Top 10 R&B Singers with the Worst Stage Names

Some of these singers, I feel, maybe could've had more successful careers if they had better names.

Other singers just have names that don't cut it for R&B artists, at least to me.

The Top Ten

Tank

Tank is an American R&B singer and songwriter born Durrell Babbs who debuted in the late 1990s with the album Force of Nature.

Seriously, what kind of name is Tank for an R&B singer? When someone hears the name "Tank," a soulful, romantic R&B singer does not come to mind.
Sammie

Sammie is an American R&B vocalist born Sammie Leigh Bush Jr. who released his debut album From the Bottom to the Top in 2000.

It sounds like the name of a 10-year-old. I get that he came out when he was young, but it just isn't a good name for an adult male at all.
Personally, I wouldn't have wanted a name like that even as a kid.
Joe

Joe is an American R&B singer and producer born Joe Thomas who gained mainstream recognition in the 1990s with albums such as All That I Am.

I love his music and voice, but these kinds of names don't always work unless it is a name like Beyoncé, Jaheim, or even Maxwell. He should've used his full name, Joe Thomas.
Mario

Mario is an American R&B singer born Mario Dewar Barrett who rose to prominence in the early 2000s with the single "Let Me Love You."

Anybody who has ever tried to do a Google search about him knows what a pain it can be. You always have to specify, "Mario (singer)."
Trey Songz

Trey Songz is an American R&B artist born Tremaine Aldon Neverson who began his recording career in the mid-2000s.

It just doesn't scream R&B singer. The Z in the name makes you think of a rapper.
Miguel

Miguel is an American singer and songwriter born Miguel Jontel Pimentel who blends R&B with pop and alternative influences.

The same thing can be said about this name as Mario's and Joe's. Not a bad name, but it just doesn't stand out if you don't already know him and his music.
The Weeknd

The Weeknd is a Canadian singer born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye who emerged in the early 2010s with a series of mixtapes released online.

It sounds like the name of some alternative band, not an R&B singer. Then again, that's probably what he was going for.
The-Dream

The-Dream is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and producer born Terius Youngdell Nash who has written and produced music for multiple major artists.

What's with the random hyphen in between "the" and "dream"? Was he trying to be like T-Pain with that name?
And what is this "dream" he is referring to, the American dream? Because it sure ain't the quality of his voice or music, that's for sure!
Lloyd

Lloyd is an American R&B singer born Lloyd Polite Jr. who first gained attention as a member of the group N-Toon.

Of course, if you didn't already know him and his music, you'd probably think of Lloyd Banks, a rapper.
John Legend

John Legend is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist born John Roger Stephens who debuted as a solo artist in 2004.

I personally don't mind it, and maybe that's just because I've been listening to him since I was a kid, but I could see why this name might rub some people the wrong way.