Kanye West name change: what new name Ye means, what is his real name, and is he married to Kim Kardashian?

The rapper had applied to legally change his name in August earlier this year
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The artist formerly known as Kanye West has officially changed his name following a successful legal application that was filed in August this year.

This is everything you need to know.

What did he change his name to?

West has officially changed his name to Ye following a formal request to have it changed back in August. His application was approved by LA Superior Court Judge Michelle Williams.

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It’s not just his first name that he’s changed - it’s his whole name. His full name, Kanye Omari West, has been changed to the two letter moniker.

It has been revealed that the rapper has officially changed his name (Photo: PA)It has been revealed that the rapper has officially changed his name (Photo: PA)
It has been revealed that the rapper has officially changed his name (Photo: PA)

The rapper had cited “personal reasons” for the motivation behind the name change, and even hinted at changing his name all the way back in 2018.

In a tweet, he wrote: “Formally known as Kanye West. I am YE.”

His Twitter handle has also been Ye for a long time, and his eight studio album from 2018 was titled “Ye” as well.

What does Ye mean?

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Speaking to radio host Big Boy in 2018, he said: “I believe “ye” is the most commonly used word in the Bible. In the Bible it means you. So, I’m you. And I’m us. It’s us.

“It went from being Kanye, which means the only one to just Ye, just being a reflection of our good, our bad, our confused - everything.

“It’s more of a reflection of who we are [as] beings.”

Collins Dictionary explains that “ye” is “an old fashioned, poetic, or religious word for you when you are talking to more than one person”.

Is he still married to Kim Kardashian West?

After seven years of marriage, and after months of media speculation, it was revealed in February earlier this year that Ye and Kim Kardashian West would be getting divorced.

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The divorce has not yet been finalised, so the two are still legally married.

In the final episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Kardashian West explained to her mother, Kris Jenner, why her marriage had failed.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West attend the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Photo: JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP via Getty Images)Kim Kardashian and Kanye West attend the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Photo: JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP via Getty Images)
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West attend the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Photo: JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP via Getty Images)

She said: “I just want total happiness.

“Obviously, I know complete bliss is not a full reality but if I can have it more the majority of the time, that’s all I want to do.

“Wherever that takes me I just want my pure happiness. So that’s what I’m working on, figuring out how to get there.

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“I just feel like I’ve worked so hard in life to achieve everything that I wanted to and I lived up to my expectations and achieved 10 times more than I ever thought was humanly possible, but I don’t have a life to share that with.”

She explained that she found herself lonely after Ye moved to a ranch in Wyoming, while she remained in California.

Kardashian West said: “I never thought I was lonely, and I always thought that’s totally fine, I can just have my kids, my husband moves from state to state and I’m on this ride with him and I was okay with that.

“And then after turning 40 this year I realised no, I don’t want a husband that lives in a completely different state to me. I thought, “oh my God, that’s when we’re getting along the best”.

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“But that is sad to me and that’s not what I want. I want someone that we have the same shows in common, I want someone that wants to work out with me.”

Recently, Kardashian West appeared on Saturday Night Live, making her debut as a host.

Kim Kardashian West made her hosting debut on SNL (Photo: SNL)Kim Kardashian West made her hosting debut on SNL (Photo: SNL)
Kim Kardashian West made her hosting debut on SNL (Photo: SNL)

She referenced her divorce, sex tape and OJ Simpson during the episode.

One joke was aimed at her husband and her former step-parent Caitlyn Jenner, both of whom have had failed bids for political office over the last 12 months.

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Kardashian West said: “I’m not running for president – we can’t have three failed politicians in this family.”

And joking about her divorce, Kardashian West described Ye as “the best rapper of all time” and the richest black man in America.

The reason she split from the father of her four children was “his personality”, she said.

The two first started dating in 2012 and the pair got engaged that same year. Their wedding took place on 24 May 2014, at Fort di Belvedere in Italy.

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They have four children together - North West (born 15 June 2013), Saint West (born 5 December 2015), Chicago West (born 15 January 2018) and Psalm West (born 9 May 2019).

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