For a celebrity to make it big in the entertainment industry, a catchy name must be used. Many celebrities have since ditched their birth names for unique stage names.
The celebrities you know currently are not who they call themselves. They use catchy names to remain relevant in the industry.
25 Celebrities Who Don’t Use Their Real Names
You are about to find out the celebrities who have left their real names behind. They now go with stage names that many people have become accustomed to.
1. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta – Lady Gaga
You know her pretty well as Lady Gaga. However, that is not her real name.
When she was born, she was named Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. By the time she was building her career, she ditched her real name for Lady Gaga to reinvent herself.
2. Caryn Elaine Johnson – Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is a renowned name in Hollywood. She is one of the best actresses in history.
She adopted the stage name Whoopi Goldberg because people used to tell her she is like a whoopee cushion. Her birth name is Caryn Elaine Johnson.
3. Elizabeth Woolridge Grant – Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey was born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant. She is a singer who decided to change her after releasing an album.
Elizabeth chose Lana Del Rey to reinvent herself. She longed for a name that made her feel exotic.
4. Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva – Nina Dobrev
Nina Dobrev is famous for her role in the famous TV show Vampire Diaries. She was not born Nina rather Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva.
She chose to shorten her first name to Nina and her last name to Dobrev. Her name has enabled her to land notable roles in the film industry.
5. Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar – Cardi B
Cardi B’s real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar. Everyone always called her Bacardi because of her sister’s name Hennessy.
From Bacardi, she shortened the name to Cardi B. That is how she came by her stage name.
6. Austin Richard Post – Post Malone
Post Malone is a famous singer of the 21st century. He was born Austin Richard Post.
Interestingly, he got his last name Malone from an online rap generator. He combined Malone with his last name Post becoming Post Malone.
7. Abel Makkonen Tesfaye – The Weeknd
Born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, The Weeknd one day chose to drop out of school and went home. That is how he came with his stage name.
Nevertheless, some Canadian bands were using the same name, making him drop one e to become Weeknd. That is how this talented singer got his stage name.
8. Mark Sinclair Vincent– Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel is one of the best actors of all time. He was not born Vin Diesel rather Mark Sinclair Vincent.
He had enough of his birth name and decided to have a stage name. He created the name Vin from his stepfather’s last name and Diesel from his friends.
9. John Roger Stephens – John Legend
John Legend was given the name by poet J. Ivy. When he heard this talented singer performing, he remembered the old school.
He then decided to give John Roger Stephens the last name Legend. J. Ivy said John sounded like one of the legends.
10. Krishna Pandit Bhanji – Ben Kingsley
It is incredible how actor Ben Kingsley got recognition in his seventies. This famous actor was born Krishna Pandit Bhanji.
When asked why he changed his name to Ben Kingsley, he says he wanted a simple name. A name that could be easily recognized.
11. Alicia Augello-Cook – Alicia Keys
Don’t we all love Alicia Keys for his soothing RnB music? Her real name is Alicia Augello-Cook, but she contemplated changing her last name.
Alicia wanted to go by Alicia Wild, but her mum declined, saying she sounded like a stripper. She then chose Keys which made her feel like she can open so many doors.
12. Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra – Meg Ryan
When Meg Ryan saw it was time to go after her dreams, she thought of changing her name too. She decided to go with Ryan, her maternal grandmother’s maiden name.
Meg Ryan’s birth name is Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra. Fame indeed makes someone change.
13. Adam Richard Wiles – Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is well-known for his famous singles as a singer. When his career kicked off, he thought of changing his name.
He is quoted as saying Calvin Harris felt kind of racially unclear. People would not know whether he was black or not, which is how he got stuck with the name.
14. Norma Jeane Mortenson – Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson. However, 20th Century Fox studio executive didn’t want anything to do with her real name.
Norma Jeane decided to go with Monroe from her mother’s family. The studio executive gave her Marilyn, which matched the Broadway starlet Marilyn Miller.
15. Julie Anne Smith – Julianne Moore
The reason why born Julie Anne Smith had to change her name is because someone else was using her name. She could not continue with her real name in the film world.
She then changed her name to Julianne Moore. Fortunately, she was the only one with that name, so she kept it.
16. Neta-Lee Hershlag – Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman was born in Israel. However, when she migrated to the US, she had to change her traditional Hebrew name.
Her surname was changed to Portman. She got her first name Natalie from her maternal grandmother’s maiden name.
17. Ilyena Lydia Mironoff – Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren is one of the best British actresses. During birth, she was given the name Ilyena Lydia Mironoff.
However, Helen’s father opted to change the family’s last name to Mirren. Helen acquired that name after simplifying her first name Ilynea.
18. Onika Tanya Maraj – Nicki Minaj
Female rapper Nicki Minaj never got a chance to choose her stage name. Somebody else did.
Nicki Minaj was born Onika Tanya Maraj. It is the first production deal producer she signed with that chose the stage name for her.
19. Amanda Lee Rogers – Portia de Rossi
Portia de Rossi has been quoted saying changing her name was attributed to her struggle of being gay. Everything, including her real name Amanda Lee Rogers, was not identifying with her true self.
She went for Portia because she adored Shakespeare. Portia picked De Rossi because she was Australian, and the name was exotic.
20. Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson – Katy Perry
Katy Perry had a tough adolescent period. She had an identity crisis that pushed her to change her name from Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson.
She just created the character Katy Perry which she felt identified with her. She felt that character offered her protection, and the name stuck.
21. Ashley Frangipane – Halsey
Many people always think Halsey’s name was an anagram from her first name. Well, that is not true.
Born Ashley Frangipane, Halsey got her stage name from a street in Brooklyn. She was inspired by Halsey Street, which her friend lived on.
22. Peter Gene Hernandez – Bruno Mars
During an interview, this famous said he has always been Bruno for as long as he can remember. Though his birth name is Peter Hernandez, he was nicknamed Bruno as a toddler.
He adopted the Mars surname when commencing his music career. That is how the stage name Bruno Mars was created.
23. Christopher Edwin Breaux – Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean is a celebrated musician who was born Christopher Edwin Breaux. He has always felt that his real name was not cool enough.
It was during his birthday in 2010 that he decided to change his name. He went on LegalZoom, and just like that, he changed his name to Frank Ocean.
24. Eric Marlon Bishop – Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx is a multi-talented actor and singer. He was born Eric Marlon Bishop.
When he began doing standup comedy, he chose a unisex name to match his career. That is Jamie Foxx was created.
25. Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor – Lorde
Lorde always felt her real name Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, wasn’t anything special. She chose to change her name to Lorde.
To her, Lorde was bold and extremely strong. That is what she needed, a name that had magnificent in it.
Conclusion
Most celebrities have the best names that make it easy to identify with. Their stage names are easy to remember.
Real names don’t make celebrities bring out the best in them. That is why they go for stage names that describe the real them.