After gaining Greek citizenship in 2013, his official surname became Αντετοκούνμπο, the Greek transcription of Adetokunbo, which was then transliterated letter-for-letter and officially spelled on his Greek passport as Antetokounmpo.[15][16] Giannis is the colloquial for the Gr. Ioannis (John).[17] Because many could not pronounce his surname, he quickly became known as the "Greek Freak".[18][19] Antetokounmpo also holds Nigerian citizenship,[6] having received his Nigerian passport in 2015,[20] and as such possesses multiple citizenship.[21][22]