catullus, (c. 84-54 BC), Roman poet
• Cepillin, Mexican television clown
• Charlemagne, (742-814), French king
• Charo, (born 1942), singer, dancer, comedian, actress and classical guitar player
• Charytin, (born c. 1950), singer and actress
• Chayanne, Puerto Rican singer
• Che, (1928-1967), Latino revolutionary
• Cher, (born 1946), American singer, wife of Sonny Bono
• Chespirito, (born 1929), writer, actor, comedian, and songwriter
• Christ, the Christian Messiah
• Cicciolina, (born 1951), radical left-wing politician and former porn star
• Cleopatra, (69 BC-30 BC), Egyptian queen
• Cochise, (died 1874)
• Colette, (1873-1954), French writer
• Cristina, (born 1948), journalist, talk show host and actress

D

• Dalida, (1933-1987), Egyptia/French singer
• Dana - singer
• D'Angelo, (born 1974), American nu soul singer
• Dante, (1265-1321), Italian writer, best known for The Inferno
• Diana, (1961-1997), Princess of the United Kingdom
• Dido, (born 1971), British singer
• Dion, (born 1939), American rocker
• Divine, (1945-1988), noted transvestite, appeared in films by John Hughes
• Donatello, (1386-1466), (nickname) - Italian sculptor
• Donovan, (born 1946), British singer
• Dugazon, (1746-1809), French actor

E

• Elvira- American horror actress
• Elvis, (1935-1977), American rockabilly singer
• Eminem, (born 1972), American rapper
• Emme, supermodel
• Enya, (born 1961), Irish New Age musician
• Evita, (1919-1952), Argentinian political figure

F

• Fabian - teen idol
• Fabio - model
• Falco, (1957-1998), Austrian rock musician
• Fernandel, (1903-1971), French actor
• Fidel, (born 1926), Cuban leader
• Fish, (born 1958), singer
• Flea - bassist for American funk metal band the Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Frida, (1907-1954), Mexican painter

G

• Galileo, (1564-1642), astronomer
• Gazza - English football player
• Geraldo, (born 1943), talk show host
• Geronimo, (1829-1909), Native American leader
• Giorgione, (c. 1477-1510), Venetian artist
• Giotto, (1267-1337), Italian painter
• Guru - American rapper
• Gwrgi

H

• Hannibal, (247 BC - 182 BC)
• Hatshepsut, (c. 1504 BC - 1458 BC), female Pharaoh of Egypt
• Herge, (1907-1983), Belgian comics writer and artist
• Hippocrates, (c. 460 BC - 377 BC), Ancient [[Greece|Greek] physician
• Hirohito, (1901-1989), emperor of Japan from 1926 till 1989
• Homer - Greek poet
• Houdini, (1874-1926), stage magician

I

• Ike, (1890-1969), President of the United States
• Iman, (born 1955), model, wife of David Bowie
• Imhotep - architect in ancient Egypt

J

• Jandek - underground musician
• Jesus, The Christian Messiah
• Jewel, (born 1974), Amerian singer
• Jordan - model
• Joseph - Jesus Christ's "father"
• Josephus, (AD 37-AD 100), historian
• Judas, one of Jesus Christ's disciples, betrayed him

K

• Kamehameha, (1758-1819), final Hawaiian king
• Karadjordje, (1768-1817) leader of First Serbian uprising
• Khoriv, one of founders of Kiev
• Kiki, (1901-1953), nightclub singer, actress, model, and painter
• Kitaro, (1953-), Japanese New Age musician
• Kiy, one of founders of Kiev
• Kool - singer

L

• Leadbelly, (1885-1949), American blues musician
• Lemmy, (born 1945), English bass player
• Lenin, (1870-1924), (a pseudonym) - Soviet politican
• Liberace, (1919-1987), Pianist in Las Vegas
• Lichfield, (1939-)
• Limahl - singer
• Lofon
• Loriot, (born 1923)
• Lucero, Mexican singer, formely known as Lucerito
• Lulu, (born 1948), Scottish singer

M

• Madonna, (born 1958), American pop star
• Magic - American basketball player
• Marcos
• Mary - Jesus Christ's mother
• Mase, (born 1978), American rapper
• Megawati, current President of Indonesia
• Melanie, American singer
• Melody, Spanish singer
• Merlin - legendary magicianian
• Michelangelo, (1475-1564), Italian painter
• Midas - Greek mythological king
• Mistinguett, (1875-1956), French singer
• Moby, (born 1965), musician
• Mohammed, (570-632), founder of Islam
• Moliere, (1622-1673), French comedic playwright
• Montezuma - final Aztec ruler
• Moses, prophet
• Multatuli (pseudonym)
• Myron, (5th century BC), Greek sculptor
• Mystikal, (born 1975), American rapper

N

• Napoleon, (1769-1821), French ruler
• Nas, (born 1973), American rapper
• Nebuchadnezzar, (ca. 630 BC-ca. 561 BC)
• Nefertiti - wife of Akhenaton
• Nena German singer of "99 Red Balloons"
• Nero - Roman emperor
• Nico, (1938-1988), model and singer
• Nostradamus, (1503-1566), French prophet
• Novalis, (1772-1801), German poet and novelist

O

• Oprah, (born 1954), American talk show host
• Osama, (born 1957)
• Otto, (born 1948)
• Ouida, (1839-1908), English novelist
• Ovid, (43 BC-17 AD), Roman poet

P

• Papillon
• Pascin, (1885-1930), painter
• Paul, disciple
• Pelé, (born 1940), soccer star
• Plato, (c. 427 BC-c. 347 BC), Greek philosopher
• Pocahontas, (c. 1595-1617), Native American woman
• Pras, (born 1972), American rapper, member of The Fugees
• Prince, (born 1958), American soul musician
• Pythagoras, (582 BC-496 BC), Greek mathematican

R

• Raphael, (1483-1520), Italian painter
• Raphael, Spanish singer
• Raúl (born 1977), Spanish football player
• Rembrandt, (1606-1669), Dutch painter
• Resortes
• Romario, soccer player
• Ronaldinho
• Ronaldo, (born 1976)
• Roseanne - American actress and comedian
• Rosie, (born 1962), American actress, comedian and talk show host
• RuPaul, (born 1960), American drag queen and talk show host

S

• Sabrina - American actress
• Sacagawea - Native American guide
• Saddam, (born 1937)
• Sade - singer
• Saki, (born 1870), author
• Saladin, (1137-1193), Arab defender during the Crusades
• Samy - famous TV hair-dresser
• Sappho - Greek poet
• Satchmo, (1901-1971), American blues musician, better known as Louis Armstrong
• Savannah, (1970-1994), American pornographic actress
• Scarface - American rapper and former member of the Geto Boys
• Shcheck, one of founders of Kiev
• Seal - British R&B singer
• Seka, (born 1954), Porn star
• Shaq, (born 1972), American basketball player
• Sissy - model
• Skin, British singer
• Socrates, (470 BC-399 BC), Greek philosopher
• Solomon, (965 BC-ca. 925 BC), Biblical king
• Sonique, British DJ / singer
• Sophocles, (496 BC-406 BC), Athenian dramatist
• Spartacus, (died 71 BC), leader of a Roman slave rebellion
• Stalin, (1879-1953), (a pseudonym) - Soviet leader
• Stendhal, (1783-1842)
• Sting - British musician, formerly of The Police
• Suharto - second President of independent Indonesia (born 1921)
• Sukarno - first President of independent Indonesia (1901-1970)

T

• Taco, Indonesian singer of "Puttin' on the Ritz")
• Takaloo, world ranked boxer
• Taliesin
• Tarkan, (born 1972), Turkish singer
• Tecumseh, (1768-1813)
• Teller, (born 1948), of stage magic duo Penn and Teller
• Tiffany, (born 1971), American teen idol
• Tiger, (born 1975), American golf player
• Titian, (1488-1576), artist
• Tito, (1892-1980)
• Topol, (born 1935)
• Toyah, (born 1958)
• Trey - American singer, member of Phish
• Truganini
• Tupac, (1971-1996), American rapper
• Tutankhamun
• Twiggy, (born 1949)

V

• Vangelis, (born 1949)
• Vergil, (70-19 BC), Roman poet
• Voltaire, (1694-1778), (pen name) - French writer

W

• Weegee
• Whoopi (born 1955), American actress

Y

• Yanni, (born 1954)
• Yaz, (born 1939)
• Yuri, (1964-)

Z

• Zara - Turkish folk singer
• Zizou, (born 1972)
• Zmaj, Serb poet
• Zoroaster - Persian founder of Zoroastrianism

See also

• Lists of people
• List of Biblical names
• List of pseudonyms
• List of people known as The Great
• List of people known by initials
• List of fictional people known by one name