BTS Rapper Suga Reveals Long-Secret Origin of His Stage Name, Astonishing Fellow Members

Fans of BTS, affectionately known as ARMY, were recently taken by surprise when SUGA revealed a long-held secret about his stage name—information that even his fellow bandmates were unaware of.

During an engaging episode of Wired’s “Autocomplete Interview, ”the members of BTS tackled various questions regarding their careers and personal lives. When it was SUGA’s turn, he shed light on the origins of his now-famous moniker.

Reading from a cue card, he began, “‘SUGA name meaning, ’ I can finally clarify this now.”

Min Yoon-gi, who is widely recognized as SUGA, disclosed that his alias was actually inspired by UFC fighter Sean O’Malley. O’Malley’s nickname, “Suga, ”pays homage to the legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard.

In the realm of combat sports, the moniker “Suga”traditionally applies to fighters known for their exceptional technical skill. SUGA explained that Bang Si-Hyuk, the founder of HYBE, drew a parallel between this boxing background and SUGA’s own precise rap style.

Reportedly, Bang Si-Hyuk advised him years ago, saying, “Since you’re technical with your rap, you should be Suga, ”according to Billboard.

Yoongi telling us the real meaning behind the name SUGA after 13 years and saying that shooting guard was what he just used because it was annoying to explain… MIN YOONGI HOW LONG DID YOU PLAN TO GATEKEEP THIS INFO pic.twitter.com/Ug1RKNxo13

— ⭑ (@sugadooll) April 6, 2026

Surprise Revelation: The Origin of SUGA’s Name

Until this recent confession, SUGA had consistently told both the public and his BTS colleagues that his name came from “shooting guard, ”a position in basketball. He had previously deemed the boxing connection as “too tedious”to explain.

As reported by Se7en, his bandmate j-hope reacted with surprise, stating, “This is the first time I’m hearing this, ”while others looked on in disbelief. This revelation comes at a pivotal moment, with BTS currently enjoying the success of “ARIRANG, ”their first full-length album in six years, which has held the No.1 position on the Billboard 200 for a second consecutive week.

The album’s release coincides with the group’s highly anticipated world tour, marking their first major performances following their military service.

The Wired interview provided fans with glimpses into the lighter side of the band. The members reminisced about reuniting after their military services, clever fan-made memes, and delved into the cultural significance of their latest work, ARIRANG.

In a lighthearted moment during the interview, RM humorously remarked about his efforts to teach the other members English: “No. But they just don’t understand it, ”eliciting laughter within the group. Jin chimed in, quipping, “The teacher is excellent, but the students aren’t quite up to par.”

This piece was originally published on Music Times.

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