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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 (Babyface)
- 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 by their last name (e.g. Mozart, Shakespeare, Hitler, etc.). 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). See List of fictional people known by one name for a list of such people.
Note also that most names in the list will be unusual since common names are likely to be ambiguous and to need a context.
See also
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A
- Aaliyah (Haughton), (1979-2001), American R&B singer
- Aaron, (born c. 1926), leader of the "MITA" religion.
- Abati, (1512-1571), fresco-painter of Modena
- Abigail, Australian television actress
- Abraham, (c. 1980-1890 BC), Biblical patriarch
- Absalon, (c. 1128-1201), Danish archbishop and statesman
- Adalita , lead singer of Australian indie rock band Magic Dirt.
- Akhenaton - Egyptian Pharaoh and founder of a brief monotheistic religion
- Akihito, (born 1933), current Emperor of Japan
- Amare, (born 1982), American basketball player
- Anastacia (Newkirk)
- Aneirin, (6th/7th century), British poet
- Ansgar, (801-865), missionary, archbishop
- Archimedes, (ca. 287-212 BC), Ancient Greek mathemtician
- Aristophanes, (ca. 446-385 BC), Ancient Greek playwright
- Aristotle, (384-322 BC), Ancient Greek writer and philosopher
- Arkan, (1952-2000) Serbian paramilitary leader
- Arletty, (1898-1992), French model and actress
- Arsenio, (born 1955), American talk show host
- Ashanti (Douglas), African-American singer
- Attila, (c. 406-453), Hun leader
- Augustus, (62 BC-AD 14), Roman emperor
- Aurobindo, (1872-1950,) Indian writer, philosopher, mystic and guru.
B
- Babyface (born 1958), African American music producer and singer
- Barbara (1930-1997), French singer
- Barnsey, Australian singer
- Bam (born 1979), pro skater, troublemaker
- Basho, (1644-1694), haiku poet
- Basia, (born 1954), Polish singer
- Bebeto, Brazilian Football player
- Beck (Hansen), musician
- Becks, British football player
- Berio (born 1981), Brazilian-Italian Film Director, Poet, Music Producer
- Beyoncé, singer, formerly known as Beyoncé Knowles
- Bez - dancer for the Happy Mondays
- Björk (Guðmundsdóttir), (born 1965), Icelandic musician
- Bird, (1920-1955), jazz musician
- Bix, (1903-1931) jazz musician
- Bono, (born 1960), lead singer of Irish rock band U2
- Bootsy, (born 1951), American funk musician
- Bourvil (1917-1970), French actor
- Boz, (1812-1870), British writer more commonly known as Charles Dickens
- Brandy, African-American singer and actress
- Brassaï (1899–1984), Parisian photographer
- Buju, (born 1973), Jamaican singer
- Butterbean - boxer
C
- Caesar, (c. 100-44 BC), common form of reference to Julius Caesar
- Caligula, (12-41), Roman emperor
- Cam'ron (Cameron Giles) - American rapper
- Cajeme, rebel
- Campino , lead singer of German punk rock band Die Toten Hosen
- 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
- César (1921-1998), French sculptor
- Charlemagne, (742-814), Frankish 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 (Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPière), (born 1946), American singer, former wife of Sonny Bono
- Chespirito, (born 1929), writer, actor, comedian, and songwriter
- Christo, (born 1935), Bulgarian-born American environmental artist
- Cicero, (106-43 BC), Roman statesman and orator
- Cicciolina, (born 1951), radical left-wing politician and former porn star
- Cleopatra, (69-30 BC), Egyptian queen
- Cochise, (died 1874)
- Colette, (1873-1954), French writer
- Coluche, (1944-1986), French comedian
- Coolio, rapper
- Cosima, (born 1976), Australian singer
- Cristina, (born 1948), journalist, talk show host and actress
D
- Dalida (1933-1987), Egyptian/French singer
- Damia (1889-1978), French singer
- Dana - singer
- D'Angelo (born 1974), American nu soul singer
- Dante, (1265-1321), Italian writer, best known for The Inferno
- Darius
- Des'ree (Weeks) (born c. 1969), British singer
- Dido (born 1971), British singer
- Dion (born 1939), American rocker
- Divine, (1945-1988), noted transvestite, appeared in films by John Waters
- Donatello, (1386-1466), (nickname) - Italian sculptor
- Donovan, (born 1946), British singer
- Dubya, (born 1946), President of the United States
- Dugazon, (1746-1809), French actor
E
- Elvira, American horror actress
- Elvis, (1935-1977), American singer
- Elvis, (born 1954), Rocker
- Eminem, (born 1972), American rapper
- Emme, supermodel
- Enya, (born 1961), Irish New Age musician
- Erasmus, (c. 1466-1536), theologian
- Eugene, WWE wrestling character
- Evita, (1919-1952), Argentinian political figure
- Eve (Eve Jihan Jeffers), rapper
F
- Fabian - teen idol
- Fabio - model
- Falco, (1957-1998), Austrian rock musician
- Fantasia - American Idol
- 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
- Gackt, Japanese singer
- Galileo, (1564-1642), astronomer
- Gallagher, US comedian from double act Gallagher and Shean
- Gallagher, US comedian
- Gazza - English football player
- Georgious (1891-1970), French singer
- Geraldo, (born 1943), talk show host
- Geronimo, (1829-1909), Native American leader
- Gia, (1960-1986) US Fashion Model
- Gisele, International Supermodel
- Giorgione, (c. 1477-1510), Venetian artist
- Giotto, (1267-1337), Italian painter
- Glenn (1957-) full legal name of USA Artist, Sculptor, Clown Bongo, Bongo the Clown
- Gribouille (1941-1968), French singer
- Gudit, (c. 960 AD), non-Christian queen
- Guru - American rapper
H
- Hannibal, (247-182 BC)
- Hatshepsut, (c. 1504-1458 BC), female Pharaoh of Egypt
- Hergé, (1907-1983), Belgian comics writer and artist
- Hildegarde (born 1906), American cabaret singer
- Hippocrates, (c. 460-377 BC), Ancient Greek physician
- Hirohito, (1901-1989), emperor of Japan from 1926 till 1989
- Homer - Greek poet
- Houdini, (1874-1926), stage magician
I
J
K
- Kafka (Franz), (1833-1924), Czech writer
- Kamehameha, (1758-1819), final Hawaiian king
- Karadjordje, (1768-1817) leader of First Serbian uprising
- Kamahl, singer
- Kelis (Rogers), American rapper
- Khoriv , one of founders of Kiev
- Kiki, (1901-1953), nightclub singer, actress, model, and painter
- Kitaro, (born 1953), Japanese New Age musician
- Kiy , one of founders of Kiev
- Kool - singer
- Kylie - singer, actress
L
- Leadbelly, (1885-1949), American blues musician
- LeBron, NBA basketball player
- Lekain, French actor
- Lemmy, (born 1945), English bass player
- Lenin, (1870-1924), (a pseudonym) - Soviet politician
- Liberace, (1919-1987), Pianist in Las Vegas
- Limahl, singer
- Loriot, (born 1923)
- Lucebert , Dutch painter and poet
- Ludacris, rapper
- Lucero , Mexican singer, formerly known as Lucerito
- Lula, (born 1945), President of Brazil
- Lulu, (born 1948), Scottish singer
- Lunna. Puerto Rican singer
M
- Madiba, tribal honorific commonly used in South Africa to refer to Nelson Mandela
- Madonna, (born 1958), American pop star
- Magic - American basketball player
- Marcos
- Maimonides - rabbi, philosopher, physician
- Masayuki , (born 1961) Japanese animator who is a senior staff member at the anime studio Gainax
- Mase, (born 1978), American rapper
- Matrix, (born 1978), American basketball player
- Matthew (Japanese TV) , Japanese variety show host and comic, best known outside of Japan for his guest appearance in Lost in Translation
- Megawati, former President of Indonesia, daughter of first Indonesian president Sukarno
- Melanie, American singer
- 'Melo, NBA basketball player (nickname for Carmelo Anthony)
- Melody, Spanish singer
- Michelangelo, (1475-1564), Italian painter
- Mireille (1906-1996), French singer/songwriter
- Mistinguett, (1875-1956), French singer
- Mitsou, Quebec pop singer
- Moby, (born 1965), musician
- Mohammed, (570-632), founder of Islam
- Molière, (1622-1673), French comedic playwright
- Montezuma - final Aztec ruler
- Monty (1887-1976), British Field Marshal
- Morrissey - singer, formerly of the band The Smiths, also known as Moz
- Moses, prophet
- Multatuli (1820-1887), (pseudonym of Dutch writer Eduard Douwes Dekker)
- Mumia (born 1954), journalist, political activist, and cause célèbre
- Mya, singer
- Myron, (5th century BC), Greek sculptor
- Mystikal, (born 1975), American rapper
N
- Nadar (1820–1910), French photographer
- Najee, smooth jazz musician
- Napoleon, (1769-1821), French ruler
- Nas, (born 1973), American rapper
- Nebuchadnezzar, (c. 630-c. 561 BC)
- Nefertiti, wife of Akhenaton
- Nena, German singer of "99 Red Balloons"
- Nenê, (born 1982), Brazilian NBA player
- Nero, Roman emperor
- Nico, (1938-1988), model and singer
- Nitty, American rap/hip-hop artist
- Nigger , Australian Rugby League player
- Nostradamus, (1503-1566), French prophet
- Novalis, (1772-1801), German poet and novelist
O
P
- Paganini, famous violinist
- Papillon
- Pascin, (1885-1930), painter
- Philo, ancient philosopher
- Peja, (born 1977) small forward on the Sacramento Kings
- Pelé, (born 1940), soccer star
- Penn, (born 1955), of stage magic duo Penn and Teller
- Phranc, American singer songwriter
- Pink, (born 1979), American singer songwriter
- Pitof, French film director
- Plato, (c. 427-c. 347 BC), Greek philosopher
- Pocahontas, (c. 1595-1617), Native American woman
- Posh, former Spice Girl and consort of Becks
- Pras, (born 1972), American rapper, member of The Fugees
- Prince, (born 1958), American soul musician
- Pythagoras, (582-496 BC), Greek mathematican
R
- Raphael or Raffaello, 1483-1520, Renaissance painter
- Raúl (born 1977), Spanish football player
- Rembrandt, (1606-1669), Dutch painter
- Romario, soccer player
- Ronaldinho, soccer player
- Ronaldo, (born 1976)
- Roseanne - American actress and comedian
- 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 by his real name of Louis Armstrong
- Savannah, (1970-1994), American pornographic actress
- Scarface, American rapper and former member of the Geto Boys
- Scribe, New Zealand rapper
- Seal, (born 1963), British R&B singer
- Seka, (born 1954), Porn star
- Shakira, singer
- Shaq, (born 1972), American basketball player
- Shcheck , one of founders of Kiev
- Sinbad, American actor, comedian (born 1956).
- Sissy, model
- Skin , British singer
- Slobo, Serbian president (also Sloba)
- Snakefinger (1949-1987) musician
- Socrates, (470-399 BC), Greek philosopher
- Solomon, (c. 965-c. 925 BC), Biblical king
- Solomon, (1902-1988), British pianist
- Sonique, British DJ / singer
- Sophocles, (496-406 BC), Athenian dramatist
- Spartacus, (died 71 BC), leader of a Roman slave rebellion
- Stelarc , performance artist
- Stendhal, (1783-1842)
- Sting, (born 1951), 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
- Taroko, (born 1960), Japan voice actress (seiyu)
- Tarkan, (born 1972), Turkish singer
- Tecumseh, (1768-1813)
- Teller (born 1948), of 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
- Trugannini, last Tasmanian Aborigine
- Tupac (or 2pac) (1971-1996), American rapper
- Tutankhamun, Egyptian Pharaoh
- Twiggy, (born 1949)
V
- Vangelis, (born 1949), composer, musician
- Varro (disambiguation)
- Vergil, (70-19 BC), Roman poet
- Voltaire, (1694-1778), (pen name) - French writer
- Voxx , (born 1977), - Italian/Scot-Irish World-renowned American Psychic; Singer; Composer; Poet
W
X
- Xuxa (born 1963), Brazilian television actress and singer
Y
Z
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