How Celebrities Rewrote Their Identities
Writers have their “nom de plume,” while entertainers like actors, musicians, and comedians call it a stage name. These names often come with fascinating stories. If you’ve ever wondered whether your favorite celeb’s name is their birth name, this article will clear it up.
Reasons Stars Change Their Names
There are several reasons stars would want to change their names. The first and the obvious is simply because someone already uses that name. Under union rules, changes are advised unless you want confusion when awards are being called out. A great example here is Diane Keaton.
She Switched Her Name
Diane Keaton became Diane Hall, Hall being her mother’s maiden name. The name on her birth certificate was similar to another person registered in the Actors’ Equity Association. Another reason for name switches is based on family unions. Here’s why.
The Family Name Might Cast A Shadow Over Someone’s Fame
A perfect example is Nicolas Cage, who went with Cage from the Coppola surname. He just wanted to forge his own path, far away from his uncle, a director by the name of Francis Ford Coppola, who directed the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
nicolas genin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
More Reasons Linked To Family Ties
Conversely, people also change their names to match the family name to gain some benefits. These do work. Ask Lon Chaney Sr.’s son Creighton, who had more significant roles in TV and film after converting his name to Lon Chaney Jr.
Film screenshot (C.G.K. Productions), Wikimedia Commons
Marriage As A Reason
Marriage and remarriage happen all the time, and it’s not unusual for people to take on a new partner’s or parent’s last name. It’s a familiar story, not just in Hollywood but everywhere. Some entertainers have done the same, as you’ll see here.
It Is Sometimes Involuntary
In some rare cases, your name might just not have that “star appeal,” and your agent is like, “Hmm, this needs to change to (insert name)”. This happened to Barbara Eden, who was born Barbara Jean Huffman. Similarly, Joan Rivers, initially Joan Alexandra Molinsky, took Rivers from her former agent.
NBC Television Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
Some Reasons Are Just To Make You Memorable
Imagine your name is Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff? How many people would even know how to call you? This is also a reason to make a switch. The Actors’ Equity Association would suggest you use a more straightforward name. Perhaps go with a name to match the image they want to portray.
Sometimes, It Is Just A Preference
If we were to state all the reasons, we would have to change the title, and we don’t want to do that, do we? So, on that note, let’s now dig into the stars who have changed their birth names to stage names. Kicking us off is Carlos Irwin Estévez.
Charlie Sheen: Carlos Irwin Estévez
The guy we have all grown to love, thanks to his role as Charlie in Two and a Half Men, was born Carlos Irwin Estévez. Carlos switched to Charlie Sheen to match his dad’s stage name, Martin Sheen (Ramón Estévez). His dad is also an actor himself.
Two and a Half Men (2003–2015), CBS
Jamie Foxx: Eric Marlon Bishop
Foxx’s reason is a rare one. The guy went with Jamie Foxx, a gender-neutral moniker because he realized that comedy clubs at the time he was starting as a stand-up comedian always preferred selecting women first. The name helped him sidestep that bias. It’s also a nod to comedian Redd Foxx.
John Bauld, CC-BY-SA-2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Portia De Rossi: Amanda Lee Rogers
Today, we know her as Portia Lee James DeGeneres because she is the wife of Ellen DeGeneres. Before that, at 15, she switched to Portia de Rossi from Amanda Lee Rogers just to reinvent herself to stand out in Hollywood. The name Portia is from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.
John Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Marilyn Monroe: Norma Jeane Mortenson
Imagine calling Monroe Norma. It doesn’t have that punch, does it? Well, in August 1946, with the help of Ben Lyon, a film actor, she chose the name Marylin from the Broadway star Marilyn Miller. Monroe was her mother’s maiden name. Then came the legendary Marilyn Monroe title.
Jay-Z: Shawn Corey Carter
Even though many people refer to him as Mr Carter, Jay-Z actually took up this name from his mentor, Jaz-O. The name morphing to Jay-Z was a product of time. After dropping out of high school, Carter used to sell substances and got the name Jazzy. He mixed the two.
Joella Marano, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Halsey: Ashley Nicolette Frangipane
Who would have guessed that Halsey’s real name is Ashley Nicolette Frangipane? The story is fascinating. At 17, she had started romantically seeing a 24-year-old guy who lived near her at the Brooklyn Halsey Street station. She got the name here and considers it her alter ego.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Emma Stone: Emily Jean Stone
Stone had two name changes. The first was to Riley Stone because Emily Stone had already been taken when she went to register for the Screen Actors Guild at 16. She used this name for several shows, then decided to change Riley to Emma, inspired by The Spice Girls singer.
Lana Del Rey: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
Del Rey took name changes four notches higher: Lizzy Grant, Sparkle Jump Rope Queen, Lana Rey Del Mar, and May Jailer. She finally settled on Lana Del Rey, inspired by Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey sedan. She says it reminded her of the glamour of the seaside.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Lady Gaga: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
This one was a typo, folks. Once upon a time, Germanotta was dating a producer who attempted to call her “Radio Ga Ga” via text, but the phone did its autocorrect thing and changed “Radio” to “Lady”. “Radio Ga Ga” is the title of a Queen’s song.
Bruno Mars: Peter Gene Hernandez
Mr Mars had a childhood name, Bruno, given by his dad. He went on to say this about the added word Mars, “I felt like I didn’t have no pizzazz, and a lot of girls say I’m out of this world, so I was like, I guess I’m from Mars”. Well, it's quite an interesting way to choose a pet name.
Katy Perry: Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
The bubbly, colorful Perry’s real name is Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson. Back in 2003, Perry performed as Katheryn Perry to avoid being confused with Kate Hudson. Then Katheryn became Kate, and her surname Perry came from her mother’s maiden name, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Miley Cyrus: Destiny Hope Cyrus
Miss Hope was a happy baby, constantly smiling at everyone, and this earned her the nickname “Smiley”. It is from “Smiley” that the name “Miley” stems from. Come 2008. Hope legally switched her name to Miley Ray Cyrus. Her middle name honors her granddad.
Elton John: Reginald Kenneth Dwight
John’s career started early as Reggie. In 1972, he changed his name to Elton Hercules John. The name Elton John came first in 1967 when he paid homage to members of Bluesology (saxophonist Elton Dean and vocalist Long John Baldry). Hercules came from a horse character from a British sitcom.
David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Natalie Portman: Neta-Lee Hershlag
Natalie just chose to make her first name more “typical” and added her grandmother’s maiden name to seal that deal. There have been reports that the name selection might have been fueled by seeking privacy for her family, besides its nostalgic appeal tied to her grandmother.
Vin Diesel: Mark Sinclair
Mark Sinclair’s transformation into Vin Diesel wasn’t random—it was calculated as he was working as a bouncer at a club to sound tougher. Vin comes from his stepfather’s surname, Vincent, while Diesel was a nickname his friends gave him for his high-energy persona.
Nicki Minaj: Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty
Before she became Nicki Minaj, she was Onika Tanya Maraj. It all started when Maraj was signed on a 180-day deal with the CEO of the Brooklyn label Dirty Money Entertainment. By then, she went by Nicki Maraj, and Fendi switched it to Minaj because of her “nasty flow”.
hnnssy25, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
John Legend: John Roger Stephens
Stephens adopted Legend after signing to West’s GOOD Music and getting the idea from the poet J. Ivy. Ivy once said, “I heard your music, and it reminds me of that music from the old school. You sound like one of the legends….. I’m going to call you John Legend”.
Toglenn, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Demi Moore: Demetria Gene Guynes
This American actress went from Demetria Gene Guynes to Demi Moore for simplicity and recognition. She took the surname of her first husband, Freddy Moore, and shortened her first name to make herself more relatable in Hollywood. This was a case of marriage ties in play.
Everett Collection, Shutterstock
Whoopi Goldberg: Caryn Elaine Johnson
Whoopi’s move from Caryn Elaine Johnson is funny. It was inspired by a whoopee cushion, and she tells of how when you are a performer on stage, you never have time for bathroom breaks. So, when you get gassy, let it go”. Hence “Whoopee”. And Goldberg is a family name.
Library of Congress Life, CC0,Wikimedia Commons
Michael Keaton: Michael John Douglas
This selection was because Michael Douglas was already known in the scene. So, to avoid confusion, he went with “Keaton,” which became his professional identity. People asked if it was connected to Diane, who already had that name, and he said his phone book search ended at Keaton.
Meg Ryan: Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra
Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra had a mouthful of a name, so she streamlined it to Meg Ryan. The surname Ryan was borrowed from her maternal grandmother’s surname, and Meg was a shortening of her first name. She officially started using this name when she joined the Screen Actors Guild.
Pink: Alecia Beth Moore
Known for her powerhouse vocals and edgy style, Moore’s adoption of Pink has several purported sources. One source claims Pink was a nod to Reservoir Dogs character Mr Pink. Another source even quotes that Pink comes from an incident between Moore and a boy, linking it to her privates.
Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bono: Paul David Hewson
The U2 frontman had many names: Steinhegvanhuysenolegbangbangbang, Huyseman, Houseman, Bon Murray, Bono Vox of O’Connell Street, and it all landed at Bono. At some point, it was Bonavox, which means “good voice”. Hewson was adamant about adopting that name, but that translation was why he accepted it.
Alexandros Michailidis, Shutterstock
The Weeknd: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
The Weeknd as Tesfaye? We never saw this coming. Anyway, this name selection was literal. The guy dropped out of school and left home on a weekend. He then called himself The Weeknd and removed the ‘e’ to avoid trademark issues. He also went with Kin Kane at some point.
Nicolas Padovani, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lana Turner: Julia Jean Turner
This is a case of an inspiration that was inspired. Remember that Lana Turner inspired Lana Del Rey’s name; she too was inspired to get her stage name suggested by a film director named Mervyn LeRoy. This director had signed her to a weekly $50 contract with Warner Bros.
Sting: Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner
Sting, the Police frontman, was born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner. The source of Sting? He gained this moniker from his habit of donning a black and yellow jumper with circled stripes just like a bee, such that his band members gave him the name Sting.
Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Cardi B: Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar
Before Almánzar became Cardi B, she had the nickname Bacardi (the rum). So we purport that the B was just moved to the front, making the B or it simply stands for Belcalis. Nonetheless, we love and adore her antics and strong self-spoken character.
Iggy Azalea: Amethyst Amelia Kelly
Who calls a child Amethyst? Answer? Iggy Azalea’s parents. And because of that, Azalea made a switch, and here’s the short story: The Australian rapper combined the name of her childhood dog, Iggy, with the name of the street she grew up on Azalea.
Calvin Harris: Adam Richard Wiles
The Scottish DJ Calvin Harris’s name seems like a birth certificate name, but in this case, it isn’t. Harris is called Adam Richard Wiles. Wiles uses this name as his stage alter ego but prefers being addressed as Wiles off-stage. He also goes by the stage name Love Regenerator sometimes.
Stevie Wonder: Stevland Hardaway Judkins
The musical prodigy was rebranded as “Little Stevie Wonder” by Motown founder Berry Gordy, who was amazed by his talent. The name “Wonder” perfectly encapsulates his incredible impact on music and culture. And if you think about it, it fits.
Alicia Keys: Alicia Augello Cook
We bet you never knew that this Grammy-winning singer-songwriter chose Keys to replace Augello Cook as a stage name. The reason? Her manager suggested that Keys would be the best fit, and she agreed because she played piano. But did you know? Before Keys, she considered going with the name Wilde.
Frank Ocean: Christopher Edwin Breaux
Frank Ocean chose his stage name after being inspired by Frank Sinatra and the Ocean’s 11 films. Yup, this musical genius with fantastic talent and a couple of accolades under his sleeve has indeed eased us into a better name to remember and pronounce.
Pemberton Music Festival, Flickr
Joaquin Phoenix: Joaquín Rafael Bottom
He switched Rafael Bottom for Phoenix because he could and wanted to. His first credits under Leaf Phoenix were in films like SpaceCamp (1986) and Parenthood (1989). Some claim that the actor took the last name Phoenix to symbolize rebirth after his family left the Children of God cult.
Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Queen Latifah: Dana Elaine Owens
We’ve known her for a long time as Queen Latifa, which made the name stick. Well, she was born Dana Elaine Owens, and she adopted Latifah, an Arabic word meaning “delicate” or “very kind,” at the age of 8. Queen was added later, symbolizing a regal approach to her craft.
Donna Lou Morgan, U.S. Navy, Wikimedia Commons
Kid Rock: Robert James Ritchie
Kid Rock, born Robert James Ritchie, earned his nickname Kid Rock while DJing at parties as a teenager. The name was given to him by club-goers who enjoyed watching “that white kid rock” during his sets. This nickname perfectly personifies his rebellious spirit and genre-blending musical style.
Shania Twain: Eilleen Regina Edwards
Finally, we have the country music superstar who changed her name to Shania, an Ojibwa word purported to mean “on my way”. This change came when she signed with Mercury Nashville Records after losing her parents in 1987 and after taking care of her siblings until they moved out.
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