Mika named after a plastic bag?

Flamboyant singer Mika has revealed the origins of his quirky name.

Mika, born Mica Penniman, said that his parents always picked names with special meanings for him and siblings.

He explained: “I was born in 1983 in Beirut. My mum’s Lebanese and my dad is American.

“My parents have given all of their children exotic names with special meanings.

“My brother is called Fortuné, meaning ‘luck’ in French. My sisters are called Paloma, meaning ‘dove’; Allegra, ‘happiness’; and Yasmine, which is ‘flower’.

“All lovely, but I don’t know what they thought about with me. They called me Mika, which actually means ‘plastic bag’ in Moroccan.

“Still, I love my name and I will never change it.”