You may know them by their stage names, others know them by their legal names.
May their real names hey stand up!
While stars likeEminemandLady Gagaare famous under their pseudonyms, their given names also deserve the spotlight.
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Read below to learn the real names of 50 celebrities.
“It’s just because my name was taken,” she said.
“Then I freaked out a couple of years ago.
Emma Stone attends the 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Feb. 24, 2024.Frazer Harrison/Getty
For some reason, I was like, ‘I can’t do it anymore.
Just call me Emily.'”
“Then it was my Instagram name, Bacardi, Bacardi B.
Jason Sudeikis attends the season 2 premiere of ‘Ted Lasso’ in L.A. on July 15, 2021.Emma McIntyre/WireImage
So, I just shortened it to Cardi B.”
Peter Hernandez (Bruno Mars)
One of pop music’s biggest stars isactually named Peter Hernandez.
Her childhood nickname, though, was Smiley, which was eventually shortened to Miley.
Cardi B at the 2019 ‘Billboard’ Music Awards.Daniel Torok/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Back in those days, he went by his given name, Aubrey Graham.
“The X wasn’t included at first,“he has explained.
“It was just Lil Nas.
Bruno Mars attends the 37th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 7, 2014.Kevin Mazur/WireImage
So, I kind of got stuck with it.
I added the X later on after I was more serious.”
Ryan changed her name while registering for theScreen Actors Guild.
Alexis Bledel attends the N.Y.C. premiere of ‘Paint It Black’ on May 15, 2017.John Lamparski/WireImage
She chose to go by Ryan instead, which was the maiden name of her maternal grandmother.
Joaquin Bottom (Joaquin Phoenix)
Joaquin Phoenixhas gone through a few name changes.
In his early 20s, Bishop started frequenting open mic nights at comedy clubs.
John Legend attends the John Legend and Google premiere of his music video ‘A Good Night’ on April 5, 2018.John Sciulli/Getty Images
He came up withJamie Foxx, with Foxx being a tribute to the comedianRedd Foxx.
Katheryn Hudson (Katy Perry)
Turns out there’s another Kate Hudson in Hollywood!
After a commercially unsuccessful debut, Hudson moved to Los Angeles and began recording pop music.
Miley Cyrus visits ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ on Oct. 1, 2015.Theo Wargo/Getty Images
“It was a good spontaneous choice, I think.
“It was that nobility, aristocracy obsession that I had.
At age 14,she adopted the name Portia de Rossiin order to reinvent herself before delving into acting.
Eminem attends the ceremony honoring 50 Cent with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Jan. 30, 2020.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
She chose the name Portia after being inspired by the character of the same name inShakespeare’sThe Merchant of Venice.
Neta-Lee Hershlag (Natalie Portman)
Born in Jerusalem,Natalie Portmanwasactually Neta-Lee Hershlaggrowing up.
Born Krishna Bhanji, he chose the anglicized stage name of Ben Kingsley when he started acting.
Drake performs onstage during weekend one, day two of Austin City Limits Music Festival on Oct. 3, 2015.Rick Kern/WireImage
When her album was shelved, though, Grant shifted focus and began going by Lana Del Rey.
Although the two divorced soon after, Arthur kept his name for her acting career, modifying the spelling.
Martin’s father, also named Enrique, made his son choose between him and his mother.
Demi Moore attends the LACMA Art + Film Gala honoring Barbara Kruger and Quentin Tarantino on Nov. 1, 2014.Jason Merritt/Getty Images
In the midst of her unsuccessful attempts to take off, Perry married a publisher named Daniel Hill.
However, Hill did keep her given name alive by naming her third daughter Audrey in 2001.
He chose to adopt the surname Keaton out of admiration for a fellow actor.
Lil Nas X attends the Fashion Nova x Cardi B Collection launch party at the Hollywood Palladium on May 8, 2019.Rich Fury/Getty Images
No, notDiane Keaton.
It was actually a tribute to the early 20th-century vaudevillian Buster Keaton.
“Since I was younger, probably about 15 or 16, Ive always had the same body.
Meg Ryan attends her Lifetime Award Presentation and ‘Ithaca’ screening during the 18th annual Savannah Film Festival presented by SCAD on Oct. 29, 2015.Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Older guys would always be like, ‘Oh, you a stallion,'” shetoldHoustoniamagazinein September 2017.
“So I finally had to ask like, ‘Is that a good thing?’
He adapted it to Jay-Z in an homage to his mentor,rapper Jaz-O.
Actor Joaquin Phoenix arrives at the Writers Guild Awards on July 9, 2015.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
The name stuck, although it has gone throughseveral punctuation changes.
Eileen Edwards (Shania Twain)
Eileen Edwardshad a rough upbringing in rural Ontario.
When she signed her first record deal in 1993, she took the nameShania Twain.
Rihanna attends the Fenty Beauty x Harvey Nichols launch on Sept. 19, 2017.David M. Benett/Getty Images
It was also around this time that he started a band called Bluesology with a number of his friends.
It was then that Reginald Dwight adopted the nameElton John.
Onika Maraj (Nicki Minaj)
Nicki Minajisn’t the only persona Onika Maraj has gone by.
Michael Caine poses on the red carpet.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Although her birth name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, her stage name holds a deep personal meaning.
Its a very sentimental name.
I do still wish my name was not Kayleigh in real life, though.”
Olivia Wilde attends the NY Film Critics Series on Oct. 12, 2015.Robin Marchant/Getty Images
In 2015, Ocean legally changed his name to Frank Ocean.
Margarita Ibrahimoff (Rita Wilson)
Rita Wilsonwas born Margarita Ibrahimoff.
And Rita is just a nickname for Margarita.
Jamie Foxx attends the SeriousFun Children’s Network gala in L.A. on May 14, 2015.Michael Tran/FilmMagic
(In January 2024, shelegally changed her nameto Carmen Electra.)
You just start changing,” he mused.
His stage name originates from a MySpace account he made at 13 where he showcased his art and music.
Katy Perry attends her hand print ceremony at TCL Chinese IMAX Forecourt on Sept. 8, 2015.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
“It stuck with me, so it just works.”
Lorde at the ‘GQ’ Men of the Year party in L.A. on Nov. 16, 2023.Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Mindy Kaling attends the European premiere of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ on March 13, 2018.Mike Marsland/WireImage
Porttia de Rossi attends the ‘Entertainment Weekly,’ ‘Essence’ and PEOPLE Shondaland party in 2015.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Natalie Portman attends the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 9, 2015.Michael Tran/Getty Images
Whoopi Goldberg attends the N.Y.C screening of ‘Big Stone Gap’ on Sept. 24, 2015.Steve Zak Photography/Getty Images
Courtney Love attends the Philipp Plein show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016 on Sept. 23, 2015.S. Alemdar/Getty Images
Ben Kingsley attends screening of ‘Learning to Drive’ at 92nd Street Y on Aug. 18, 2015.Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
Lana Del Rey attends the 2015 Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton.Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Lizzo performs on stage during the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.John Shearer/Getty Images
Bea Arthur on ‘The Golden Girls’.Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank
Vin Diesel attends the N.Y.C. premiere of ‘The Last Witch Hunter’ on Oct. 13, 2015.Jim Spellman/WireImage
Iggy Azalea attends Bonds 100th birthday event on Aug. 19, 2015.Justin Lloyd/Getty Images
Doja Cat attends the 66th Grammy Awards in L.A. on Feb. 4, 2024.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Ricky Martin attends the Paley Center for Media’s PaleyFest on Sept. 10, 2015.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Helen Mirren attends the ‘Trumbo’ premiere during the BFI London Film Festival on Oct. 8, 2015.Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
Snoop Doog attends the 2015 iHeartRadio Awards.Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Faith Hill attends the ‘Time 100’ Gala in N.Y.C. on April 21, 2015.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Michael Keaton attends the ‘Spotlight’ premiere during the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.Isaiah Trickey/Getty Images
Lady Gaga attends the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 6, 2019.Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Megan Thee Stallion attends the ‘GQ’ Men of the Year party in L.A. on Nov. 16, 2023.Getty Images
Marilyn Manson attends the Cannes Lions Festival on June 22, 2015.Marc Piasecki/Getty Images
Jay-Z performs onstage during day 2 of the Something in the Water festival on April 27, 2019.Brian Ach/Getty Images
Shania Twain performs at KeyArena in Seattle on June 5, 2015.Suzi Pratt/FilmMagic
Elton John performs on stage at the Royal Theater in Madrid, Spain, on July 20, 2015.Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images
Nicki Minaj attends the Met Gala celebrating ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’ on May 6, 2019.Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Chappell Roan attends the 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Awards in L.A.Emma McIntyre/Getty
Calvin Harris is seen in SoHo, N.Y.C., on May 27, 2015.Alo Ceballos/Getty Images
Elle King performs on stage for ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest’ on Dec. 31, 2015.Mark Davis/DCNYRE2016/Getty Images
Frank Ocean attends the ‘Time 100’ Gala in N.Y.C. on April 29, 2014.Gary Gershoff/WireImage
Rita Wilson arrives at the L.A. premiere of ‘Boy Genius’ on Sept. 6, 2019.Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
Carmen Electra arrives at the Genlux Fall 2015 issue release celebration on Aug. 22, 2015.Michael Tran/Getty Images
Tyler, the Creator attends day 14 of the French Tennis Open in Paris on June 8, 2019.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
