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It’s hard to imagine a time when these boys weren’t performing together as BTS. It’s even harder to imagine calling Jimin and Jungkook anything other than their birth names. Why did Jimin and Jungkook decide to keep their real names? What were their stage names going to be? Here’s what we know about these award-winning K-pop performers.

Jimin and Jungkook are two of the BTS members who use their real names as their stage names

Appearing on albums like Map of the Soul: Persona and Map of the Soul: 7, Jimin and Jungkook, as well as Jin and V, earned their place as talented vocalists in the K-pop group BTS. However, about seven years ago, these performers were just starting out with the boy band. 

In the world of K-pop idols, it’s pretty common to have a stage name used by fans. Although there are seven members in BTS, (RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, V, Jimin, and Jungkook,) only two of them use their real names as their stage names. Those two members are the vocalists Jimin and Jungkook.

These two idols almost had very different stage names

Although Jimin and Jungkook both took their real names as their stage names, when they were first starting out with BTS, they had a few potential choices for stage names. For Jimin, that means the idea to call him “Baby G.”

“I originally received a stage name. They gave me the name ‘Baby G,’ so I said I would use my real name,” Jimin said during one interview, according to an article from Soompi. Jimin’s full birth name is Park Jimin.

“I also use my birth name, but I had a stage name. It was Seagull,” Jungkook said of his potential stage name. The idol has since decided to go with his birth name, although his full name is Jeon Jungkook. 

“I’m from Busan and seagull [in Korean] is seagull in English,” he continued, elaborating on the other choice for his stage name. Since BTS’ debut, some of the members elaborated on the meaning behind their chosen stage names. That includes J-Hope, who wants to bring hope to fans.  

Jin and Jungkook of BTS
Jin and Jungkook of BTS | THE FACT/Imazins via Getty Images
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What are the real names of the other members of BTS

The only other member who kind of uses their real name is Jin. This is a nickname and a shortened version of his full birth name, Kim Seokjin. The other members sometimes use their real names when referring to one another. That includes Kim Namjoon (RM,) Min Yoongi (Suga,) Kim Taehyung (V,) and Jung Hoseok (J-Hope.) 

Those are also the names used in the fan chant during live performances of this K-pop group. ARMYs can see BTS perform live at their now-postponed Map of the Soul world tour. Music by BTS, including their recently released album, Map of the Soul: 7, is available for streaming on Spotify. 

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