Hollywood actor Will Ferrell reveals embarrassment over real name

The actor and comedian has recalled his “excruciating” childhood being referred to by his actual name.

He’s one of the funniest actors in Hollywood, renowned for his beloved film characters that don’t take themselves too seriously.

It’s little wonder, then, that Will Ferrell wasn’t a fan of his rather traditional birth name.

The US showbiz veteran, 56, revealed the little-known fact of his real name during an interview on Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler’s podcast MeSsy.

“This is a minor thing in terms of — it’s not really even trauma — but I remember feeling so embarrassed because my real name is John, John William Ferrell, so first day of school, I’d be John,” the Elf star said.

US actor Will Ferrell has revealed his real name. Picture: Michael Tran/AFP

“The teacher would be like ‘John Ferrell?’ And it was so embarrassing to me to have to say, ‘Here, but I go by Will, I don’t go by John.’

“For the first week of school, it took like a week before the teacher remembered, ‘That’s right, you’re Will.’ And that was excruciating … So the beginning of the school year was always like, ‘Oh my gosh I hate this. I have to remind the teacher that I’m not John.’”

Pressed on why he disliked his name so much, Ferrell said it “wasn’t my choice”.

“My parents named (me) John, but they called me Will. I grew up as Will, but on a rule sheet, my legal name is John Ferrell,” he said.

“I don’t know why that was so embarrassing to me to have to explain ‘I’m actually Will’.”

Ferrell grew up in Irvine, California, before moving to Los Angeles to carve a career in Hollywood in 1991.

Ferrell’s birth name is actually John. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The comedian said he was embarrassed by his real name growing up.

The five-time Emmy winner has been credited by the name Will Ferrell for the entirety of his professional career, which kickstarted in 1995 when he joined Saturday Night Live!.

Despite his fame, Ferrell lives a relatively private life.

He married Swedish actress Viveca Paulin in 2000 after meeting her at an acting class five years prior.

The couple share three sons, Magnus, who was born in 2004, Mattias in 2006 and Axel in 2010.