Michael B. Jordan nearly abandoned his famous name after relentless teasing during childhood, the actor revealed in a candid new interview.
> At a Glance
> – Michael B. Jordan got teased so much for sharing Michael Jordan’s name that he almost changed it
> – The Sinners star considered using his middle name Bakari instead
> – He now believes the experience helped forge his drive for greatness
> – Why it matters: Shows how childhood challenges shaped one of Hollywood’s biggest stars
The Creed actor told CBS Sunday Morning that constant ridicule over his name made him consider abandoning it entirely. The teasing got so intense that he planned to go by Bakari, which means “noble promise” in Swahili.
The Name That Almost Wasn’t
Jordan explained how the relentless mockery pushed him to find his own identity through achievement.
> “It definitely made me want to be competitive and be good at – I wanted to be great at something”
The 38-year-old actor said this drive became “a part of the alchemy that made me who I am today.”
From Soap Operas to Oscar Buzz
Jordan’s career trajectory shows how early challenges fueled his success:
- Started as a child model before transitioning to acting
- Breakout role as Wallace on The Wire in 2002
- Joined All My Children as Reggie Porter Montgomery in 2003
- Starred as Vince Howard on Friday Night Lights from 2009-2011
- Earned critical acclaim for Fruitvale Station in 2013
- Current role in 2025’s Sinners generating major Oscar buzz
The actor credits his soap opera experience with building his work ethic, noting they filmed “a hundred-plus pages a day” which “gave me a built-in work ethic and helped me refine that discipline at an early age.”
Living Up to Bakari
When asked if he’s lived up to his middle name’s meaning of “noble promise,” Jordan responded confidently:
> “I feel like I’m walking in that and will continue to do so, big time. We got a lot more things to do, you know? We’re just getting started.”
Key Takeaways
- Childhood teasing over his name drove Michael B. Jordan to pursue excellence
- His soap opera background provided unexpected career opportunities and work ethic
- The actor believes his challenging name experience ultimately shaped his success
- Jordan’s current performance in Sinners is generating significant awards buzz
The actor, named after his father Michael A. Jordan, has transformed what once felt like a burden into a defining element of his Hollywood success story.
