The topic of celebrities who have different real names is not a new one. Many famous people have changed their names to either be more marketable or more manageable. Some celebrities later went back to the name they were born with, but some continue to use their changed name for the rest of their careers.
Here’s a list of some celebrities who have different real names and are continuing with a chosen one :
1. Bruno Mars
Of all the people in show business, not many likely have their birth names changed more than Bruno Mars. The recording artist, actor, and TV personality has gone by many names throughout his young career, including: “Bruno,” “B.K.,” “Beaux,” and most recently he was known as just ‘Mars’. Although he went by different names during various stages of his career, the name change of his latest album reflects a new era.
2. Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid is undeniably one of the biggest stars in the fashion world. With good looks, a killer sense of style, and one of the best bodies in Hollywood, Gigi is always on top form. You might think that Gigi Hadid is just another model with a made-up moniker, but you would be wrong: she was born Jelena Noura Hadid and uses Gigi as her professional surname.
3. Katy Perry
If you are a fan of the “American Idol” singer, Katy Perry, then you know her name by her stage name: Katy Perez. Her real name is Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson but most people in the entertainment industry call her Katy Perry. Her parents named her after an American Kitsune (Japanese fox spirit) from Japanese mythology. She was raised between Christianity and Wicca/Paganism until she was 16 years old when she became a born again Christian.
4. Chace Crawford
Chace Crawford, an American actor who starred in The CW’s hit show Gossip Girl. Crawford might be best known for his roles in Disney Channel’s popular Jumper movie and One Tree Hill. However, not many people know that Chace Crawford has 2 other names: Christopher Chace Crawford and Chase Anthony Beadle. His stage name was derived from Christopher because his father liked it better than “Chase”.
5. Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj, the most successful female rapper to date, has a real name that you might not know about. It’s Onika Tanya Maraj, which might not sound like something you’d want to go by, but she’s not your traditional rapper. Nicki Minaj first started singing at the age of five, changing her name from Onika Maraj at the request of her Barbadian parents who wanted their daughter to “fit in” better with other kids in Queens Jamaica.
6. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus is an American singer, songwriter, actress and model. While her parents were aiming for their daughter to become a country singer, they asked her first name to be changed from Destiny Hope Cyrus to Miley Ray after the character of Miley Stewart portrayed by actress Hannah Montana on the Children’s Television Network. To fit into the mainstream more easily she changed her real name to Miley Cyrus.
7. Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt is a popular American actor and producer, known for his roles in the Fight Club and Mr. & Mrs Smith films. However, unlike many actors and celebrities, he has never made a public announcement about his real name. His first name is derived from the movie director, who is best known for directing the film, “Fight Club”, which was under Pitt’s prominent role. The last name of the actor is also a relative of his mother’s in-laws.
8. Lorde
Famous for being a pop musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and DJ, Lorde has a backstory to her unique name. Lorde’s real name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor. Her stage name was created by her mother and brother, who combined an old school song title (Maxwell’s “Lorde’s Love” and “Lorde’s Cherie”) with the word “Lord”.
9. Nina Dobrev
Nina Dobrev is an actress and a model. Born as Nina Nikolovna, in Sofia, Bulgaria, she was discovered in 2008 while studying at the New York City’s School of Visual Arts. She starred as Alana “Hilary” Haines on The CW series The Vampire Diaries from 2009 until 2014 and is currently starring as Elena Gilbert on The CW series The Originals. She has gone by her middle name “Nicole” since she was 12 years old and later legally changed it to Nina Dobrev in 2009.
10. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is an artist, entrepreneur and social activist who has been a popular singer since 2009. Famous for her often outrageous stage persona as well as her eclectic musical style which incorporates electronic dance music and pop music, Lady Gaga wanted a more “pop” sound instead of her original “Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta”. She is known by many as one of the most famous singers of today.
Celebrities who come from interesting backgrounds find themselves burdened with the media’s interest to know where they came from. The process of answering these questions, along with having to carefully pick a moniker, can be daunting and stressful. In that regard, many celebrities opt for different names professionally.
Many people are unaware that some celebrities who are renowned for being famous (or celebrities with a large following) have other names than the one you are familiar with after reading this article.
