What was Moliére's real name?

Answer 1

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin was the real name of Moliére (January 15, 1622 - February 17, 1673).

Specifically, the Parisian playwright was named after his father, Jean Poquelin (1595 - February 1669). His father was in the furniture and upholstery business and expected his eldest son to become a lawyer and upholsterer. But Jean-Baptiste chose the theater and began using a stage name for reasons that never were recorded. One of those reasons just may have been his father's opposition to a career subject to excommunication by its pursuer in 17th-century France.

Answer 2

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin is the real name of French playwright, performer and director Molière (January 15, 1622 - February 17, 1673).

Specifically, Poquelin used his own name until sometime after 1645. In that year, he left Paris for the French provinces. He returned to his home town of Paris in 1658. By that time, he was best known by the pseudonym/stage name "Molière." Any explanation for the choice or meaning of the name either was not ever included in the historical record or did not survive the passage of time.