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The Born Identity: Uncover Celebs Real Names


  • Katy Perry arrives at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009 in New York City
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    FilmMagic

    Katy Perry – Pop music’s reigning pin-up, Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, was determined to escape her Christian gospel roots once she made it to Hollywood

  • Vin Diesel, Lady Gaga, Madonna & Tom Cruise
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    Composed by AccessHollywood.com

    You may have thought these stars only went by different names in the movies, but not so! From Tom Cruise to Lady Gaga, find out the real namesakes of your favorite stars!

  • Elton John chats with Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson at the junket for “Gnomeo & Juliet” in Los Angeles on January 22, 2011
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    Access Hollywood

    Elton John – In a nod to some of his favorite musicians, Reginald Kenneth Dwight found a legendary name that has attracted audiences for decades

  • Pink performs on stage in Nice, France, July 13, 2010
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    AFP/Getty Images

    Pink – Always the rebel, Alecia Beth Moore wanted a name to reflect the energy and attitude of her music – plus, it was her nickname growing up

  • U2’s Bono and The Edge at the at Kodak Theatre in LA to honor B.B. King
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    Getty Images

    Bono and The Edge – U2’s leading men have become rock royalty, but somehow Paul Hewson and David Evans just wouldn’t have had the same ring

  • Miley Cyrus at the 2010 American Music Awards on November 21, 2010
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    Getty Images

    Miley Cyrus – Perhaps best known as “Hannah Montana,” Destiny Hope Cyrus legally changed her name to a shortened version of the childhood nickname “Smiley,” given to her because of her constant smiling

  • Akon arrives at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles on September 12, 2010
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    Getty Images

    Akon – Knowing Aliaune Badara Akon Thiam wouldn’t fit on album covers, the hip-hop star decided to only keep one of the above

  • Sting arrives at the “The Next Three Days” Australian premiere in Sydney, Australia on January 30, 2011
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    Getty Images

    Sting – Now one of the biggest names in music, his given name, Gordon Sumner, just doesn’t have the same ring to it

  • Faith Hill arrives for the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 18, 2010
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    Getty Images

    Faith Hill – Audrey Faith Perry took the last name of her first husband before her music career began. The marriage ended after the release of Faith’s first album, but she has always kept the name professionally

  • Bob Dylan
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    Sony

    Bob Dylan – Determined to call himself what he wanted to call himself, Robert Allen Zimmerman wanted a title designed by him, not his parents

  • Jon Bon Jovi rocks the Rockefeller Center in New York City on November 12, 2010
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    Getty Images

    Jon Bon Jovi – In order to name a band after himself, the rocker had to drop John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. and keep it short and sweet

  • Ne-Yo arrives at the 2010 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on November 21, 2010
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    Getty Premium

    Ne-Yo – The R&B crooner went from Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. to superstar after taking a name inspired by Keanu Reeves’ “The Matrix” character, Neo

  • Shania Twain on December 8, 2009
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    Getty Images

    Shania Twain - Eileen Regina Edwards took the last name of her stepfather and began her country music career as Eileen Twain. “Shania” was added after signing her first record deal and it all went up from here

  • Jamie Foxx visits radio station Power 99 in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania on December 17, 2010
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    Getty Premium

    The entertainer first used a stage name doing stand-up, so that he could use his real name, Eric Marlon Bishop, as back-up if he failed

  • LL Cool J attends the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Monte Carlo TV Festival at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel on June 9, 2010
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    Getty Images

    LL Cool J – An acronym for “Ladies Love Cool James,” the rapper / actor substituted James Todd Smith for his high school nickname to establish himself in Hollywood

  • Tina Turner performs onstage on the first night of her European tour at the Cologne Arena, on January 14, 2009 in Cologne, Germany
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    Getty Images

    Anna Mae Bullock transformed into the beloved powerhouse performer after receiving her stage name from former husband / performing partner Ike Turner

  • Queen Latifah shines at the 2010 BET Awards on June 27, 2010
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    Getty Images

    Queen Latifah – Displaying her confidence from the moment she stepped into the industry, Dana Elaine Owens gave herself the royal title and followed it with “Latifah,” meaning “delicate” and “kind” in Arabic

  • Child prodigy, platinum selling rapper and CEO, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., aka Lil’ Wayne, attributes his success and outlook on like to his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. Hopefully, he’ll be able to visit it again soon… once he’s released from…
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    Getty Images

    Lil Wayne – The rapper was born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., but it seems he was more interested in fitting in with the “Lil’s” of the world than the “Carter’s”

  • Nicki Minaj attends the MAC + Nicki Minaj launch of Pink Friday Lipstick at MAC Times Square in New York City on November 23, 2010
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    Getty Premium

    Nicki Minaj – The eccentric rapper is known for her numerous stage personalities, changing Onika Maraj to fit her current mindset

  • Jay-Z watches the game between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals  at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City on July 23, 2010
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    Getty Images

    Jay-Z - Shawn Corey Carter knew he had to create a shorter and more intimidating moniker to make waves in the rap world

  • Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas performs during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on February 6, 2011
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    Getty Images

    Fergie – The Black Eyed Peas singer’s birth name, Stacy Ann Ferguson, lacks the ‘licious flavor of her music

  • Lycra lioness! Shakira performs at Madison Square Garden, NYC, September 21, 2010
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    Getty Images

    Shakira - Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is quite the mouthful, so it’s no wonder the Colombian pop singer went for a title that accurately reflects her dance moves

  • Cee Lo Green hits the black carpet at the EA Sports Madden Bowl XLV at The Glass Cactus on February 3, 2011 in Grapevine, Texas, on February 3, 2011
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    NBC Universal

    Cee Lo Green – Going by the full stage name of Cee-Lo Green, the singer knew a catchy song also requires a catchy artist name, unlike his given Thomas Callaway

  • Bruno Mars is seen outside BBC Radio One in London on January 19, 2011
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    Getty Premium

    Bruno Mars – He may love people just the way they are, but the singer knew he had to change his name from Peter Gene Hernandez before breaking into music

  • Rihanna rings in the New Year at PURE Nightclub at Caesars Palace on December 31, 2010 in Las Vegas
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    WireImage

    Rihanna – The Barbados-born beauty knew going with her middle name rather than her full birth name, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, would help her stand out from the crowd

  • Drake performs during “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest” at Center Staging on December 31, 2010
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    Getty Images

    Drake – Born Aubrey Clark Graham, the rapper decided a single name would help him escape his Canadian teen soap past

  • Snoop Dogg talks to the press
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    Access Hollywood

    Snoop Dog - West Coast rap legend left his real moniker — Cordozar Calvin Broadus — back home in the LBC and took his nickname instead

  • Lady Gaga performs at England’s Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm on June 26, 2009
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    Getty Premium

    Lady Gaga- The outrageous pop star was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta — but that would be a lot tougher to fit on the concert marquee

  • portia de rossi, blurb, ap
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    Associated Press

    Portia De Rossi - The ‘Arrested Development’ star was Amanda Lee Rogers before taking her glamorous name and joined the acting scene

  • Martha Stewart attends the Cartier 100th Anniversary in America Celebration at Cartier Fifth Avenue Mansion on April 30, 2009 in New York City
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    Getty Images

    Martha Stewart – The domestic diva was born Martha Helen Kostrya — but Stewart is much tidier

  • Charlie Sheen
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    Getty Images

    Charlie Sheen - Emilio’s brother? Unlike his ‘Mighty Ducks’ sibling, Carlos Irwin Estevez and his father, Martin Sheen, decided to leave the family name

  • Madonna in New York (March 2008)
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    WireImage

    Madonna- Born Madonna Louise Ciccone, having just one name has worked out pretty good for the Material Girl

  • Criss Angel
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    Access Hollywood

    Criss Angel – Mega magician cast a spell of his own when he transformed from the distinctively Greek Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos. Poof! There went his old name!

  • Chuck Norris poses during a book signing for his new book ‘Against All Odds’ at Borders Books in Northridge, California on October 4, 2004
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    Getty Images

    Chuck Norris - Hollywood’s legendary action star and former black belt came into this world as Carlos Ray. And if Chuck wants to change his name, who is really going to stop him?

  • Cher attends Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Los Angeles, March 20, 2006
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    Getty Images

    Cher- The legendary pop star had a much longer namesake as Cherilyn Sarkisian before cutting it down to the trademark four letters

  • Anna Nicole Smith hits the red carpet for the ‘Be Cool’ premiere, Los Angeles, February 14, 2005
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    Getty Images

    Anna Nicole Smith – The Marilyn look-alike was born Vickie Lynn Hogan and also left her name for another

  • Marilyn Monroe at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950
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    Getty Images/Time & Life Pictures

    Marilyn Monroe - Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, this Hollywood icon changed her hair color and her name when she made the trip out to California

Prev Next

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