Quick answer: Machine Gun Kelly's birth name is Colson Baker. He was born April 22, 1990, in Houston, Texas, and is also billed as MGK (stylized lowercase). He has publicly clarified the name himself; Capital and major outlets list Colson Baker (Capital FM; Hollywood Reporter). On November 3, 2026, Baker and Dakota Johnson were photographed leaving a Calabasas restaurant after dinner; People and other outlets covered the outing November 4 as the pair continue to be linked without a public "official" label (People via Yahoo; TMZ; Harper's Bazaar). See his full Machine Gun Kelly bio.
Why MGK is trending
Dating coverage spiked again after Nov. 3 Calabasas photos. People sources say Baker and Dakota Johnson have spent more time together since September NYC sightings and after Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's July wedding, without a public label (People; Elle). Treat anonymous "source" relationship details as reported claims, not court-level fact.
Colson Baker — birth name vs. stage name
Baker has said he posts under his real name to end online debate: "hello, I'm Colson Baker" (archived Instagram statement widely cited). Hollywood Reporter interviewed him as he leaned on the birth name for acting credits (Hollywood Reporter). The stage name Machine Gun Kelly (later shortened professionally to MGK) referenced rapid-fire rap delivery and echoed the Prohibition-era gangster nickname—not a separate legal identity (TV Guide; Capital FM).
Rumor vs. fact: Some databases (including TV Guide's "Birth Name" field) list Richard Colson Baker. Baker has publicly said his birth name is Colson Baker with no middle name and that the "Richard" form is erroneous. On this site we prioritize his own clarification and Capital/THR usage; flag "Richard Colson Baker" as a secondary-source conflict, not confirmed.
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Names in the dating-news orbit
- Dakota Johnson — uses Dakota Johnson on screen; daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith (documented widely; no conflicting birth-name claim needed for this post).
- Role Model — musician Tucker Pillsbury, previously linked to Johnson; People reported that relationship ended (People).
- Megan Fox — Baker's former partner; they co-parent a young daughter (People). We do not expand on the child's name beyond what major outlets already publish.
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- Machine Gun Kelly bio
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- Machine Gun Kelly on Wikipedia and IMDb
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FAQ
What is Machine Gun Kelly's real name? Colson Baker. He also performs as MGK.
Is his name Richard Colson Baker? TV Guide and some bios say so; Baker himself has said that is wrong and that he was born Colson Baker. Label the "Richard" form disputed.
Where was he born? Houston, Texas, April 22, 1990. He later became associated with Cleveland's music scene.
Are Dakota Johnson and MGK officially a couple? As of early November 2026 they have not publicly labeled the relationship; paparazzi and anonymous sources report dates. That is rumor-adjacent reporting, not a marriage or legal filing.
Why the stage name Machine Gun Kelly? Outlets attribute it to his rapid-fire delivery (and the historic gangster nickname echo).