What Is Lea Michele’s Real Name? 5 Glee Fan Questions Answered

We all know her simply as Lea Michele, but the 25-year-old’s full name is actually Lea Michele Sarfati. The New York City native, whose father Marc Sarfati is Jewish and of Spanish descent, told Jay Leno back in December 2011 that she made the decision to change her name because of bullying. Back in school, classmates taunted her with nicknames like "Lea So-fatty” and “Lea So-farty."

"When I was little and I went on my first audition, they were like, 'And may we have your name?' And I was like, 'Lea Michele,'” she says.  “And I've been Lea Michele ever since."