Kanye West
Rapper Kanye West has gone by the nickname "Ye" for years, but he has filed the paperwork to get rid of his old name entirely.
Rich Fury/VF20/Getty Images for Vanity Fair
  • Kanye West applied on August 24 to legally change his name to "Ye."
  • The rapper expressed his intention to be called by the monosyllabic name in 2018, tweeting that he was the "being formally known as Kanye West."
  • "Ye" was also the title of West's 2018 album.
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Rapper Kanye West is starting the process of being known only by his monosyllabic nickname "Ye."

West got the ball rolling on August 24 to legally change his name from Kanye Omari West to "Ye" with no middle or last name, according to documents seen by the Associated Press.

Per the process of applying for a name change in the California legal system, a judge will have to approve West's application by court decree before he can legally be known as "Ye." This process could take up to three months.

There are no known restrictions that could prevent West from being called "Ye" once a judge signs off on his application. California simply requires that names must be composed of the 26 letters in the English language.

West has consistently called himself "Ye" on his social media pages, particularly after he tweeted his desire to be known by the moniker in 2018.

"The being formally known as Kanye West ... I am YE," the rapper tweeted in September 2018.

In a 2018 interview with radio host Big Boy, the rapper also explained the meaning of the word "Ye," and why he liked it.

"I believe 'ye' is the most commonly used word in the Bible, and in the Bible, it means 'you,'" the rapper said. "So I'm you, I'm us, it's us. It went from Kanye, which means 'the only one,' to just Ye - just being a reflection of our good, our bad, our confused, everything."

"Ye" also happens to be the title of the rapper's 2018 album.

West's representatives did not immediately respond to a request from Insider.

West split from Kim Kardashian West on February 19 this year after seven years of marriage. He has asked for joint custody of their four children, though they will no longer share the same last name if his application to be called "Ye" goes through.

In the meantime, the rapper is currently gearing up for the release of his long-awaited album, "Donda." ]

Billboard reported this week that West is building a replica of his childhood home at the Soldier Field stadium in Chicago for the third "Donda" listening party, slated to be held on August 26. The album is due to be released on August 27.

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