18. Freddie Legally Changed His Last Name to Mercury
He had long adopted the name “Freddie,” which was more British-sounding than Farokh. He chose the last name “Mercury” from a line in the song “My Fair King,” which says, “Mother Mercury, look what they’ve done to me.” “My Fairy King” was one of many Queen songs that talked about the fantastical land of Rhye, which Mercury had invented.