LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Learning about the real names of celebrities is always fascinating due to the numerous examples of stage names that overshadow birth names. The path to stardom is not as straightforward as moving to Los Angeles, obtaining an agent, and landing the first job. Unless they were a 'nepo baby', most stars had to struggle for years before becoming a household name. Some even chose new names.
Celebs changing their real names has been commonplace in Hollywood since its earliest days. But why do they do it? The reasons differ. Some choose a flashier stage persona, while others opt for a sentimental approach, such as honoring a late family member or paying tribute to their mother or grandmother's maiden name. A few celebs desire a different name or have to change their name for practical reasons before making it in Hollywood.
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Below are some celebrity name changes that may surprise you.
1. Bruno Mars
The renowned singer known for chart-topping hits such as '24K Magic' is none other than Bruno Mars, but his real name is Peter Gene Hernandez. During his infancy, he was affectionately called Bruno due to his plump physique, which was likened to Bruno Sammartino, a heavyweight wrestler. Additionally, he disclosed that he added the surname Mars after receiving numerous compliments from girls who said he was "out of this world".
2. Gigi Hadid
Jelena Hadid, widely recognized as Gigi Hadid, revealed in an interview with Vogue that her real name is Jelena. She explained that the nickname Gigi originated when a teacher inquired about a suitable moniker to differentiate her from another student named Helena during her early school years. In response, her mother suggested calling her "Gigi", which the teacher adopted, and the name stuck with her ever since.
3. Kate Perry
Born as Katheryn Hudson, the celebrated pop singer known for chart-topping songs such as 'Roar' and 'Firework' changed her name to Katy Perry to distinguish herself from the famous actress Kate Hudson. Opting for her mother's maiden name as her stage name, Katy Perry created a unique identity, which allowed her to avoid any confusion and allowed her to develop her pop princess persona. By doing so, she was able to establish a successful career and has become an icon in the music industry.
4. Demi Moore
The birth name of Demi Moore, the renowned actress known for her roles in films like 'Ghost' and 'Striptease,' is Demetria Gene Guynes. According to a 2007 profile on Moore published in 'The Guardian', her mother chose the name Demetria after seeing it in a shampoo advertisement. As for her last name, it comes from Danny Guynes, the man believed to be her father. However, she later discovered that her biological father was Charles Harman. As for the surname Moore, she adopted it after marrying a singer named Freddy Moore in 1980, and she kept his last name even after their divorce.
5. Kit Harrington
The real name of Kit Harington, the actor best known for portraying Jon Snow in 'Game of Thrones', is Christopher Catesby Harington. However, Harington was unaware of his full name until he turned 11 years old. In an interview with Glamour magazine, he shared that his parents could sense his inclination towards the nickname Kit, but Christopher was a customary name in their family.
6. Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore, the Academy Award-winning actress, was originally named Julie Anne Smith. However, she was unable to register her name with the Actors' Equity Association due to its popularity. To differentiate herself, she combined her mother's first name, Anne, with her father's middle name, Moore, to create the unique moniker, Julianne Moore. In an interview with The New York Times, she explained that it was a way for her to pay homage to both of her parents and avoid hurting anyone's feelings.
7. Emma Stone
Emma Stone, the Academy Award-winning actress, was born Emily Jean Stone. However, when she joined the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) at 16, she discovered that her birth name was already taken, and she needed to pick a new one. After briefly going by Riley Stone, she changed it to Emma since it was similar to her real name. However, she also goes by "M" among her friends and colleagues. In an interview with W Magazine, Stone admitted that responding to a new name was a challenge for her, but she ultimately settled on Emma as her professional name.
8. Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx, the Oscar-winning actor, and singer, was born Eric Marlon Bishop. In an interview with David Letterman, Foxx revealed the reason behind his name change. As a struggling stand-up comedian, he noticed that female comedians were often given priority over males. So, he decided to choose a gender-neutral name and picked Jamie Foxx from the list of names he made, which included names like Stacy Green and Tracy Brown. The name Jamie Foxx worked in his favor when he received a standing ovation on his first performance using the name.
9. Calvin Harris
According to a 2009 interview with ShortList, Scottish DJ and producer Calvin Harris revealed that he chose his stage name to sound "racially ambiguous" as his first single was a soul track. Harris' real name is Adam Richard Wiles.
10. Lorde
According to an interview with Interview Magazine, Lorde, the New Zealand singer, was fascinated by the title "Lord" since she was a child but found it too masculine. To make it more feminine, she added an "e" at the end of the word. Although some people believe that the name has religious connotations, the singer clarified that it was not the case. Her real name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor.
11. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga's stage name originated from an autocorrected text message. She met music producer Rob Fusari in 2006, who used to sing "Radio Ga Ga" by Queen's Freddie Mercury whenever she entered the studio. One day, while texting, his phone autocorrected "Radio" to "Lady," and the phrase "Lady Gaga" was born. According to reports, Gaga responded to the text with "That's it." Lady Gaga's real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.