Entertainment
13 Celebs Who Surprised Us With Their Real Names
13 Celebrities Who Go By Stage Names and the Reasons Behind Them
It’s not uncommon for stars to adopt stage names, and just recently, Millie Bobby Brown shared how she changed her actual name for her career. Here are 13 celebrities, including Millie, whose true names may surprise you.
- Millie Bobby Brown
- Millie revealed that her middle name isn’t actually Bobby; it’s Bonnie. “I’ve never told anyone that. You heard it here first,” she shared with a UK outlet earlier this month, explaining that she changed it just for fun.
2. Emma Stone
The actress known as Emma Stone was born Emily Stone. As it turns out, another actor had already registered under her original name with the Screen Actors Guild, prompting her to choose the first name “Emma” while keeping her last name. In a 2024 interview, she expressed her desire to be called Emily, saying, “That would be so nice. I would like to be Emily.”
3. Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx was born Eric Marlon Bishop. He recounted his early stand-up days on a radio show, explaining that he initially signed up as Eric Bishop and received a standing ovation. However, when he returned, he wasn’t called up to perform again. After realizing the male comics dominated the lineup, he started using unisex names, ultimately landing on Jamie Foxx.
4. Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh’s real name is Yeoh Choo-Kheng. She adopted “Michelle” early in her career after a producer claimed her original name would be too difficult for people to pronounce. Yeoh found the reasoning baffling and decided to embrace her professional identity.
5. Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton was born Michael Douglas, but he couldn’t use his birth name due to another famous actor of the same name. He revealed that he stumbled upon “Keaton” while looking through a phone book and decided it sounded fitting.
6. Whoopi Goldberg
Caryn Johnson is the name behind Whoopi Goldberg. The stage name was inspired by the gag of a whoopee cushion, as she had an instance of letting gas escape during a performance. Her mother encouraged her to evolve the name from Whoopee Cushion to Whoopi Goldberg.
7. Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell’s real name is John William Ferrell, and he felt embarrassed by his first name as a child. He explained that his parents named him John but called him Will, which is the name he adopted for his professional career.
8. Miley Cyrus
Destiny Hope Cyrus is the real name of the pop icon known as Miley Cyrus. Family and friends affectionately called her “Smiley” as a child due to her cheerful demeanor, which eventually morphed into Miley.
9. Daniel Dae Kim
Daniel Dae Kim was born 김대현, pronounced “Geem Day Hyun.” After moving to America, his parents chose the Western name Daniel to make pronunciation easier, while preserving the essence of his Korean name in the initials.
10. Tina Fey
Elizabeth Stamatina Fey is the full name of the beloved comedian and actress known as Tina Fey. Her nickname comes directly from her middle name, which ties into another aspect of her life as her character in 30 Rock also shares a similar name.
11. Rihanna
Rihanna was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty. In interviews, she expressed how the name Robyn feels more personal to her, while Rihanna represents an image of her public persona.
12. Calvin Harris
The famous DJ Calvin Harris is actually Adam Wiles. In a radio interview, he admitted that very few people call him Calvin in his personal life.
13. Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon’s real name is Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon. She revealed this tidbit during an interview, shedding light on her full name that few may know.
These celebrities showcase how stage names can play a significant role in shaping their careers, identities, and the public’s perception of them.
