What is the birth name of Axl Rose?

Axl Rose’s birth name is William Bruce Rose Jr. He was born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana, before becoming the lead vocalist of Guns N’ Roses.

Rose’s early family history made his name unusually complicated. After his biological parents separated, his mother married Stephen Bailey and changed her son’s name to William Bruce Bailey. Rose believed Bailey was his biological father until he discovered his birth name as a teenager while looking through insurance documents.

He later began using “W. Rose” and eventually adopted the stage name W. Axl Rose. The “Axl” name came from an early band, and he legally adopted W. Axl Rose before Guns N’ Roses signed with Geffen Records in 1986.

A common mix-up is William Bruce Bailey, which was his stepfather’s surname during part of his childhood, not his birth name. The “Jr.” suffix refers to his biological father, who was also named William Bruce Rose.