Junior Rasmussen
Born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, Lana Del Rey is an American singer-songwriter with a unique blend of authenticity and modernity. Her music is often noted for its stylized cinematic quality, preoccupation with themes of tragic romance, glamour, and melancholia, and its references to pop culture, particularly 1950s and 1960s Americana. Del Rey's ethnic background is mixed, with English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry on her father's side and French and German ancestry on her mother's side. She has stated that she chose the name Lana Del Rey for its tropical and exotic sound, reminiscent of the beach in Miami, and because it allowed her to shape her music towards a desired aesthetic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elizabeth Woolridge Grant |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Ethnicity | Mixed ethnicity with English, Scottish, Irish, French, German, and Cuban ancestry |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Tattoos | "Paradise" on her left arm, a small red heart on her right hand |
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What You'll Learn
Lana Del Rey's stage name
Lana Del Rey is the current stage name of the artist formerly known as Lizzy Grant. Over the course of about eight years, she has had many different stage names, some of which were very short-lived, while others were used for a few years.
Her first known stage name was May Jailer, under which she released the album 'Sirens' in 2004. She then released a self-titled EP in 2008 under the name Lizzy Grant, which is her real name. She also released music under the names Lizzy Grant and the Phenomena, Lana Rey Del Mar, and Sparkle Jump Rope Queen. In 2010, she released her debut album under the name Lana Del Ray a.k.a. Lizzy Grant, but this was removed from iTunes shortly after its release. By 2011, she had changed the spelling to Lana Del Rey, which she has used for all subsequent releases.
Lana Del Rey has explained that she chose this name because she wanted a name she could shape her music towards. At the time, she was spending a lot of time in Miami, speaking Spanish with her friends from Cuba, and the name reminded her of the glamour of the seaside. She also took inspiration from the actor Lana Turner, who encapsulated the Hollywood glamour she wanted to emulate. The name sounded gorgeous coming off the tongue, and she liked that it sounded tropical and exotic.
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Ancestry on her father's side
Lana Del Rey, born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, is the daughter of Robert Grant and Patricia Hill. Robert was born in New York and worked as an investment banker and venture capitalist. He worked at Kidder, Peabody & Co. and was a vice president for Plough, Inc. and Textron. Robert later became a copywriter and entrepreneur.
Robert's father, Lana's paternal grandfather, was Robert England Grant, Sr. Robert Sr.'s father, David Stuart Grant, was the son of Mary Jane Nice. Mary's father was Irish, and her mother was from Manchester, England. Lana's great-grandmother Violet was the daughter of Belle J. England, whose maternal grandparents were Irish.
Lana's paternal grandmother was Cynthia Ann Kirk, who was born in Pennsylvania and was of mostly Colonial American/English descent. Cynthia was the daughter of James Wickersham Kirk and Alice Elizabeth Woolridge/Wooldridge. Alice's mother was English.
Lana Del Rey has described her father as a "millionaire who bankrolled her," although she has denied that her family was ever wealthy. Robert has embraced his nickname "Nepo Daddy," and has even considered creating merchandise around the name. He has also collaborated with his daughter on several songs, including "Sunshine," and released his own debut album, "Lost at Sea," in 2023.
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Ancestry on her mother's side
Lana Del Rey, born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, is of mixed ethnicity. On her mother's side, she has French and German ancestry. Del Rey's maternal grandfather was Donald Paul Hill, the son of Frank Judkins Hill and Marion Klepper. Her maternal grandmother was Madeline Patricia McClean Hill.
Del Rey's stage name is inspired by her desire to create a name that sounded "'tropical" and "exotic" and reminded her of the beach in Miami. She has stated that she chose the name "Lana Del Rey" to shape the music towards a certain aesthetic. The name "Del Rey" means "'of the king' in Spanish, and "Lana" is a legitimate first name in many languages.
Del Rey has been photographed wearing a Native American headdress in her "'Ride'" music video, which has been criticized as cultural appropriation. She has also been known to smoke cigarettes, although she has expressed a desire to quit the habit.
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![Born To Die (Deluxe Version) [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ZItCx6tmL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Her self-identification as Cuban
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. She chose her stage name because she "wanted a name I could shape the music towards". At the time, she was visiting Miami frequently and speaking Spanish with her Cuban friends. She said that the name reminded her of the "glamour of the seaside".
In her song "West Coast", Del Rey sings: "He's crazy y Cubano como yo" ("He's crazy and Cuban like me"). She also sings in "Black Beauty": "I dye my hair a darker shade of brown cause you like your women Spanish, dark, strong and proud". Del Rey has been criticised for cultural appropriation, with some Latino fans defending her "chameleon accent" and "appropriative stage name".
Del Rey has said that she chose her stage name to sound tropical and exotic, reminding her of "the beach in Miami". She has also stated that she wanted to change her name to sound Spanish. In addition to her Cuban friends in Miami, Del Rey also spent time in Spain when she was 16, which may have influenced her interest in Latin/Spanish culture.
In conclusion, while Del Rey is not Cuban, her self-identification as such is part of her embodiment of the American notion of self-invention and experimentation.
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Her Scottish ancestry
Lana Del Rey, born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, is of Scottish ancestry through her father's side of the family. Her paternal grandfather, Robert England Grant, Sr., was the son of Benjamin William Grant, whose parents were Scottish. In an interview, Lana Del Rey herself confirmed that her family has a Scottish crest and that her family roots are in Lanarkshire, Scotland. She also expressed her desire to visit Lanarkshire someday.
Benjamin William Grant's father, David Stuart Grant, was also of Scottish descent. David was the son of parents who were both of Scottish descent. This further reinforces the Scottish ancestry of Lana Del Rey through her paternal lineage.
Lana Del Rey's great-grandmother, Violet England Rowell, also had Scottish roots through her mother, Isabela/Belle J. England. Violet's maternal grandparents were Irish, indicating a mix of Scottish and Irish heritage in the family. This adds another layer to the Scottish ancestry present in Lana Del Rey's family tree.
The Scottish lineage of Lana Del Rey contributes to her diverse ethnic background, which also includes Irish, English, and American roots. The acknowledgement of her Scottish ancestry provides insight into her family history and cultural influences.
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Frequently asked questions
Lana Del Rey is of mixed ethnicity, with English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry on her father’s side and French and German ancestry on her mother’s side.
Lana Del Rey was born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant on June 21, 1985, in New York City.
She chose the name Lana Del Rey because it sounded tropical and exotic and reminded her of the beach in Miami.
Rey means king and Reina is queen, it's a common Hispanic surname.
