14 Celebrity Names You're Probably Pronouncing Wrong—Find Out How to Say Them Right!

We've all been there—trying to pronounce the names of our favorite celebrities but feeling unsure if we're getting it right. With so many unique and exotic names in Hollywood, it's easy to slip up. From actors and musicians to sports stars, here’s a guide to 14 celebrity names you might be mispronouncing and how to say them correctly.

1. Gyllenhaal (Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal)
How You Might Say It: "Jill-en-haul"
How to Pronounce It: "JILL-en-hall"
Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal's last name is often a stumbling block. Emphasize the first syllable and soften the "a" in the second syllable.

2. Rihanna
How You Might Say It: "Ree-ah-na"
How to Pronounce It: "Ree-AN-na"
The Barbadian singer's name is often mispronounced with an emphasis on the wrong syllable. The correct pronunciation stresses the second syllable.

3. Chiwetel Ejiofor
How You Might Say It: "Chee-wet-el Ed-juh-for"
How to Pronounce It: "Chee-wuh-TELL EDGE-ee-oh-for"
The British-Nigerian actor's name can be challenging. Break it down into distinct syllables for accuracy.

4. Saoirse Ronan
How You Might Say It: "Sersha Ro-nan"
How to Pronounce It: "SUR-sha ROH-nan"
The Irish actress’s name is often pronounced incorrectly. The correct pronunciation has a soft "S" sound and stresses the first syllable.

5. Zayn Malik
How You Might Say It: "Zane Mall-ik"
How to Pronounce It: "ZAYN MAL-ik"
The former One Direction member’s name is straightforward if you emphasize the correct syllables.

6. Yara Shahidi
How You Might Say It: "Yara Sha-hee-dee"
How to Pronounce It: "YAH-rah sha-HEE-dee"
The "Black-ish" actress’s name should be pronounced with a soft "a" in the first syllable and emphasis on the second syllable of the last name.

7. Mahershala Ali
How You Might Say It: "Mah-her-sha Ali"
How to Pronounce It: "Mah-HER-sha AH-lee"
The Oscar-winning actor’s name features a unique rhythm, with emphasis on the second syllable of the first name and a soft "l" sound in the last name.

8. Anya Taylor-Joy
How You Might Say It: "Anya Taylor-Joy" (correctly, but often mispronounced as "Tay-lor" instead of "Tay-lor"
How to Pronounce It: "AHN-ya TAY-lor-JOY"
Make sure to pronounce the "Taylor" part with the correct emphasis on the "TAY" syllable.

9. Gugu Mbatha-Raw
How You Might Say It: "Goo-goo Mbah-tah-Raw"
How to Pronounce It: "GOO-goo em-BAH-tah RAW"
The British actress’s name is often tricky. Stress the "GOO" and "RAW" while keeping the middle syllables softer.

10. Gwendoline Christie
How You Might Say It: "Gwen-doh-lin Chris-tee"
How to Pronounce It: "GWEN-do-lin KRIS-tee"
The "Game of Thrones" star's name is often misspoken with an incorrect emphasis on the syllables.

11. Joaquin Phoenix
How You Might Say It: "Joa-keen Fye-nix"
How to Pronounce It: "Wah-KEEN FEE-nix"
The actor's first name should be pronounced with a "W" sound at the beginning and stress on the second syllable.

12. Keira Knightley
How You Might Say It: "Keera Knight-ley"
How to Pronounce It: "KEE-rah NIGHT-lee"
The British actress’s name is often mispronounced with a soft "i" instead of the strong "EE" sound.

13. Lupita Nyong'o
How You Might Say It: "Loo-pee-ta Nyon-go"
How to Pronounce It: "Loo-PEE-tah nyong-OH"
The Kenyan actress’s name is pronounced with emphasis on the "PEE" in Lupita and "O" in Nyong’o.

14. Daniel Kaluuya
How You Might Say It: "Daniel Kah-loo-yah"
How to Pronounce It: "DAN-yel kah-LOO-yah"
The British actor’s name should emphasize the second syllable of the last name with a soft "y" sound.

Conclusion
Getting celebrity names right may seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference in how we discuss and appreciate their work. Next time you’re talking about these stars, use the correct pronunciations to show your respect and attention to detail. With these tips, you’ll be saying their names like a pro in no time!