The Real Names of Celebrities

Back in the 1950's and 1960's any person breaking into show business was encouraged to change their real name to a stage name. A stage name is a pseudonym that a celebrity chooses to be recognized by, rather than their given birth name. Even today, many celebrities change their names for a variety of reasons. Some feel that their birth names lack that certain pizzazz that is associated with celebrity. The person may feel that their name just doesn't possess the right sound. A name may sound too plain and ordinary, so a showbiz name is adopted instead. Others want to conceal their family origins. Sometimes foreign names that are difficult to spell or pronounce are changed to another name that sounds more American. Some may just have the same name of a person who is already in the business and do not want to be confused with that other person; there are acting organizations that prevent more than one member having the same name.

Hollywood is often accused of being a "fake" community. The most commonly fake occurrence in the industry is that of fake, or rather stage names. Whatever the reason, many celebrities choose to adopt new names. Here is an entertaining list of celebrity stage names and birth names. You may be surprised when you see how many famous people that you know and love were actually born under another name. For some, it is clear to see why they wanted to adopt new names. In other cases, the celebrity names are similar to the actual birth names.

Alice Cooper was named Vincent Damon Furnier.

Alicia Keys was named Alicia Augello Cook.

50 Cent was named Curtis Jackson.

Axl Rose was William Bailey.

Angelina Jolie was named Angelina Jolie Voight.

Anna Nicole Smith was named Vickie Lynn Hogan.

Bob Hope was named Leslie Townes Hope.

Bob Dylan was named Robert Zimmerman.

Charlie Sheen was named Carlos Irwin Estevez.

Clay Aiken was named Clayton Holmes Grissom.

Demi Moore was named Demetria Guynes.

Doris Day was named Doris von Kappelhoff.

Elton John was named Reginald Kenneth Dwight.

Elvira was named Cassandra Peterson.

Elvis Costello was named Declan McManus.

Gene Simmons was named Chaim Witz.

Hulk Hogan was named Terry Gene Bollea.

Jack Black was named Thomas J. Black.

Jamie Foxx was named Eric Bishop.

John Bon Jovi was named John Francis Bongiovi.

Judy Garland was named Frances Gumm.

Kid Rock was named Robert James Ritchie.

Kirk Douglas was named Issur Danielovitch.

Marilyn Manson was named Brian Warner.

Marilyn Monroe was named Norma Jean Mortenson Baker.

Martha Stewart was named Martha Kostyra.

Michael Caine was named Maurice Mickelwhite.

Patsy Cline was named Virginia Patterson Hensley.

Portia De Rossi was named Amanda Lee Rogers.

Queen Latifah was named Dana Elaine Owens.

Reese Witherspoon was named Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon.

Ringo Starr was named Richard Starky.

Stevie Wonder was named Steveland Judkins.

Tom Cruise was named Thomas Mapother IV.

Whoopie Goldberg was named Caryn Johnson.

Winona Ryder was named Winona Laura Horowitz.

Did you know all of these celebrity stage names and birth names? Some of the names changes are well known and others are not. Would we think of Marilyn Manson the same way if he were known to the public under the more common name of Brian Warner? There is really no way of knowing for sure. There is a Chinese proverb that says, "The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names." Then again, Hollywood isn't necessarily known for its wisdom.