K-pop idols either choose their stage name or their company provides them one. But choosing a professional name wasn't easy for some artists as they had different stage name options, and it's important that they choose the one that will make them stand out.
Here are 11 K-pop stars who all ended up using their current stage or birth names - but they all had other potential stage names before debuting.
11 K-pop Idols Who Nearly Debuted With Different Stage Name
1. aespa Karina
"Karina" is known to derive from her baptism name "Katarina." But before she settled with this stage name, aespa Karina said that she almost debuted under the name "Baekseol" (Snow White), then "Jasmine" (name of a Disney princess), or "Woo Ah."
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In the end, Karina was unsatisfied with the names that the agency gave her, so she decided to use her baptism name Karina as her stage name.
2. BTS Jungkook
While BTS's "golden maknae" Jungkook debuted under his legal name, he had "Seagull" or "Justin Seagull" as his potential stage names when he was still a trainee. This stage name came from the fact that the male idol's hometown is Busan, Korea - a place well-known for the seagulls flying freely above the city's gorgeous beaches.
3. IU
The stage name "IU" has been a popular name in the K-pop scene for a long time not only because it's easy to pronounce and remember but it also gives a sense of closeness (I + U). However, IU almost debuted with the stage name Jiheun, which came from the term "Jiwuhjin Heunjeok" which means "deleted traces." This stage name was eventually turned down for being too hard to pronounce.
4. BTS V
Another BTS member on our list is the "SNS King" Kim Taehyung, who is professionally known as V. Apart from the stage name "V," the male idol had two other potential stage names, and they were "Six" and "Lex." During the selection, his label and bandmates helped him choose, and he ultimately picked "V" as it stands for "victory."
READ MORE: 6 K-pop Groups That Changed Their Name
5. EXO Sehun
Besides the youngest BTS member, the maknae of EXO almost debuted under a stage name rather than his birth name, which is Sehun. SM Entertainment initially planned to make him use the stage name "Seoul" (to be pronounced as Se Wool), which was suggested by Lee Soo Man. But the company staff was against it as the name overlaps with the city of Seoul.
6. Kim Chungha
In contrast to what many fans know, Chungha is actually the female idol's stage name as her birth name is Chanmi. Prior to her debut, she had several names lined up for her stage name besides Chungha, such as "Ji An," "Seo An," and "Se Ri." But the singer prefers to include "Ch" in her stage name so she ultimately went for "Chungha," which means "calling for summer."
7. EXO Baekhyun
Another EXO member joining the list is Baekhyun, who currently uses his birth name. When preparing to debut, he was given the stage name "Uto." Lee Soo Man even suggested that EXO Baekhyun will go by the stage name "Gwanwoo."
8. EXO Chanyeol
The interesting reason why Baekhyun almost debuted under the stage name "Uto" involves his bandmate Chanyeol. It turned out that Chanyeol was supposed to debut under the stage name "Pia." So that when their stage names are combined, it will form the word "Utopia."
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9. Former GFRIEND Sowon
Like IU and Chungha, the former GFRIEND member was also just using a stage name ("Sowon") for her activities. Her real name is Sojung, and her original professional name was "P.B" (Perfect Beauty) or F.B (Fine Beauty). However, Sojung refused to use those for being in English, as opposed to her bandmates' stage names being in Korean.
10-11. HyunA and Sunmi
When they were about to debut in JYP Entertainment's first girl group, Wonder Girls, HyunA and Sunmi were given stage names that are quite far from their current ones. How far you may ask? Well, they almost debuted under some tasty stage names. While HyunA was supposed to be Mint, Sunmi was Berry.
These are just some of the many K-pop idols who had other potential stage names besides their current one. If you know any other artists, name them in the comments section below!
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Written by Maria Scott
