You know the voice. That smooth, urban bachata silkiness that’s been dominating the charts since "Stand By Me" dropped back in 2010. But before the sold-out arenas and the "Prince" title, there was just a kid from the Bronx.
Prince Royce real name is Geoffrey Royce Rojas.
Kinda less regal, right? But honestly, the name Geoffrey is exactly where the journey started—long before he was rubbing shoulders with Jennifer Lopez or Shakira.
Who is Geoffrey Royce Rojas?
Born on May 11, 1989, Geoffrey grew up in a Dominican household where music wasn't just background noise; it was the atmosphere. His dad, Ramón Rojas, drove a cab. His mom, Ángela de León, worked in a beauty salon.
He’s the second of four kids. Money wasn't exactly overflowing, but the culture was.
While other kids were out playing, Geoffrey was busy writing poetry. Yeah, poetry. That's actually how the songwriting started. He took a class in high school, and suddenly those rhymes started picking up melodies.
By the time he was 19, he was basically a telemarketing pro, selling cell phones at a Sprint store to fund his demos. It’s wild to think that the guy who has 22 number-one radio hits used to spend his Tuesdays asking people if they wanted to upgrade their data plans.
The transition to Prince Royce
The "Prince" part wasn't just an ego trip.
When he was first getting started, he wanted something that felt like a brand but stayed connected to his middle name. "Royce" was always going to stay—it's his actual middle name—but adding "Prince" gave it that royal, classic feel that matched the romantic vibes of his music.
It worked.
The industry caught on fast. After meeting manager Andrés Hidalgo and eventually legendary producer Sergio George, the Geoffrey days were officially behind him. He signed a deal, released his self-titled debut, and the rest is literally history. We're talking 13X Diamond status for that first album.
Growing Up in the Bronx
Geoffrey's upbringing is the reason his music sounds the way it does. If he hadn't grown up in the Bronx, he might have just made straight-up traditional bachata.
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But he didn't.
He grew up listening to hip-hop, R&B, and pop right alongside the Dominican music his parents played. That’s why you hear those soulful R&B inflections in his voice even when he’s singing over a traditional guira and tambora.
"I was studying to be an English teacher," Royce once mentioned in an interview.
Can you imagine? Mr. Rojas teaching Shakespeare in a Bronx classroom instead of winning 25 Billboard Latin Music Awards? It almost happened. He was attending community college and really leaning into the literature life before the music career exploded.
Why the name change matters
In the Latin music world, names are everything.
Using a stage name like Prince Royce allowed him to bridge two worlds. It’s catchy for English speakers, but the "Royce" keeps it grounded in his identity.
Interestingly, while his stage name is what the world knows, his roots are still very "Geoffrey." In 2018, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio actually proclaimed August 9th as "Prince Royce Day."
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Think about that. A kid named Geoffrey Royce Rojas from the Bronx got a whole day named after his stage persona in his own hometown. He’s even in the Bronx Walk of Fame. He’s the youngest public figure to ever get that honor.
The Career by the Numbers
If you're wondering if the name change helped, the stats say a big "yes."
- 14 billion+ global streams.
- 80 million social media followers.
- 22 #1 hits on the radio.
- Guinness World Record for "Carita de Inocente" (29 weeks at #1).
It’s not just about the name, obviously. The work ethic he learned while working at that Sprint store carried over. He’s constantly reinventing himself. Just look at his latest projects like Llamada Perdida. He’s mixing disco elements into bachata now.
He isn't afraid to experiment.
He’s collaborated with everyone from Snoop Dogg to Daddy Yankee. That’s the versatility of Geoffrey Royce Rojas. He can be the romantic prince on a ballad, but he can also hold his own on an urban track with Bad Bunny.
Beyond the Stage Name
Life hasn't always been just awards and red carpets.
Geoffrey’s personal life has seen its share of headlines, especially his marriage and eventual divorce from actress Emeraude Toubia. They were together for a long time—married in 2018 and split in 2022.
Even through the personal stuff, he’s stayed focused on the music.
He’s also used his platform for more than just hits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was involved in relief efforts through Pitbull’s "I Believe That We Will Win" project. He’s a role model for kids in the Bronx, showing them that you can start by writing poems in a bedroom and end up a global superstar.
What’s next for Prince Royce?
The journey from Geoffrey to Prince Royce is still going.
If you want to keep up with the man behind the name, here are a few things you should actually do:
- Listen to the early demos: If you can find the pre-2010 stuff, you’ll hear the raw R&B influence that Geoffrey was trying to master before the bachata transition.
- Check out "Llamada Perdida": His newer work shows how he's evolving the "Prince Royce" sound into something more mature and experimental.
- Watch his live performances: He’s known for being incredibly down-to-earth with fans, sometimes even crashing local dance classes or events.
Basically, the name on the passport says Geoffrey Royce Rojas, but the legacy belongs to Prince Royce. He’s the bridge between the Dominican Republic and the Bronx, and he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Keep an eye on his upcoming tour dates. Seeing him live is the only way to truly understand how he blends those two identities into one massive show.