In the K-pop industry, some idols use their real names as stage names, while many others choose a different stage name for various reasons. A stage name is not only what fans call them but also a personal brand that often carries meaningful stories.

The members of BTS are no exception. They carefully thought about choosing a distinctive name they would use throughout their careers, even before debuting. Many of them debated whether to use their real names or create a new one, and it took considerable time before they found the signature names they are known by today.

Jungkook once shared that before debuting, he considered several different stage names such as Seagull or Ian. V also spent a long time deciding. Some of the alternative stage names suggested to him by the company included Lex, Six, or Clever. Even though he debuted as Rap Monster, it wasn’t until 2017 that the BTS leader officially decided to use “RM” as his stage name.

This shows how important stage names truly are. However, within the fandom, alongside stage names, fans often use real names as well—it has become a long-standing habit. That naturally raises the big question: do the members themselves prefer fans calling them by their real names or their stage names?

In a Q&A session with Ask Anything Chat, the members gave honest answers about their thoughts. V was the first to respond, saying he liked a combination of his real name with his stage name. Jin then offered several creative suggestions for V, such as “Vhyung”, while Jimin said “Kim V”. Eventually, V decided that “V Taehyung” was the perfect way to express himself.

Next, similar to V, SUGA revealed that he no longer felt a distinction between his stage name and real name. However, he often hears the members calling him SUGA or SUGA-hyung. Interestingly, SUGA pointed out that Jungkook recently changed how he addresses him: “He used to call me SUGA hyung but lately he calls me Yoongi". As his suggestion, j-hope and Jungkook then shouted “Yoongi!” and burst into laughter.

According to Jin, the members rarely call the BTS rapper by his real name, and even his stage name has been modified. Instead, they often call him by nicknames derived from his stage name, such as Hobi and Hobah.

Meanwhile, Jungkook prefers calling j-hope by his real name. He said, “I call him Hoseokie hyung". But right after that, j-hope revealed that Jungkook once used to call him by another adorable nickname: Bbaa!

As seen above, all of the members’ real names, stage names, and nicknames are cherished. There seems to be no real difference between them, as each is infused with the personal identity of the members. Together, they have become an unbeatable brand in the K-pop idol world.

Fans also shared similar sentiments with the idols regarding this topic: 

- sometimes i call taehyung "v" without realizing that i called him v and not tae

- Real name but I use their stage name when I teach people

- I’m so used to call them by their names

- Real names but when I talk with non ARMYS I use their stage names

- both, i usually get mixed up

- Real names! but i use their stage names when talking to non-Armys

- Their real names. But when talking to my parents, they recognize their stage names

- real name and a bunch of nicknames for each one of them

- Initially I learnt it by stage names but I no longer use it. I call Joon, Jin is an exception sometimes not Everytime I go with Seokjin. I used V first now I can't, it's always TAE. And I call Yoongi not suga, Hobi and not JHope. Idk I call Kook or Jungkookie.

- Its both for me.. Their real names, theor stage names and their nicknames.. It depends on how the person i'm talking to knows them. Especially when i'm pulling locals into the fandom.

- i normally call them by their stage names because i talk with my mom about them, except for namjoon, i can’t remember the last time i called him RM

- Neither I guess. I call Jungkook, Koo. I call Taehyung, Tae. Namjoon, Joon.. and so on. So if those count as their real names then... their real names!

- I say their real names because of the fanchant. The fanchant helped me learned their names and faces so it kinda stucked to me for the pa̾s̾s years lmao. But I do call them by their stage names and nicknames too

- I usually go by their real names, or nicknames . But if I’m talking to non army I call them by their stages names except Tae for some reason I can’t call him V? Idk I never called him that so it’s weird

- Joonie/namjoon/monie; seokjinnie/jin/ jin hyung ; yoongi /suga ; hobi/hoseok ; jiminshi / jiminie ; teahyungie /tae/tae tae ; jungkook / jungkookie/ cookie/ googie I didn't even know i call then like this till you asked. It's nice to know