What is Jay Gatsby's real name?

Jay Gatsby’s real name is James Gatz.

The novel reveals that Gatsby was born James Gatz in North Dakota. He comes from a poor farming family, but as a teenager he rejects his original identity and imagines a grander future for himself. His self-created persona, Jay Gatsby, becomes part of his attempt to escape poverty and enter the world of inherited wealth.

Gatsby’s transformation begins when he meets Dan Cody, a wealthy copper magnate whose lifestyle fascinates him. Although Gatsby never inherits Cody’s fortune, the encounter gives him a model for the glamorous identity he wants to construct. Later, Gatsby acquires enormous wealth through questionable dealings, widely associated with bootlegging during Prohibition.

The name change is more than a biographical detail. James Gatz represents Gatsby’s ordinary origins, while “Jay Gatsby” represents his invented ideal self. A common mistake is choosing “Jay Gatz,” but Gatsby changes both his first and last name. His tragic pursuit of Daisy Buchanan is also tied to his belief that the past can be remade through willpower and wealth.