Liv Morgan revealed the complicated and amusing story behind the many ring names she proposed before settling on her WWE identity. When she first joined WWE’s NXT brand, she was asked to submit a list of potential ring names, but none of her ideas were accepted, leading to a frustrating naming process.
During an appearance on the What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon podcast, Morgan detailed how she wanted a name that sounded like a distinct character rather than a conventional name, which complicated the search for the right fit.
Character-Style Names and the “Illy Milly” Idea
Morgan described her preference for a ring name that did not sound like a normal name. She wanted something with a clear, character-driven feel. Among the ideas she strongly supported was “Illy Milly,” a name that she continues to back even years later.
Repeated Attempts and the Playful “Oprah” Joke
Despite submitting multiple lists of names, WWE repeatedly rejected them, which led Liv to add a humorous option at the bottom of her list—“Oprah.” That playful and sarcastic addition unexpectedly stuck with her colleagues backstage.
The nickname “Oprah” was frequently used by WWE officials like Triple H, known backstage as Hunter, and it stayed with Morgan even during her injury rehabilitation days at the WWE Performance Center.
“And for some reason the Oprah stuck and like no one ever let me live it down after that. Because like sometimes I’ll still see Hunter [Triple H] and he’ll like ‘Oprah.’”
?Liv Morgan, WWE Wrestler
“I’ll even go to the Performance Center, like when I was rehabbing and they’re like, ‘Oprah,’ Norman Smiley’s like, ‘Oprah, remember?’ And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I guess I remember.’”
?Liv Morgan, WWE Wrestler
The Temporary “Marley” Ring Name Inspired by Her Dog
Before Liv Morgan got her well-known ring name, she briefly wrestled under the name “Marley,” a tribute to her dog back home. However, that name was not officially approved and was used only for a short time on NXT.
“So I showed up at ‘NXT’ one day. I really wanted Marley. Oh, I had left a dog back home, Marley, and I wanted to like name myself after my dog. So, I was like Marley for one episode on NXT, but it never got cleared. So, by the time it aired, I was just local competitor.”
?Liv Morgan, WWE Wrestler
Final Choice Between “Liv Morgan” and “Liv Gallo”
Eventually, WWE narrowed her ring name options down to just two: Liv Morgan and Liv Gallo. Despite her mixed feelings about both choices, she selected Liv Morgan, influenced partly by the existing name of wrestler Luke Gallows.
“And then I walked into NXT and they were like, ‘all right, you’re either Liv Morgan or Liv Gallo,’ like pick. And I was like, ‘well, sh*t.’”
?Liv Morgan, WWE Wrestler
“So, I picked Liv Morgan, ’cause I think we had like Luke Gallows. And so I was like, ‘all right, I’ll be Liv Morgan.’ And that’s kind of how it went.”
?Liv Morgan, WWE Wrestler
How Liv Morgan Grew to Accept Her WWE Name
Although “Morgan” wasn’t her favorite surname at first, Liv gradually grew to appreciate it, especially because “Liv” gave her name a clever punch. This acceptance helped her fully embrace her wrestling persona as Liv Morgan.
“At first I remember not really liking Morgan. I knew Liv was like punny though. I didn’t really like Morgan, but it grew on me.”
?Liv Morgan, WWE Wrestler
Significance of Liv Morgan’s Ring Name Journey
Liv Morgan is now one of WWE’s most recognized performers, but her path to her ring name was turbulent and filled with trial and error. The story highlights the creative process behind wrestling identities and the balance between performer input and company decisions. Understanding this process gives fans insight into how important and delicate ring name selection can be on a wrestler’s journey, especially for stars within WWE’s NXT system and beyond.
