The actress’s official name is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman: “All those names refer to my heritage,” Zendaya said in an interview with Allure. “My first name is Afrikaans, followed by ‘Maree’. That’s also my French mother’s middle name, but it was written in the Afrikaans way. Then you have Stoermer, my mother’s surname and finally Coleman, my father’s.” Her father eventually changed his name back to African Ajamu because it made him feel better.
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But despite the beautiful references to her origins and family, the actress resolutely opts for Zendaya: “I think a stage name that consists of one word sounds better. Just look at Cher or Prince.” Although she understands that her name is often mispronounced, so she pointed out the correct pronunciation of her name: “It’s Zen-DAY-uh and not Zen-DIE-uh.”
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