Mononymity 1 - Known by One Name Quiz

Answer: Paul David Hewson

Paul David Hewson (born 1960), known as Bono, is an Irish musician, songwriter, and singer with the band U2. His nickname is derived from the name of an Irish hearing aid store, Bonavox (which is Latin for "good voice").

Answer: Giovanni Antonio Canal

Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768), known as Canaletto, was an Italian artist famous for his paintings of scenery, particularly of Italy and England. He lived in England from 1746 to 1756 where his works were very popular. How he came to be known as Canaletto is not known, but it is believed that it may have been to distinguish him from his father, Bernardo Canal, who was also a painter.

Answer: Josip Broz

Josip Broz (1892-1980), known as Tito, was the prime minister of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1963. While serving as prime minister, he was elected president in 1953, and then made president for life in 1974. He served until his death in 1980. According to Broz, he took the name Tito because it was "common in Zagorje (the region where he was born) and had no special meaning".

Answer: Marshall Bruce Mathers III

The rapper and hip-hop artist known as Eminem was born in 1972 as Marshall Bruce Mathers III. The name Eminem is a "word play" on his initials - M and M. He also uses other names, including Slim Shady.

Answer: Erik Weiss

Erik Weiss (1874-1926), known as Harry Houdini or just Houdini, was a magician/illusionist who was famous for his daring escape routines. He chose his name Houdini as a tribute to the French magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin. His grave marker identifies him simply as "Houdini" and not by his birth name.

Answer: Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie

Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, known professionally as Lulu, was born in Scotland in 1948. She has had a very successful career as a singer, actress and television personality in the U.K. Some of her hit songs included "To Sir With Love" (from the 1967 movie of the same name, in which she starred alongside Sidney Poitier), and "The Man With the Golden Gun" (from the 1974 James Bond movie of the same name).

She won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969 with "Boom Bang-a-Bang". Marion Massey, who was later to become Lulu's manager, bestowed the name Lulu upon her at the age of 14 because she was "a real lulu of a kid".

Answer: Edson Arantes Nascimento

Edson Arantes Nascimento (born 1940), known as Pelé, was a professional football (soccer) player from Brazil. His sporting records and awards are too numerous to detail here. In 2013, the Guinness Book of World Records listed him as holding two world records for Most Career Goals (1,283) and Most World Cup Winners Medals (3). Allegedly, he received the nickname Pelé during his school days because of his mispronunciation of the name Bilé (his favourite soccer player).

Answer: Alecia Beth Moore

Alecia Beth Moore (born 1979), known professionally as Pink (written as P!nk), is an American singer and songwriter. Her name was derived from "Mr Pink", a character in Quentin Tarantino's movie "Reservoir Dogs" (1992).

Answer: Lesley Hornby

Lesley Hornby (born 1949), known as Twiggy, found fame as a model in England in the 1960s and later branched out into singing and acting. Her nickname was derived from her very thin figure. In the 2019 New Years Honours list, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her services to fashion, charity and the arts.

Answer: Francois-Marie Arouet

Francois-Marie Arouet (1694-1778), known as Voltaire, was a French writer, philosopher and historian. There are many theories about the origin of the name Voltaire, but the bottom line is that we really don't know where it came from. His best known work is probably the satirical novel, "Candide" (1759).