Bill Clinton wasn't born Bill Clinton—and that's just the start

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Aug 18, 2026

History·7 min read

Bill Clinton wasn't born Bill Clinton—and that's just the start Discover   What if we told you that Bill Clinton wasn't born "Bill Clinton"? Or that Harry S. Truman's famous middle initial didn't actually stand for anything? And would you believe Lyndon B. Johnson went three months without a name? We've known about America's presidents our entire lives, so it's easy to assume there's nothing left to learn about them. But behind some of the most familiar names in U.S. history are stories stranger than fiction. From accidental initials that lasted a lifetime to surnames that changed completely, here are 10 surprising stories behind the names of American presidents. Read full article

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