The artist formerly known as Madonna

First it was Prince. Now it is Madonna.

The 45-year-old pop singer has changed her name to Esther, reports People magazine.

Apparently, 'Madonna' told ABC News that she was named after her mother. She said, "She died when she was very young, of cancer, and I wanted to attach myself to another name... This is in no way a negation of who my mother was. I wanted to attach myself to the energy of a different name."

The artist formerly known as Madonna is married to British director Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels).