Kanye West has officially changed his name to “Ye” (pronounced “yay”) after a Los Angeles judge approved his request.
Born Kanye Omari West, the musician’s application to change his name was lodged in August, citing “personal reasons”.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michelle Williams has now given the fashion mogul the stamp of approval.
He will now no longer have a middle or last name — he is just “Ye”.
He has wanted to change his name for quite some time. Back in 2018, he tweeted: “The being formally known as Kanye West. I am YE.”
In 2018 he released the self-titled album “Ye” and the moniker has been his Twitter handle for some time.
the being formally known as Kanye West
— ye (@kanyewest) September 29, 2018
I am YE
Three years ago, during an interview with radio host Big Boy, he said there is also a religious element to the name change.
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.”
People took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the artist’s new name.
Some poked fun at the name change, whereas others seemed confused:
Kanye West after changing his entire name to "Ye" pic.twitter.com/twOFcjE1vG
— Elan Azriel (@elanazriel) October 18, 2021
A judge in Los Angeles approved a petition by Kanye West to officially change his name to “Ye,” with no middle or last name. Chile.. pic.twitter.com/cmXlHvcXyx
— thong song enthusiast. (@thePLAINESTjane) October 18, 2021
Ye Olde Kanye West https://t.co/pbyWTGHBGx
— I Shat the News (@IShattheNews) October 18, 2021
We can’t get a judge to free Britney but they’ll let this man start a cult, dress like a metallic vibrator and name himself Do Re Mi
— Mahriana Grandeynolds Pogba Ronaldo Nas X🔰🔴MUFC (@MancityReynolds) October 18, 2021
pic.twitter.com/yIbG8DYLec
I’m still calling him Kanye
— Jose #OleIn (@J_afc_x) October 18, 2021
Can Ye believe it
— Dan St Ledger (@DanStLedger) October 19, 2021
— Don Vu (@LindaInHR) October 18, 2021
My exact reaction pic.twitter.com/RFHcOPL5hn
— 🚫🧢 (@Tanckrede) October 19, 2021
Chuckles! Just in time for Christmas!
— Trevor (@trevor_pepper) October 19, 2021
"God rest YE Merry gentleman"
"Oh come all YE faithful" pic.twitter.com/itVuNTg8vN
He’s also changed his middle name to ‘hah’.
— Lash (@lashgv1) October 19, 2021
Some Twitter users commenting on a French article imagined how he’d respond to being asked what his name is:
Comment tu t’appelles ?
— Maaxo™ (@THEMAAXO) October 18, 2021
Kanye : pic.twitter.com/xNzvAXrVdA
Comment tu t’appelles ?
— 3 🖤 (@_CLVN__) October 18, 2021
Kanye : pic.twitter.com/W1BaKw4uuj
The musician’s name change isn’t the only reason he’s been in the headlines this week.
This week he has been spotted in Berlin and Venice sporting bizarre masks.
Say what you will about Kanye West but he’s definitely not Anti-Mask. pic.twitter.com/1MoOzGCO2p
— Eddie Della Siepe (@EddieDellaSiepe) October 18, 2021
Kanye performing in his Halloween mask in Venice
— Watching the Throne (@KanyePodcast) October 17, 2021
Via @questlove pic.twitter.com/T5uS2cShZz
You do you. Or, ye do ye.