Gatsby's Real Name in The Great Gatsby
In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby, the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby's real name is James Gatz. He was born in North Dakota to a poor farming family and later invented the name Jay Gatsby to reinvent himself.
Why Gatsby Changed His Name
Gatsby created his new identity to distance himself from his humble origins and to pursue wealth and status. The name change reflects the novel's themes of self-invention, ambition, and the American Dream.
Where to Find This Information
The full name James Gatz is revealed in Chapter 6 of The Great Gatsby. For more details, see the novel's text or scholarly summaries such as this overview from Britannica.
