The Born Identity: Uncover Celebs Real Names

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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

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!

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

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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”

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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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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!

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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?

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

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

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