Jay-Z’s name is a shortened version of an early nickname, “Jazzy”… Another popular nickname for Jay-Z is “Jiggy”… In 2005 he announced he wanted to be known by his real name, Shawn Carter, but he has remained most widely known by his nickname… Jay-Z and Beyoncé have a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on January 7, 2012, and twins born in June of 2017.