Some Well-Known Celebrities Have Real Names That Most Of Us Have No Clue About, And Here Are 50 Of Them
Celebrities - they are all around us, and with the rise of social media and streaming services, it’s hard to ignore them. Hidden behind the mask of a fake name, celebrities' real names have been replaced by more popularized names. Eminem, The Weeknd, and more famous names? A stage name hides the less popular, personal part of the celebrity - real names. But one might wonder, just how unique is a celebrity name and is there a chance that maybe the image we created of them will be shattered by the reality of a real name?
Call it security or just a simple element of intrigue, but when comparing real names with those fake names, real names can sound a bit too boring for fans and the media overall. Every fake name is a way of putting a wall between the audience and the celebrity themself. And with the wide use of fake names in various media branches, the real names of celebrities are safe from the bigger harm that may come from the misuse of their powerful celebrity status.
While everyone might know the name that the celebrity uses most often, it’s rare for them and their fans to use their real names. But as a cool party trick, one can surprise their friends by using celebrity real names. Maybe the people in your friend circle will be surprised by your knowledge. Check out this list of celebrities and their real names below. Upvote the ones which seem the most interesting and leave a comment below if you think that the real name of a celebrity does not match the person it portrays!
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Ben Kingsley
Current name: Ben Kingsley
Birth name: Krishna Pandit Bhanji
Snoop Dogg
Current name: Snoop Dogg
Birth name: Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.
I never stopped to think that he wasn't really named Snoop Dogg... damn...
Elton John
Current name: Elton John
Birth name: Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Vin Diesel
Current name: Vin Diesel
Birth name: Mark Sinclair
Pink
Current name: Pink
Birth name: Alecia Beth Moore
Lady Gaga
Current name: Lady Gaga
Birth name: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
Meryl Streep
Current name: Meryl Streep
Birth name: Mary Louise Streep
Kirk Douglas
Current name: Kirk Douglas
Birth name: Issur Danielovitch
Okay.......so Michael Keaton aka Michael John Douglas was not relation to him. Well this answered my question to later post. I knew there name use to be different and they changed it.
Joaquin Phoenix
Current name: Joaquin Phoenix
Birth name: Joaquin Rafael Bottom
Marilyn Monroe
Current name: Marilyn Monroe
Birth name: Norma Jeane Mortenson
Judy Garland
Current name: Judy Garland
Birth name: Frances Ethel Gumm
Alicia Keys
Current name: Alicia Keys
Birth name: Alicia Augello Cook
How things would be different if she followed an illustrious culinary career (Uu.)
Sigourney Weaver
Current name: Sigourney Weaver
Birth name: Susan Alexandra Weaver
Miley Cyrus
Current name: Miley Cyrus
Birth name: Destiny Hope Cyrus
George Michael
Current name: George Michael
Birth name: Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou
Michael Keaton
Current name: Michael Keaton
Birth name: Michael John Douglas
SAG rules... you can't have the same name as another registered SAG member.
Rihanna
Current name: Rihanna
Birth name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
I was so confused for a second, i read it thinking her name was Rihanna Birth
Cary Grant
Current name: Cary Grant
Birth name: Archibald Alec Leach
Stevie Wonder
Current name: Stevie Wonder
Birth name: Stevland Hardaway Judkins
Mila Kunis
Current name: Mila Kunis
Birth name: Milena Markovna Kunis
Iggy Azalea
Current name: Iggy Azalea
Birth name: Amethyst Amelia Kelly
Sean Connery
Current name: Sean Connery
Birth name: Thomas Connery
Sting
Current name: Sting
Birth name: Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner
Fred Astaire
Current name: Fred Astaire
Birth name: Frederick Austerlitz
Cardi B
Current name: Cardi B
Birth name: Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar
Olivia Wilde
Current name: Olivia Wilde
Birth name: Olivia Jane Cockburn
Nicolas Cage
Current name: Nicolas Cage
Birth name: Nicolas Kim Coppola
Audrey Hepburn
Current name: Audrey Hepburn
Birth name: Audrey Kathleen Ruston
Helen Mirren
Current name: Helen Mirren
Birth name: Helen Lydia Mironoff
Billie Eilish
Current name: Billie Eilish
Birth name: Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell
Winona Ryder
Current name: Winona Ryder
Birth name: Winona Laura Horowitz
Or as the Simpson's Treehouse of Terror would call her if she did Stranger Things for them, Horror-witz
Bruno Mars
Current name: Bruno Mars
Birth name: Peter Gene Hernandez
Nina Dobrev
Current name: Nina Dobrev
Birth name: Nikolina Konstantinova Dobreva
Jamie Foxx
Current name: Jamie Foxx
Birth name: Eric Marlon Bishop
The Weeknd
Current name: The Weeknd
Birth name: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
Demi Lovato
Current name: Demi Lovato
Birth name: Demetria Devonne Lovato
Tilda Swinton
Current name: Tilda Swinton
Birth name: Katherine Matilda Swinton
Natalie Portman
Current name: Natalie Portman
Birth name: Natalie Hershlag
Eminem
Current name: Eminem
Birth name: Marshall Bruce Mathers III
David Tennant
Current name: David Tennant
Birth name: David John McDonald
Lana Del Rey
Current name: Lana Del Rey
Birth name: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
Mahershala Ali
Current name: Mahershala Ali
Birth name: Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore
Nicki Minaj
Current name: Nicki Minaj
Birth name: Onika Tanya Maraj
Maraj is a common name here in Trinidad of East Indian origin. Trinis are 50/50 about Nicki. Lol
Doja Cat
Current name: Doja Cat
Birth name: Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini
Post Malone
Current name: Post Malone
Birth name: Austin Richard Post
Brad Pitt
Current name: Brad Pitt
Birth name: William Bradley Pitt
Tina Fey
Current name: Tina Fey
Birth name: Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
I would enjoy being a fly on the wall when she and Amy Poehler brainstorm. 😂
Emma Stone
Current name: Emma Stone
Birth name: Emily Jean Stone
Whoopi Goldberg
Current name: Whoopi Goldberg
Birth name: Caryn Elaine Johnson
Hulk Hogan
Current name: Hulk Hogan
Birth name: Terry Eugene Bollea
Kit Harington
Current name: Kit Harington
Birth name: Christopher Catesby Harington
Jack Black
Current name: Jack Black
Birth name: Thomas Jacob Black
Joan Crawford
Current name: Joan Crawford
Birth name: Lucille Fay LeSueur
Lorde
Current name: Lorde
Birth name: Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor
Irina Shayk
Current name: Irina Shayk
Birth name: Irina Valeryevna Shaykhlislamova
21 Savage
Current name: 21 Savage
Birth name: Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph
Halsey
Current name: Halsey
Birth name: Ashley Nicolette Frangipane
So they just rearranged the letters of her first name to come up with another one?
Meg Ryan
Current name: Meg Ryan
Birth name: Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra
Lucy Hale
Current name: Lucy Hale
Birth name: Karen Lucille Hale
Katy Perry
Current name: Katy Perry
Birth name: Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
Elvis Costello
Current name: Elvis Costello
Birth name: Declan Patrick MacManus
I just can't pronounce Declan right. I think I sound very awkward saying it
Winnie Harlow
Current name: Winnie Harlow
Birth name: Chantelle Whitney Brown-Young
Lil Nas X
Current name: Lil Nas X
Birth name: Montero Lamar Hill
Reese Witherspoon
Current name: Reese Witherspoon
Birth name: Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
Demi Moore
Current name: Demi Moore
Birth name: Demi Gene Guynes
Lizzo
Current name: Lizzo
Birth name: Melissa Viviane Jefferson
Fergie
Current name: Fergie
Birth name: Stacy Ann Ferguson
She was billed that way on "Kids, Incorporated" when she was a child actress. (And not a very good actress, but she was always a strong singer.)
Shay Mitchell
Current name: Shay Mitchell
Birth name: Shannon Ashley Garcia Mitchell
Mel B
Current name: Mel B
Birth name: Melanie Janine Brown
Flavor Flav
Current name: Flavor Flav
Birth name: William Jonathan Drayton Jr.
John Legend
Current name: John Legend
Birth name: John Roger Stephens
his birth name is perfect for a great song singer writer great great talent take it to the bank.
Future
Current name: Future
Birth name: Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn
Man I would've stuck with Navadius. Has an air of mystery and shnazziness to it.
Auliʻi Cravalho
Current name: Auliʻi Cravalho
Birth name: Chloe Auliʻi Cravalho
Missy Elliott
Current name: Missy Elliott
Birth name: Melissa Arnette Elliott
Calvin Harris
Current name: Calvin Harris
Birth name: Adam Richard Wiles
I always had an inside joke with myself, because I usually mistake him for Martin Garrix and thought that if their names got combined he would be Martin Harris, the most boring name ever... I don't even know why I'm sharing this or why I always thought it was funny 😅
Drake
Current name: Drake
Birth name: Aubrey Drake Graham
...i always thought of aubrey as a feminine name. o.O like.. more of an old fashioned one too
Tyler, The Creator
Current name: Tyler, the Creator
Birth name: Tyler Gregory Okonma
Lil Uzi Vert
Current name: Lil Uzi Vert
Birth name: Symere Bysil Woods
Mandy Moore
Current name: Mandy Moore
Birth name: Amanda Leigh Moore
Erykah Badu
Current name: Erykah Badu
Birth name: Erica Abi Wright
Saweetie
Current name: Saweetie
Birth name: Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper
Courtney Love
Current name: Courtney Love
Birth name: Courtney Michelle Harrison
Tinie Tempah
Current name: Tinie Tempah
Birth name: Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu
Woody Allen
Current name: Woody Allen
Birth name: Allan Stewart Konigsberg
Nipsey Hussle
Current name: Nipsey Hussle
Birth name: Airmiess Joseph Asghedom
Blac Chyna
Current name: Blac Chyna
Birth name: Angela Renée White
Quavo
Current name: Quavo
Birth name: Quavious Keyate Marshall
Trey Songz
Current name: Trey Songz
Birth name: Tremaine Aldon Neverson
Travis Scott
Current name: Travis Scott
Birth name: Jacques Bermon Webster II
Oprah Winfrey
Current name: Oprah Winfrey
Birth name: Orpah Gail Winfrey
DaBaby
Current name: DaBaby
Birth name: Jonathan Lyndale Kirk
I guess, at some point of our life DaBaby has been sort of a real name for all of us.
G-Eazy
Current name: G-Eazy
Birth name: Gerald Earl Gillum
Given some of the birth names, I have a level of sympathy with them and understand why most were changed, celebrity or not!
Many shocking revelations of people using obvious nicknames, shortened version of their names, or their middle names, with our their real last names.
Yeah, I joked above, "Joe Biden's real name was Joseph Biden."
Load More Replies...
Really? I despise popular culture and I've only NOT heard of about 3. And I'm not in the USA either.
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Rappers using stage names is no surprises. Actors and singers not going by their complete given names is not a surprise. Soneone you have heard of by an ordinary name whose name is either a completely different ordinary name or an extraordinary name is often a surprise.
My real name was John Louis Borntrager when I became a professional magician I changed my name legally to John Louis, I mean whatever helps. That said I am shocked that professional wrestler Larry Shreve's parents did not actually name him Abdullah the Butcher.
As I read the comments I realized, some people have nasty as a default.
David Bowie was born David Jones, but he didn't want to be confused with the lead singer of the Monkees.
And Baranara Stanwyck and Michael Landon. Forgotten stars.
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They use stage names because if they used their real names they would never have any privacy or be left alone. I thought this was common knowledge but apparently I am mistaken as usual.
Hmm. This seems to me that a lot of people changed their names to hide the fact that they were latinx/latino or jewish? Am I getting a correct impression here?
W***y Alberti - Carel Verbrugge Koos Alberts - Jacobus Johannus Krommenhoek Andre van Duin - Adrianus Martinus Kyvon Gordon - Cornelis Willem Heuckeroth Robert Long - Bob Leverman Bonnie St. Claire - Bonje Cornelia Swart Lee Towers - Leen Huizer Rob Stenders - Rob Zieltjens Some famous Dutch persons with their real names
I hope you're joking. In case you're not, the order changes depending on the number of votes.
Load More Replies... Given some of the birth names, I have a level of sympathy with them and understand why most were changed, celebrity or not!
Many shocking revelations of people using obvious nicknames, shortened version of their names, or their middle names, with our their real last names.
Yeah, I joked above, "Joe Biden's real name was Joseph Biden."
Load More Replies... Really? I despise popular culture and I've only NOT heard of about 3. And I'm not in the USA either.
Load More Replies... Rappers using stage names is no surprises. Actors and singers not going by their complete given names is not a surprise. Soneone you have heard of by an ordinary name whose name is either a completely different ordinary name or an extraordinary name is often a surprise.
My real name was John Louis Borntrager when I became a professional magician I changed my name legally to John Louis, I mean whatever helps. That said I am shocked that professional wrestler Larry Shreve's parents did not actually name him Abdullah the Butcher.
As I read the comments I realized, some people have nasty as a default.
David Bowie was born David Jones, but he didn't want to be confused with the lead singer of the Monkees.
And Baranara Stanwyck and Michael Landon. Forgotten stars.
Load More Replies... They use stage names because if they used their real names they would never have any privacy or be left alone. I thought this was common knowledge but apparently I am mistaken as usual.
Hmm. This seems to me that a lot of people changed their names to hide the fact that they were latinx/latino or jewish? Am I getting a correct impression here?
W***y Alberti - Carel Verbrugge Koos Alberts - Jacobus Johannus Krommenhoek Andre van Duin - Adrianus Martinus Kyvon Gordon - Cornelis Willem Heuckeroth Robert Long - Bob Leverman Bonnie St. Claire - Bonje Cornelia Swart Lee Towers - Leen Huizer Rob Stenders - Rob Zieltjens Some famous Dutch persons with their real names
I hope you're joking. In case you're not, the order changes depending on the number of votes.
Load More Replies...