Decades into her legendary career in music, Cher uncovered a shocking revelation about her identity—one linked to the name she thought she’d always known.

Pop legend Cher recently discovered a surprising detail about her birth records: the name she had believed was hers—Cherilyn—was nowhere to be found. Instead, the 78-year-old learned she had been officially registered under a completely different name, leaving her in disbelief.

“I was shocked to discover that I was officially registered as Cheryl,” the singer wrote in her newly released memoir, “Cher: The Memoir, Part One.” The discovery came in the late 1970s, as she sought to legally change her name to simply “Cher.”

According to her memoir, Cher, confused by the discovery, turned to her mother, Georgia Holt, to ask if she was aware of her real name. Georgia, who was just 19 when she gave birth, replied, “Let me look at that!” Reflecting on her postpartum experience, she added, “I was only a teenager, and I was in a lot of pain. Give me a break.”

The mix-up originated shortly after Cher’s birth in 1946. Georgia, still recovering in the hospital, hadn’t decided on a name when a nurse asked for one. Inspired by actress Lana Turner’s daughter Cheryl and her own mother, Lynda, Georgia suggested “Cherilyn.” However, the name was never recorded correctly on official documents.

In 1979, the artist explained her decision to simplify her name to just “Cher,” stating that a single name reduced confusion about how people should address her, particularly in light of her marriages and public image.

As part of this decision, she dropped her surnames—Sarkisian, LaPiere, Bono, and Allman—to streamline her identity and establish a singular professional persona.

Cher‘s memoir offers a rare look into her personal life, with this surprising revelation highlighting the unique path she has taken to become one of the world’s most iconic stars.