Dua Lipa has revealed the surprising meaning behind her name after fans admitted they were confused by it. The English-Albanian singer and songwriter, who has won seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards, has become one of the biggest names in pop music.
The 28-year-old shot to fame following the release of her self-titled debut album in 2017, quickly becoming a household name with hits including New Rules, Don't Start Now and Levitating. She has since collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, including Elton John on Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) and Calvin Harris on One Kiss.
Fans question the singer's real name
Despite her fame, some fans have been left wondering whether "Dua Lipa" is actually her real name - and there is a rather sweet story behind it. One confused fan took to Quora to ask: "Can you explain the meaning of Dua Lipa's name?"
It turns out that Dua's first name was suggested by her grandmother and has a special meaning in Albanian. The name "Dua" means "love" in Albanian.
She used to wish for a traditional name
Dua has previously spoken about her unusual name and how she felt about it growing up, admitting that she once wished she had a more traditional English name. Speaking at Hay Festival, she said: "People would always ask where my name is from. I was really proud of it, but when I was younger, I wished my name was, say, Hannah - something 'normal' and English."
Dua was born in London after her parents moved to the UK to escape the war in the former Yugoslavia. When she was 11, she moved back to Kosovo with her family, then returned to the UK at 15 to pursue her education and eventually begin her music career.
Moving between countries meant Dua often found herself feeling like the "new girl", but she has previously explained that the experience helped shape her determination. She said: "I was quite determined. I didn't feel I had the same opportunities in music as I had in London. I was driven. My dad says I'm very hard to say no to!"
She doesn't use a stage name
Her name has also sparked plenty of discussion among fans online, with some admitting they were surprised to discover that Dua Lipa isn't a stage name.
One Reddit user said: "I know it's her real name, but it's still a perfect pop star name. I feel like with a name like that you're destined to be a star." Another simply pointed out: "Dua Lipa is of Albanian descent. That's just her actual name."
A third fan admitted they were only just finding out the truth, writing: "Dua Lipa's real name is Dua Lipa! Today years old finding this out."
