The Simpsons has hinted at Moe’s full, real name numerous times, but the only way viewers can work it out is by adding together many hints dotted throughout the long-running series. Debuting in 1989, The Simpsons quickly garnered critical acclaim thanks to the show’s clever subversions of family sitcom tropes. The anarchic animated comedy played fast and loose with continuity, something the series has continued to do even as The Simpsons enters its fourth decade on the air.
While the titular family may be the main characters of the series, fans of The Simpsons have also long loved the citizens of Springfield, oddball characters who are often spotlighted by the series. Among these regular supporting stars is Moe Szyslak, the taciturn local bartender and owner of Moe’s Tavern. Although Moe has appeared in the series since its inception, one major detail about the character continues to elude even canny viewers of The Simpsons.
Moe’s actual name and his ethnic origins have changed numerous times throughout The Simpsons, with one episode seeing a side character call him “Morris” while another sees Homer call him “Moammar.” With a constantly changing background, it is impossible to tell which if either of these names is Moe’s real moniker, meaning that it is fair to say that Moe’s actual origins are still a mystery. As a result of this, “Moammar Morris Syzlak” is the closest thing to a real name that Simpsons viewers have for him so far.
Lady Gaga’s cameo episode “Lisa Goes Gaga” (season 23, episode 22) sees Moe refer to himself as “half-monster, half-Armenian,” which seems to give viewers an idea of where the character hails from, but this is only one of many contradictory stories explaining the enigmatic character’s origins. Moe is also supposedly of Dutch heritage, according to “The Bart-Mangled Banner” (season 15, episode 21), and yet in a later episode, Moe also claims that his grandfather was Irish. This may still seem plausible, if convoluted, but years earlier, Moe’s childhood self could be seen admonishing him for no longer talking in his natural Italian accent in an outing from the much-loved early seasons of The Simpsons.
Meanwhile, judging by The Simpsons canon, Moe’s father is a Yeti according to "Moe Goes From Rags To Riches" (season 23, episode 12). This seemingly affirms the “half-monster, half-Armenian” claim, but brings viewers no closer to knowing Moe’s real name, which is further complicated by the episode “Eeny Teeny Maya Moe” implying that the bar owner changed his name to Moe upon opening his tavern. This does not directly contradict the only full name the series has provided him with so far, “Moammar Morris Syzlak,” and as such, Simpsons fans can rest assured that this remains the best guess viewers can hazard at Moe’s real name. However, like the mystery of how The Simpsons will end, this inquiry may never have a clear answer until the show finally reaches its close.