Miley Cyrus Fans Are Shocked to Discover Her Real Name Isn’t What They Thought

Many fans are surprised to learn that Miley Cyrus is not the name she was given at birth. The singer, who became famous through Hannah Montana and later built a huge music career, was actually named Destiny Hope Cyrus.

This detail recently came back into the spotlight after her mother, Tish Cyrus, talked about it on the Raven and Miranda Podcast. During the conversation, Tish explained how the name Miley came to be.

According to her, it started as a childhood nickname. She said her daughter smiled all the time as a baby, which led to the family calling her “Smiley.” That later turned into Miley. Tish shared that Billy Ray Cyrus came up with it, saying “She always smiled when she was little, so we would call her Smiley Miley, and it just stuck.”

Miley clearly grew attached to the nickname over the years. In 2008, she officially changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus, making it her legal name and not just a stage identity.

During the same podcast episode, Tish also opened up about how she chose names for Miley’s sisters. She said she fell in love with the name Noah after hearing it used for a girl many years ago. She explained, “I remember seeing a girl called Noah Kelly, and I loved it.” As for Brandi, Tish revealed her name was inspired by an ’80s music video character she admired at the time.

After clips from the podcast spread online, fans quickly reacted. Many admitted they had no idea Miley’s real name was Destiny Hope. Others praised Tish for picking unique names and shared how much they enjoyed hearing the family stories behind them.

This is a fun reminder that many stars build identities over time, just like anyone else. Miley growing into a name that started as a family nickname feels very natural and personal. What do you think about Miley’s real name and its story? Did you already know this, or were you surprised too? Share your thoughts in the comments.