Top 10 One-Name Celebrities

Iceland's reigning queen of weird and progressive pop music may have been born in 1965 as Bjork Guomundsdottir, but she made the wise career decision to shorten it simply to Bjork after leaving the cult alternative band The Sugarcubes in the early nineties - perhaps surmising that fans might shy away from the singer's long, Scandinavian last name. Bjork's solo career soon flourished, thanks to the chart success of such singles as "Army of Me," "Human Behavior" and "It's Oh So Quiet." Add to this Bjork's fantastic and effective acting performance in director Lars von Trier's 2000 film "Dancer in the Dark," and you have one well rounded and fascinating artist who doesn't need a last name to be successful.

Somehow, this one just makes sense. This iconic guitarist for Guns N’ Roses probably made the right choice when he went with the stage name Slash over his birth name Saul Hudson, prior to joining the debut lineup of Los Angeles' finest rock band, Guns N’ Roses. The image of this British-American axe legend with the perennially lit cigarette, low-slung guitar and iconic top hat just feels right with the name "Slash" attached to it, as the guitarist would go on to inspire countless young musicians with his aggressive yet emotionally moving style of lead guitar. We love you Slash: don't change a thing!

Morrissey may be the surname to the English artist born Steven Patrick, but it's also the moniker by which the singer's legions of fans have come to love and admire him. Morrissey's quick wit and even quicker temper have been bettered only by the front man's power as a lyricist, crafting words that at once can be humorous, biting and emotionally electric. The singer has wowed fans for over thirty years as both a solo artist and as leader of the highly influential ‘80s act, The Smiths, making the name "Morrissey" one which is synonymous with unique and powerful English rock.

Music fans might think of many adjectives to describe this front man for Ireland's biggest rock export. Showman, icon, philanthropist, to name a few. The man born as Paul David Hewson just uses one name, however: Bono. The U2 vocalist shares a stage name fetish with band mate and guitarist The Edge, yet perhaps no singularly-named celebrity has had more impact upon the world stage than Bono, whose charitable work as a spokesman has enabled him to raise a significant amount of money and awareness towards such causes as African A.I.D.S. research, world poverty and hunger.

She may have been born Beyonce Knowles, but her millions of fans around the world feel more than comfortable referring to this singer on a first name basis. Beyonce first gained critical and commercial attention with the multi-platinum girl group Destiny's Child, but it wasn't long before Knowles' rising star shot up to stratospheric levels thanks to an extremely successful solo career. Chart toppers like "Crazy in Love" and "Single Ladies" may have set Queen Bey's career on fire, but it's her determination to continually progress and evolve that makes the Beyonce brand an international success.

Reinvention, thy name is Madonna. Few musical artists have managed to remain as timeless, relevant or press-worthy as the woman born Madonna Louise Ciccone on August 16th, 1958. Dropping the middle and last names proved to be a godsend for Madonna, as the singer, dancer and songwriter soon became one of the most in-demand and influential pop artists in the world, thanks to a string of high-profile, and sometimes controversial hit singles. Whether it was provoking with religious imagery in "Like a Prayer," flirting with goth style on "Frozen," or poking fun at her own superstardom with "Bitch, I'm Madonna," we wouldn't want this Queen of Pop any other way.

You might wonder how a man born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner came around to the stage name Sting, but it probably doesn't really matter, given how influential this bassist, vocalist and songwriter has been to the world of rock music throughout his forty year plus career. Sting first rose to prominence with the musically gifted group The Police, balancing their volatile personality clashes into a career which challenged the boundaries of punk and progressive rock music during the late seventies into the eighties. The man didn't stop there, however, and soon added solo albums and acting gigs to his already impressive resume, making Sting a force of musical nature who continues to inspire today.

Hers is a voice that has affected millions of people around the world. Adele Adkins didn't need a last name to immediately connect with fans after the release of her sophomore effort, "21," which to date has sold about 35 million copies worldwide. Hit singles such as "Rolling in the Deep," "Someone Like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain" struck an emotional chord with listeners, and have made the singer one of the most in demand and respected talents in her industry. Adele's powerhouse vocals and dynamic stage presence may have made her a star, but it's her relationship with those fans that keeps her entertaining and relevant to this day.

Timeless. This is a great word to describe the singer, actress and entertainer born Cherilyn Sarkisian in 1946. Cher is another artist who has reinvented herself over the years, from her days hosting “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" with her ex-husband Sonny Bono, to her acting roles in such films as "Moonstruck" and her solo career success with tracks like "If I Could Turn Back Time" and “Believe.” Cher has also gone on to become somewhat of an icon for the LGBT community, while also earning attention for her philanthropic efforts for such causes as the rights of the poor, veterans and children.

Before we reveal our top, mono-moniker celebrity, here are a few honorable mentions!

Seal

Drake

Usher

Fans and celebrities alike came out in droves and publically mourned the death of Prince Rogers Nelson, a.k.a. Prince, when The Artist passed away unexpectedly from an overdose of fentanyl in his Minnesota home on April 21st, 2016. Prince had been an influence to the worlds of funk, soul, rock and R&B since his debut in the late seventies, managing to continually impress and inspire with his insanely diverse output. The man reportedly has unreleased material locked in a vault within his home studio as well, a testament to Prince's legendary reputation as an artist who never stopped being creative, and who continued to work hard at his craft right to the very end of his life.

Do you agree with our list? Which singularly named celebrity do you think is the most recognizable? For more fun top ten lists, published every day, please subscribe to WatchMojo.com!