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Billie Eilish Reflects on Her Name and Self-Image in Recent Interview

In the landscape of contemporary music, Billie Eilish stands out as a defining figure. However, her journey to embrace her name has been a transformative one. In a recent cover story for British Vogue, Eilish revealed her initial distaste for her first name, expressing that she “absolutely hated” it during her childhood.

During the article, which included interviews from notable friends like Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, and Greta Gerwig, Eilish spoke candidly with Idris Elba about her feelings towards her name. “I thought Billie was a boy’s name,” she conveyed, recalling how this perception affected her growing up.

Eilish reminisced about wishing for a more traditionally feminine name, such as Violet or Lavender, to better reflect her identity. However, she has since embraced her unique moniker, stating, “It really is the only possible choice for who I am.” She credited her grandfather, William, as her namesake, but it was seeing another famous Billie, Billie Piper from Doctor Who, that helped shift her perspective. “I was excited, but also a bit jealous,” she admitted, reflecting on the complex feelings of sharing her name with someone else.

Despite her success, the nine-time Grammy award winner opened up about ongoing challenges with self-confidence. When Nicki Minaj commented on Eilish’s beauty and the potential overshadowing of her music, Eilish responded with vulnerability, saying, “I’ve never really felt very beautiful or seen myself in that way.” She has been working to change her perception of herself, acknowledging the broader challenges women face in society today by stating, “Being a woman is hard.”

The timing of this interview coincided with Eilish’s surprise performance alongside Charli XCX at Coachella 2025, showcasing their collaboration “Guess,” which charted as a Billboard Hot 100 hit. After their performance, Charli XCX shared a moment captured alongside Eilish, Troye Sivan, and Lorde on Instagram. Eilish’s latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in May of the previous year, marking her continued ascent in the music industry.

For more insights into Eilish’s journey and her thoughts on identity and self-perception, readers can check out the full interview in British Vogue.

Source
www.billboard.com