Cher. Beyoncé. Björk. Madonna. All these pop culture icons share one similarity in going by a single name. Even artists like Britney Spears and Janet Jackson are recognizable on a first-name basis, and the latest pop princess adopting a mononym is none other than “Headphones On” performer, Addison Rae.
During her May 2025 cover interview with ELLE, the former TikTok star revealed that she’s going through a name change in this next chapter of her skyrocketing career. “I feel like I’ve surpassed Addison Rae,” she told the outlet, declaring, “It’s just Addison now.”
As she enters her mononym era with the release of her debut album, Addison, on June 6, the description of an exclusive light blue vinyl on her official website doubles down on her dropping “Rae” from her stage name. Not only is the project referred to as “the first and last album by Addison Rae,” but the hitmaker is also referred to by her first name as it “was written and produced by Addison, Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjärd.”
Of course, the move stirred up mixed reactions from fans across social media—and the stans (formerly?) known as Sunraes have spoken their truth.
“When the ‘first and last album by addison rae’ description means that she’s dropping the last name and officially becoming a mononym like her fellow 24-year-old pop savant madonna,” one fan on X wrote, comparing Addison to her pop predecessor.
Another added that her name change was a way for the star to move away from her TikTok persona, saying, “Addison changing her artist name to just Addison makes so much sense. There’s so many artists with Rae in their name atm. It helps seperate herself not only from her peers but also her TikTok personality, which people refuse to let go of.”
Other fans feel that the mononym isn’t as impactful and that “Rae” adds a nice ring to her stage name.
“Addison rae potentially making her stage name as just addison is….interesting!” one critic wrote, adding, “her name doesn’t have the same zing other celebrities and singers specifically have when they use mononyms. addison doesn’t hit the same as madonna, beyonce, or zendaya.”
Someone else chimed in, saying that Addison dropping “Rae” is “self-sabotage.” “Like the name Addison RAE is already synonymous with names like Britney Spears and Micheal Jackson,” they wrote, in part.
Whether she goes by Addison or Addison Rae, one thing’s for sure: the girl has dropped some of the best pop music of the past decade, and we will be seated for her highly anticipated debut.
