Will Ferrell Recalls Being ‘So Embarrassed’ by His Real Name Growing Up: ‘It Wasn’t My Choice’

> Ferrell described having to wait through the first week of school before his teachers would remember he went by Will as “excruciating to me.” “It wasn’t my choice,” he said, when Applegate asked about his disdain for the name John. “My parents named [me] John but they called me Will. I grew up as Will, but on a rule sheet, my legal name is John Ferrell.”