If some stars’ names sound too good to be true, that’s because it is.
Believe it or not, a lot of celebs change their names when they enter the entertainment industry. Whether it be because it is crazy hard to pronounce, or because of a childhood nickname, plenty of stars choose to change things up. Some stars, like Miley Cyrus and Frank Ocean, make it official by legally changing the name on their birth certificate.
The way Frank Ocean sees it is, “None of us are our names. If you don’t like your name then change your name.”
And it seems like a lot of other singers and actors agree with him since they also took the same step that he did.
To find out which stars actually have a stage name, check out the gallery below!
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Christopher Edwin Breaux
In 2014, Frank Ocean legally changed his name because, why not?
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Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor
Turns out the “Royals” singer is really into learning about the aristocracy, hence the reason why she chose the name Lorde, but with a feminine ‘e.’
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Peter Gene Hernandez
Apparently the singer looked more like a Bruno than a Peter, so one day his dad started calling him Bruno. Ever since, he has been known as Bruno Mars.
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Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
Every artist has an alter ego, and Lana Del Rey just happens to be the persona of choice for the singer.
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Jelena Noura Hadid
Oddly enough, Gigi Hadid got her stage name in school when the teacher would confuse her and a girl named Helena. Since her mom called her “gigi” as a term of endearment at home, she told the teacher to just call her Gigi and it simply stuck.
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Adam Richard Wiles
Fans were confused when Taylor Swift thanked then-boyfriend Adam in an acceptance speech, which lead people to the discovery that Calvin Harris is simply a stage name. The DJ told Shortlist magazine he chose the name because his first single was more soulful and wanted something a bit more “racially ambiguous.”
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Belcalis Almanzar
Cardi B took on the name Bacardi after family and friends started calling her sister Hennessy. Later on she shortened the name to something that suited her a lot more.
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Destiny Hope Cyrus
Miley Cyrus‘ bright smile is what inspired her childhood nickname, Smiley. Eventually the name was shortened to Miley and it stuck.
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Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
A little known fact about 30 Rock‘s Tina Fey is that she is actually named Elizabeth. The comedian made a not so subtle tribute to her birth name by naming her character Liz Lemon.
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Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
Turns out Reese isn’t even Reese Witherspoon‘s middle name. The actress chose the moniker in honor of her mother, whose maiden name is Reese.
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Amethyst Kelly
It’s hard to believe that Iggy Azalea was born Amethyst Kelly!
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Jennifer Anastassakis
Before she became a household name, this was what erstwhile Friend Jennifer Aniston answered to.
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Alicia Augello Cook
Alicia Keys didn’t always have such a musical name.
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Thomas Mapother IV
Before he became arguably the biggest movie star in the world, Tom Cruise went by this name.
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Eric Bishop
True, Jamie Foxx just seems more fitting for an Oscar-winning Hollywood party guy.
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Stefani Germanotta
Before the meat dresses and chart-topping music, Lady Gaga was just an everyday girl from New York.
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Natalie Hershlag
Back when she was born in 1980, this was how the future bigtime actress Natalie Portman greeted the world.
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Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.
Wonder if his family calls the rapper by his real name or his stage name, Lil Wayne?
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Shawn Carter
Jay-Z is definitely a more fitting name for a hip-hop impressario.
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Nicole Camilla Escovedo
Check former Paris Hilton BFF Nicole Richie‘s birth certificate and this is the name you’ll see.
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Amanda Lee Rogers
Before she became a big-time TV star and married Ellen DeGeneres, this was the name Portia de Rossi answered to.
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Calvin Broadus
This pioneer of West Coast rap would later go on to be known as Snoop Dogg.
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Brian Warner
If you want to work a ghoulish persona, we agree, a name like Marilyn Manson will work much better.
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Demetria Gene Guynes
Before she’d starred in dozens of huge Hollywood movies and married two Tinseltown A-listers, this was the name Demi Moore went by.
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Paul Hewson
All it took was a nickname from some high school friends, and U2 frontman Bono‘s famous moniker was born.
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Enrique Morales
Before he started shaking his bonbon for the masses, music superstar Ricky Martin went by this everyday name.
Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT/Sipa USA
Eldrick Woods
Somehow, we don’t think the Tiger Woods scandal would have been as sensational had he gone by his birth name.
John Shearer/Invision for Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images
Reginald Dwight
Guess music superstar Elton John didn’t think his original name would be a hit with audiences.
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Tara Patrick
We agree. Carmen Electra is much more effective when it comes to selling a sexy Baywatch persona.
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Mark Vincent
If you’re looking for an explosive action-star name, how about Vin Diesel instead?
Who else feels like changing their name now?
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