100 Celebrities’ Real Names: The Surprising Truth Behind the Stars

Behind every star is a carefully crafted identity that shaped their path to stardom.

Written by Medha Deb, Integrated MA

Last Updated on Aug 30, 2025

Behind every star is a carefully crafted identity that shaped their path to stardom.

Image: ShutterStock

Everyone knows the glitzy names of Hollywood’s biggest stars, but did you know that many of these names are carefully crafted identities chosen for the spotlight? From actors and pop divas to legendary musicians, countless celebrities have opted to change their real names—sometimes for privacy, sometimes for flair, and sometimes because their birth names weren’t “star” material. Uncover the real stories behind these famous faces, and discover 100 of the most fascinating celebrity real names and the origin of their stage names.

Why Do Celebrities Change Their Names?

To Stand Out: Unique names are easier to remember and can help celebrities get noticed in auditions or by fans.
For Privacy: A stage name creates a separation between public and private life.
Because of Unions: Organizations like the Screen Actors Guild prohibit two members from having the same professional name.
Cultural or Market Appeal: Some names are shortened or Anglicized to be more accessible or to fit the star’s image.
Personal Reasons: Celebrities sometimes pick names that reflect their family, heritage, or idols.

100 Celebrities’ Real Names Revealed

Here are 100 famous celebrities—actors, singers, and other pop culture icons—along with their real names and the stories behind their stage personas:

#	Stage Name	Real Name	Origin/Reason
1	Reese Witherspoon	Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon	Uses her mother’s maiden name, Reese, as her first name.
2	The Weeknd	Abel Makkonen Tesfaye	Name was inspired by dropping out of school and leaving “one weekend.” The missing “e” is due to copyright.
3	Lana Del Rey	Elizabeth Woolridge Grant	Crafted her name drawing inspiration from actress Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey car.
4	Meghan Markle	Rachel Meghan Markle	Goes by her middle name, Meghan, since high school.
5	Matthew Koma	Matthew Bair	Changed his last name professionally.
6	Miley Cyrus	Destiny Hope Cyrus	“Miley” is derived from her childhood nickname “Smiley.” She legally changed her name in 2008.
7	Lady Gaga	Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta	Took the name from Queen’s song “Radio Ga Ga.”
8	Bruno Mars	Peter Gene Hernandez	“Bruno” from wrestler Bruno Sammartino, “Mars” for star power.
9	Jamie Foxx	Eric Marlon Bishop	Chose a gender-neutral name to get more stage time at stand-up shows.
10	Gigi Hadid	Jelena Noura Hadid	Nicknamed “Gigi” by her mother.
11	Drake	Aubrey Drake Graham	Uses his middle name professionally.
12	Portia de Rossi	Amanda Lee Rogers	Took “Portia” after a Shakespeare character; “de Rossi” sounded elegant to her.
13	John Legend	John Roger Stephens	Nicknamed “Legend” by friends, the name stuck after Kanye West encouraged it.
14	Brie Larson	Brianne Sidonie Desaulniers	“Larson” chose for its simplicity—based on her favorite American Girl doll.
15	Natalie Portman	Neta-Lee Hershlag	Adopted her grandmother’s maiden name professionally.
16	Vin Diesel	Mark Sinclair Vincent	“Diesel” because friends said he was energetic.
17	Emma Stone	Emily Jean Stone	Changed her first name to “Emma” after finding “Emily Stone” already taken in SAG.
18	Demi Moore	Demetria Gene Guynes	Took her first husband’s last name, Moore.
19	Kit Harington	Christopher Catesby Harington	Nicknamed “Kit” from a young age.
20	Katy Perry	Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson	Used “Perry,” her mother’s maiden name, to avoid confusion with Kate Hudson.
21	Elton John	Reginald Kenneth Dwight	Created a new identity inspired by Bluesology bandmates Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.
22	Julianne Moore	Julie Anne Smith	Adopted “Julianne” as a blend of her names, added mother’s maiden name “Moore.”
23	Halsey	Ashley Nicolette Frangipane	“Halsey” is an anagram of “Ashley” and a Brooklyn subway stop.
24	Winona Ryder	Winona Laura Horowitz	Adopted “Ryder” from soul musician Mitch Ryder, a favorite artist.
25	Olivia Wilde	Olivia Jane Cockburn	Chosen after famed writer Oscar Wilde.
26	Whoopi Goldberg	Caryn Elaine Johnson	“Whoopi” sounded fun; “Goldberg” was added as a humorous, showbiz touch.
27	Brad Pitt	William Bradley Pitt	Uses middle name, Brad, as first name and dropped William.
28	Alexis Bledel	Kimberly Alexis Bledel	Goes by her middle name.
29	Alicia Keys	Alicia Augello Cook	Picked “Keys” as a reference to a piano.
30	Calvin Harris	Adam Richard Wiles	Adopted stage name for his musical career.
31	Dr. Dre	Andre Romelle Young	“Dre” from his name, “Dr.” inspired by Dr. J basketball star.
32	Rihanna	Robyn Rihanna Fenty	Middle name used as her professional name.
33	Faith Hill	Audrey Faith Perry	Took her middle name as her stage first name.
34	Demi Lovato	Demetria Devonne Lovato	Shortened her full first name.
35	Lorde	Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor	The stage name came from a fascination with aristocracy; added an “e” to make it more feminine.
36	Tim McGraw	Samuel Timothy Smith	Took stepfather’s surname, “McGraw.”
37	Shania Twain	Eilleen Regina Edwards	Adopted her stepfather’s surname after his passing.
38	Mindy Kaling	Vera Mindy Chokalingam	Shortened her name for easier pronunciation and marketability.
39	Tina Fey	Elizabeth Stamatina Fey	“Tina” is from the end of her middle name.
40	Zayn Malik	Zain Javadd Malik	Changed spelling from “Zain” to “Zayn” for his career.
41	Lizzo	Melissa Viviane Jefferson	Inspired by Jay-Z’s “Izzo,” changed “Melissa” to “Lizzo.”
42	Eminem	Marshall Bruce Mathers III	Stage name derived from the pronunciation of his initials “M&M.”
43	Dove Cameron	Chloe Celeste Hosterman	Took “Dove” as a new name after her father called her by the nickname.
44	Nicki Minaj	Onika Tanya Maraj	Adopted “Nicki Minaj” on advice from her manager.
45	Elvis Costello	Declan Patrick MacManus	Combined his grandmother’s maiden name with that of Elvis Presley.
46	Pink	Alecia Beth Moore	Named for the character “Mr. Pink” in ‘Reservoir Dogs.’
47	Charli XCX	Charlotte Emma Aitchison	Based on her MSN screen name.
48	Keke Palmer	Lauren Keyana Palmer	“Keke” is a childhood nickname derived from her middle name.
49	Kirk Douglas	Issur Danielovitch Demsky	Changed name for Hollywood appeal.
50	Cary Grant	Archibald Alec Leach	Studio executive suggested the switch for better marketability.

How Stage Names Influence Celebrity

Stage names have often played a pivotal role in a star’s career. A unique or memorable name can make an artist more marketable; for example, Lady Gaga’s distinctive moniker solidified her larger-than-life persona, while Vin Diesel’s robust-sounding name enhanced his action star credibility.

Sometimes, stage names are chosen for uniqueness because there is already a registered performer with a similar name, especially in unions like SAG-AFTRA. Others do it to honor family or manage a difficult-to-pronounce surname in Hollywood’s global market.

Famous Siblings and Family Connections

Charlie Sheen (Carlos Irwin Estévez) and Emilio Estevez are brothers, but only Charlie adopted a stage name.
Katy Perry avoided confusion with actress Kate Hudson by using her mother’s maiden name.
Emma Stone became “Emma” because her original name was already in use by another actress.

The Power of Reinvention: Changing Names for a New Start

For many artists, changing names signifies a fresh start. Sometimes the change is legal and permanent, while other times it’s only for the stage or screen. A study of 100 celebrities shows various motives:

Image Overhaul: Britney Spears has always been Britney, but Lana Del Rey reinvented herself multiple times before settling on a name reflecting classic glamour.
Escaping a Troubled Past: Demi Moore and others changed their names to distance themselves from previous family or life struggles.
Embracing Heritage: Some honor family roots, like Bruno Mars choosing “Mars” for interstellar fame while keeping his real surname private.

Whatever the reason, these new names help stars craft their identities in the public eye—proving that, for celebrities, what’s in a name is sometimes everything.

Frequently Asked Questions: Celebrities’ Real Names

Q: Why do so many celebrities choose stage names?

A: The most common reasons include standing out, avoiding confusion, making their names easier to pronounce, honoring loved ones, and privacy protection.

Q: Are there rules for choosing a stage name?

A: Unions like SAG-AFTRA require each performer to have a unique name, and most celebs choose names that are memorable and marketable.

Q: Do any celebrities use their real names?

A: Yes, many stars, like Bradley Cooper and Meryl Streep, use their birth names in show business.

Q: Can a celebrity legally change their name to match their stage name?

A: Yes. Many, like Miley Cyrus and Portia de Rossi, have legally changed their names once their public identity eclipsed their birth name.

Q: Is it possible for a star to have more than one stage name?

A: Some performers, especially musicians, have worked under several aliases before settling on one. For example, Lana Del Rey experimented with many names before her current identity.

Fun Facts and Trivia

Alicia Keys almost chose “Wild” for her surname, but her mother vetoed it as “too in your face.”
Vin Diesel is not only a stage alias, but friends gave him “Diesel” because of his boundless energy.
Elton John selected his now-famed name to honor two Blues musicians he admired.

Conclusion

The stories behind 100 celebrities’ real names reveal that an identity is more than just a label—it’s a personal and professional statement. Whether for stardom, privacy, heritage, or reinvention, the reasons for changing names are as diverse as showbiz itself.

References

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Author

Medha DebCommerce Editor

Medha Deb is a commerce editor with a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts. She specializes in the areas of beauty, health, and wellness and is committed to ensuring that the content on the website is of the highest quality.

Read full bio of Medha Deb