Lisa, originally named Pranpriya Manobal, changed her name at 13 after consulting a fortune teller, a decision that reflects her journey in K-pop and her relationship with fellow bandmates.
Lisa, a member of the popular K-pop group Blackpink, was born Pranpriya Manobal. At the age of 13, she changed her first name to Lalisa after a visit to a fortune teller, who advised her to adopt a name that would be considered 'more auspicious' in her pursuit of a career in music. The name Lalisa translates to 'one who is praised' in Thai.
In an interview, Lisa explained her cultural background, saying, "I mean, I don’t know about the culture here, but in Thailand, it’s fun to go see a fortune teller." This visit to the fortune teller occurred after she had auditioned for YG Entertainment, a South Korean company renowned for discovering and managing musical talent, particularly in the K-pop genre.
Following her name change, Lisa relocated to South Korea at the age of 14 to join the YG trainee program. Vanity Fair highlighted the rigorous nature of this program, noting that it is known for its strict environment. Despite this, Lisa expressed that she had a positive experience, stating, "Manobal speaks no ill of it, and she assures me that she was taken care of."
However, the transition was not without its challenges. Lisa admitted that she felt frightened when she first began the training and struggled with the language barrier, saying, "I had to start from zero, but I felt like I really wanted to do this."
As her journey in the K-pop industry continues, Lisa's bond with her fellow Blackpink members—Jennie, Jisoo, and Rosé—remains a topic of interest.
