What is the birth name of the man who became Genghis Khan?

The birth name of the man who became Genghis Khan was Temüjin. He was born into the Borjigin clan, the family that would later establish the ruling dynasty of the Mongol Empire.

Temüjin’s father, Yesügei, was a Mongol chieftain, while his mother was Hö’elün. According to the Secret History of the Mongols, Yesügei named his son after a Tatar captive called Temüchin-üge. Some later interpretations connect the name with the Mongolian word for iron, but the historical origin remains debated.

Temüjin’s childhood was difficult. After Yesügei was poisoned by Tatars, the family was abandoned by its tribe and survived in poverty. Temüjin eventually built alliances, defeated rival steppe leaders, and united many Mongol tribes. At a great assembly in 1206, he received the title Genghis Khan.

A common mix-up is treating Genghis Khan as his personal birth name. It was a title adopted in adulthood; Temüjin is the name he had from birth.