Stacker reveals the true names of celebrities.
Celebrity stage names vs. their actual names
Celebrity stage names vs. their actual names
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Glossy magazines could attempt to persuade readers that stars are similar to regular individuals, however they’re not. For one factor, they’ll’t go grocery procuring in common garments with out winding up in these shiny magazines. As if that wasn’t dangerous sufficient, generally stars even have to lose their identities as soon as they discover fame of their lives. Celebrities change their names for quite a few causes, from individuals with unique names who wish to sound extra mainstream to these with a need to appear extra distinctive when different stars have comparable monikers.
Whatever the rationale for the change, it’s all the time fascinating to find the reality behind a star’s title. Stacker explores celebrities of every type who carry out underneath a stage title however had a very completely different title after they had been born. From old-school film stars searching for a memorable strategy to discover followers to pop stars who went for an out-of-this-world new alias, listed here are celebrities who took stage names after they hit the massive time.
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Bruno Mars
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– Stage title: Bruno Mars
– Real title: Peter Gene Hernandez
Growing up in Hawaii, little Peter Hernandez acquired the nickname Bruno from his father, who was impressed by well-liked wrestler Bruno Sammartino. He claims the Mars half is as a result of ladies used to say he was “out of this world,” however the pop star can also be on report saying he modified his title from Hernandez as a result of he didn’t wish to be pigeonholed as a Latin artist—though he’s very clear that he didn’t change it to cover his cultural roots.
Natalie Portman
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– Stage title: Natalie Portman
– Real title: Natalie Hershlag
Born to an Israeli father and an American mom, Natalie Portman opted to take her paternal grandmother’s maiden title professionally on the recommendation of her first agent Aleen Keshishian. The change went into impact by the point Portman’s first film, “Léon: The Professional,” got here out in 1994.
Shania Twain
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– Stage title: Shania Twain
– Real title: Eilleen Regina Edwards
Born as Eilleen Edwards, the long run nation star took the title Twain early in life, because it was the final title of her stepfather after her mom remarried post-divorce. The Shania half got here when the Canadian singer moved to Nashville and business executives steered Shania would seize extra followers than Eilleen would.
Queen Latifah
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– Stage title: Queen Latifah
– Real title: Dana Elaine Owens
Queen Latifah was solely 8 years previous when she removed the title Dana Owens. Her mom was fully supportive of her need to be known as Latifah as a result of it was fashionable on the time for individuals of their neighborhood to make use of names with Arabic roots. Latifah added “Queen,” as a result of she preferred how robust it sounded.
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Jamie Foxx
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– Stage title: Jamie Foxx
– Real title: Eric Marlon Bishop
In 2017, the web exploded when it came upon that actor/comic/singer Jamie Foxx was not born as Jamie Foxx. But actually, he had shared that data in 2014 when he went on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”—particularly, that he modified his title from Eric Bishop when he began performing as a comic within the late ’80s as a result of ladies had been getting extra stage time at open mic nights. When he used a unisex title like Jamie Foxx, he discovered himself getting known as up extra usually, and the title caught.
Michael Caine
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– Stage title: Michael Caine
– Real title: Maurice Joseph Micklewhite
Legendary British actor Michael Caine first adopted his stage title in 1954 after initially making an attempt out the title Michael Scott, which was taken—though there’s no connection to Steve Carrell’s “The Office” character. He noticed a film poster for a Humphrey Bogart movie known as “The Caine Mutiny,” and since Bogart was his favourite actor, he selected Caine as his new assumed surname—and he lastly made the change authorized in 2016.
Helen Mirren
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– Stage title: Helen Mirren
– Real title: Ilyena Lydia Mironoff
Born to a household descended from Russian the Aristocracy, however solid out to England through the Russian Revolution, Helen Mirren didn’t truly change her title to slot in on the stage. Her father did it for her, anglicizing the names of his complete household to be able to mesh higher in English society—and trying to keep away from anti-Semitism since he felt the title may very well be construed as Jewish.
Katy Perry
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– Stage title: Katy Perry
– Real title: Katheryn Hudson
What’s a lady to do when one other star has your title? Change it. That was the case with Katy Perry who didn’t wish to be related to actress Kate Hudson, who had already made a reputation for herself when Katy first began her pop profession. Instead of Hudson, Perry selected her mom’s maiden title—and the remainder is historical past.
Vin Diesel
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– Stage title: Vin Diesel
– Real title: Mark Sinclair
Born as Mark Sinclair, the artist at present often known as Vin Diesel modified his title as a young person when he began working as a bouncer in New York nightclubs. Vin’s twin, Paul Vincent, makes use of their mom’s maiden title as his surname, which can additionally clarify the “Vin” first title for Diesel.
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Gene Simmons
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– Stage title: Gene Simmons
– Real title: Chaim Witz
Israeli-American rocker Gene Simmons of Kiss truly went by means of two title modifications on his strategy to fame. When he was born in Haifa, he was named Chaim Witz; after emigrating to the U.S., he glided by Gene Klein as a result of it was simpler to pronounce. After transferring into the rock scene, he modified his moniker once more to grow to be Gene Simmons.
Jay-Z
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– Stage title: Jay-Z
– Real title: Shawn Carter
Jay-Z is neither a Jay nor a Z. He was born Shawn Carter in New York, however took on the title Jay-Z as a tribute to his mentor Jaz-O and the Z subway line to Brooklyn.
Rita Wilson
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– Stage title: Rita Wilson
– Real title: Margarita Ibrahimoff
Actress Rita Wilson is proudly Greek and was born as Margarita Ibrahimoff to a Bulgarian father and a Greek mom. They modified their surname to Wilson after they moved to America, which occurred to be the road they lived on. Rita, in fact, is brief for Margarita.
Elvis Costello
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– Stage title: Elvis Costello
– Real title: Declan Patrick MacManus
The British singer/songwriter got here from a musical household and idolized Elvis, so he adopted The King of Rock ’n’ Roll’s first title and swapped MacManus for his father’s stage title, Costello. Costello’s title was formally modified in 1977, though he legally modified it again in 1986—this time including a second center title, Aloysius.
Hulk Hogan
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– Stage title: Hulk Hogan
– Real title: Terry Bollea
Terry Bollea was a chubby child from the Southeast, however when he began wrestling he needed to tackle a stage title. After a chat present look alongside Lou Ferrigno, Hogan took on the nickname “Hulk” as a result of he was greater than the actor who performed The Incredible Hulk on TV. The Hogan half got here when wrestling impresario Vince McMahon needed a wrestler with an Irish-sounding title.
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Marilyn Monroe
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– Stage title: Marilyn Monroe
– Real title: Norma Jeane Mortenson
Mid-century bombshell Marilyn Monroe was born as Norma Jeane Mortenson, however she was altering names most of her life. Baptized as Norma Jeane Baker, she went on to be Norma Jeane Dougherty from her first marriage after which began utilizing the title Marilyn Monroe in 1946 when her performing profession started. She legally modified her title in 1956.
Whoopi Goldberg
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– Stage title: Whoopi Goldberg
– Real title: Caryn Johnson
It’s not a lot of a secret that Whoopi Goldberg was born as neither a Whoopi nor a Goldberg. The Whoopi got here from “whoopee cushion,” as a result of the younger Caryn Johnson used to place her flatulence on full show, inflicting individuals to say she gave the impression of a whoopee cushion. The origins of Goldberg are much less clear.
Alicia Keys
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– Stage title: Alicia Keys
– Real title: Alicia Augello Cook
When Alicia Keys was first searching for a stage title, she nearly settled on “Alicia Wild,” however her mom instructed her it sounded just like the title of a stripper. Instead, she selected Keys as a result of, she says: “It’s like the piano keys. And it can open so many doors.”
Ben Kingsley
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– Stage title: Ben Kingsley
– Real title: Krishna Pandit Bhanji
Born in Yorkshire to Russian-Jewish and Indian mother and father, Krishna Pandit Bhanji modified his title when he turned a working actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Kingsley’s father first steered it when he thought his son would wish a extra British title to achieve the theatre. The “Kingsley” surname was impressed by his grandfather’s nickname as a spice dealer: King Clove.
Ice Cube
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– Stage title: Ice Cube
– Real title: O’Shea Jackson
As one of many pioneers of gangsta rap, O’Shea Jackson took a nickname similar to everybody else in N.W.A., his hip-hop group that additionally launched the careers of Eazy-E and Dr. Dre. The title got here from his older brother, who threatened to show O’Shea into an ice dice for hitting on ladies that had been coming to the home to go to him.
Meg Ryan
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– Stage title: Meg Ryan
– Real title: Margaret Hyra
Meg Ryan has been enjoying the “girl next door” for many of her profession, however when she was actually the woman subsequent door, her title was Margaret Hyra. She used her maternal grandmother’s maiden title to vary her stage surname to Ryan and shortened Margaret to Meg.
Elton John
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– Stage title: Elton John
– Real title: Reginald Kenneth Dwight
The singer of “Rocket Man” and “Benny and The Jets” began his life as Reginald Kenneth Dwight. In 1967, he modified his title to Elton John—a mix of the names of the saxophone participant and lead singer of his band on the time, Bluesology.
Elizabeth Banks
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– Stage title: Elizabeth Banks
– Real title: Elizabeth Mitchell
Elizabeth Banks has grow to be a bankable film star after stints in “The Hunger Games” and “Pitch Perfect” franchises, however she solely turned a Banks as a result of the title “Elizabeth Mitchell” was already registered with the Screen Actors Guild. As it seems, “Lost” star Elizabeth Mitchell beat her name-twin to the punch, forcing the previous Liz Mitchell to grow to be Elizabeth Banks.
Faith Hill
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– Stage title: Faith Hill
– Real title: Audrey Faith Perry
The artist born Audrey Perry adopted her center title for the stage, applicable for a rustic music star who sometimes sings about her personal religion. Hill’s final title got here from her first marriage, and the singer held onto even it after the wedding ended. Now she’s married to Tim McGraw, who was born as Samuel Smith.
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Stevie Wonder
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– Stage title: Stevie Wonder
– Real title: Stevland Hardaway Judkins
When the younger R&B prodigy was simply beginning out at age 11, Motown data impresario Berry Gordy christened him as Little Stevie Wonder. He’s since dropped the “Little,” however Stevie Wonder has by no means returned to being Stevland Judkins.
Charlie Sheen
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– Stage title: Charlie Sheen
– Real title: Carlos Irwin Estévez
Charlie Sheen is a second-generation name-changer. His father, actor Martin Sheen, was born as Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez and Charlie adopted go well with. Interestingly, Sheen’s brother Emilio Estévez saved his start title and nonetheless discovered success as an actor.
Portia de Rossi
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– Stage title: Portia de Rossi
– Real title: Amanda Lee Rogers
Actress Portia de Rossi was born in Australia as Amanda Lee Rogers. In an try to face out at auditions, she took the primary title of her favourite Shakespeare character and added “de Rossi” as a result of she believed it sounded unique. Today, she has a brand new official title: After marrying Ellen DeGeneres and taking her spouse’s final title, de Rossi is now legally identified as Portia Lee James DeGeneres.