Tesfaye has credited his stage name as being inspired by his high school dropout status, claiming "after left one weekend and never came home", though producer Jeremy Rose claims the name was his idea.
Tesfaye on öelnud, et ta lavanimi on inspireeritud kooli poolelijätmisest, väites et "pärast seda, kui ta ühel nädalavahetusel lahkus kodust ja enam tagasi ei tulnud", kuigi tema produtsent Jeremy Rose väidab, et see nimi oli tema idee.