U2's Bono finally explains why he has such an unusual name

Daily Record

22-05-2025

Bono is one of the most recognisable stars on the planet thanks to his years in U2, but the frontman was once called something very different before he became famous
Globally recognised as Bono, U2' s celebrated frontman was once Dublin-born teenager Paul Hewson before his ascent to international stardom. So where did the moniker 'Bono' originate?
The creation of Bono is an intriguing tale involving a bohemian street gang, a local hearing aid store, and inspiration from a Latin phrase. Like other one-name music legends such as Cher, Shakira, and Sting, Bono – alongside bandmate the Edge – turned their unique stage names into a worldwide phenomenon.
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The journey began nearly five decades ago with a young lad in Dublin. The future icon was a member of "Lypton Village" alongside future rock figures Guggi and Gavin Friday, who all lived around the same neighbourhood.
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During their youthful escapades, this group indulged in crafting extravagant and imaginative nicknames for each other, with Bono being no exception to this ritual.
Initially, they labelled him with the cumbersome "Steinhegvanhuysenolegbangbangbang", but it became evident that nickname wouldn't last, leading to a shortening to just "Huyseman".
This evolution of nicknames didn't stop there, with "Houseman" soon making an appearance, reports the Irish Mirror.
The nicknaming process continued, giving rise to the elaborate "Bon Murray" and the even more refined penultimate version "Bono Vox of O'Connell Street".
And so the handle "Bono Vox" has its roots tied to a hearing aid shop located near the famed O'Connell Street in Dublin, though the exact story of how Bono adopted the name is somewhat shrouded in mystery.
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The star initially loathed his nickname, but upon discovering its Latin meaning, he warmed to it. Bono Vox, which translates to "good voice", seemed fitting for someone who has sold over £170 million records worldwide.
Paul Hewson embraced the moniker Bono at just 14, and over time, it became an integral part of his identity. On Virgin Radio with Chris Evans, the U2 frontman shared: "I've been called a lot of things over the years! I was three years old and my friend was four, and we had a sort of street gang into our teens, and I had many nicknames.
"I'm very pleased that I qualified for Bono, even though it is tricky in some quarters." As U2's fame grew, the stage names of Bono and his bandmates solidified their public personas, fostering a sense of intimacy with their fans.
Bono further explained: "The really significant thing is, I suppose, that we decided to be called by those names when we went out into the public, because it implies a kind of intimacy with your audience, which is nice."
He also addressed the use of his birth name: "Some people will occasionally come up to me and say, 'Hey, Paul, how are you doing Paul?' as if that's getting close. The last person to call me Paul was my dad, and he's dead. So don't call me Paul."