Will Ferrell is a pro at making anyone crack up, but there’s one thing he has trouble finding the humor in: his real first name.
The comedian recently opened up about how “excruciating” it was to constantly ask people to refer to him as Will growing up.
According to Ferrell, the first day of a new school year was always the worst because of this.
“This is a minor thing in terms of—it’s not really even trauma—but I remember feeling so embarrassed because my real name is John. John William Ferrell,” the actor said on the July 9 episode of the MeSsy podcast, hosted by his *Anchorman* co-star Christina Applegate.
“So first day of school, I’d be John. The teacher would be like ‘John Ferrell?’ and it was so embarrassing to me to have to say ‘Here, but I go by Will, I don’t go by John.’”
Ferrell said correcting his teachers always felt “excruciating,” even if he couldn’t fully explain why.
“I don’t know why that was so embarrassing to me to have to explain ‘I’m actually Will,’” he said.
“It wasn’t my choice. My parents named [me] John but they called me Will. I grew up as Will, but on a rule sheet, my legal name is John Ferrell.”
This isn’t the first time Ferrell has spoken about his rarely-used first name.
During an appearance on *The Late Late Show with James Corden* in 2020, Ferrell revealed his legal name and the nickname his dad gave him.
“John William Ferrell, that’s what’s on the passport. My dad on occasion will call me J.W.,” Ferrell said.
“My parents tried to call me Willy, but they said I was too distinguished, so I just became a Will.”
Ferrell is far from the only celebrity to go by something other than their given first name.
Reese Witherspoon recently spoke about how her legal name can sometimes cause confusion on sets.
Emma Stone has been trying to get people to start referring to her by her given name more in the last year.
But why did the name John feel so “excruciating” for Ferrell?
To understand this, let’s delve into the backstory of one of Hollywood’s most beloved comedians.
Born on July 16, 1967, in Irvine, California, Will Ferrell’s full name is John William Ferrell.
His father, Roy Lee Ferrell, was a musician with The Righteous Brothers, and his mother, Betty Kay Overman, was a teacher.
Growing up in the spotlight of his father’s musical career, young Ferrell was constantly surrounded by creativity and performance.
Despite this, his early years were marked by a sense of normalcy, with the family living in a suburban neighborhood and Will attending local schools.
It was during these formative years that the name “Will” took hold.
Though the film was largely praised, it was not devoid of criticism.
His parents had named him John William, but almost immediately, they began calling him Will to distinguish him from his father, who sometimes went by Bill.
This casual decision by his parents would follow Ferrell throughout his life, creating an unusual split between his legal and preferred names.
In school, every new teacher would call out “John Ferrell,” leading to the inevitable correction: “I go by Will.”
This seemingly minor correction became a point of significant embarrassment for the young Ferrell.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why this bothered him so much, but for a young child, the need to constantly explain his name felt like an unnecessary spotlight.
Ferrell’s comedic talents began to emerge in high school, where he was known for his pranks and humorous assemblies.
He went on to attend the University of Southern California, where he studied sports broadcasting and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
Post-college, Ferrell joined the Los Angeles comedy group The Groundlings, where he honed his craft and eventually caught the eye of *Saturday Night Live* producers.
His rise to fame on *SNL* in the mid-1990s cemented his place as a comedic powerhouse.
Yet, even as he gained international fame, the name “John” remained a peculiar footnote in his life.
The divide between “John” and “Will” highlights the often unnoticed but deeply personal aspects of identity and fame.
Many celebrities adopt stage names or nicknames, but Ferrell’s case is unique because it was imposed on him from birth.
This blend of personal history and public persona makes Ferrell’s story particularly intriguing.
Today, Will Ferrell is known worldwide for his iconic roles in films like *Elf*, *Anchorman*, and *Step Brothers*.
But the story of John William Ferrell offers a glimpse into the human side of a man who has made a career out of making others laugh.
It shows that even the funniest people have their own insecurities and struggles.
Perhaps that’s what makes Ferrell so relatable and beloved by fans.
His willingness to share these small, personal stories adds depth to his public image.
So next time you laugh at one of his jokes, remember the boy who cringed every time a teacher called out “John.”
Will Ferrell’s journey from John to Will is a testament to the power of names and the significance they hold in our lives.
It’s a reminder that behind every celebrity, there’s a real person with real stories to tell.
And sometimes, those stories are just as compelling as the ones they tell on screen.
So, here’s to John William Ferrell, the man we all know and love as Will, who continues to bring joy and laughter to the world, one name at a time.