What is Jay Gatsby's original name?

Jay Gatsby’s original name is James Gatz. He was born James Gatz in North Dakota and later reinvented himself as the glamorous millionaire known as Jay Gatsby.

Gatsby changes his identity as a teenager after meeting Dan Cody, a wealthy copper magnate whose lifestyle inspires him. The young Gatz imagines a more powerful future for himself and begins constructing the persona that will eventually become Gatsby. His new name represents a deliberate break from his poor origins.

This transformation is central to the novel’s idea of self-invention. Gatsby succeeds in creating an impressive public image, complete with a mansion, expensive cars, stylish clothes, and legendary parties. Yet the reinvention cannot fully erase his past. His wealth is also connected to criminal activity, including bootlegging, which contrasts with the polished identity he presents.

The name is sometimes confused with “James Gatsby” or “Jay Gatz,” but neither is his original name in Fitzgerald’s novel. Nick Carraway explains that Gatsby’s real name was James Gatz, and that the change marked the beginning of his imagined new life.