Oprah Winfrey explains how ‘Orpah’ became Oprah in candid chat with Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer was left surprised after learning that Oprah Winfrey’s legal birth name is still “Orpah,” prompting the media icon to explain how the name “Oprah” became known around the world.

The revelation came during an episode of Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, where Palmer asked Winfrey about the story behind her original name after discovering it differed from the one audiences have known for decades.

Winfrey explained that she was named “Orpah,” a biblical figure from the Book of Ruth, by her family. However, she said people frequently mispronounced the name while she was growing up, eventually calling her “Oprah” instead.

According to Winfrey, the pronunciation stuck and became the name she used publicly throughout her career. Despite that, she confirmed that her official birth certificate still lists her legal name as “Orpah.”

Palmer appeared genuinely shocked by the revelation, asking whether the original name remained on Winfrey’s birth certificate. Winfrey replied that it did, adding that she did not realise until she was around 20 years old that “Oprah” was not technically her legal birth name.

The conversation also touched on another memorable chapter of Winfrey’s career. Palmer playfully referenced Winfrey’s short-lived theme song “Run On,” prompting the television legend to laugh and describe the musical venture as “one of the mistakes” of her career.

The interview is the latest in a series of personal reflections from Winfrey. Earlier this week, she also discussed the behind-the-scenes planning that went into her famous 2004 car giveaway episode, revealing a last-minute production change that helped preserve one of television’s most iconic surprise moments.