17 Celebrities Who Have Different Real Names (You Know Farrokh Bulsara Really Well)

2018-11-22

Many celebrities use stage names that are catchier or more marketable than their real names. While we might be familiar with their famous personas, their real names often tell a different story. Here are 17 celebrities whose real names you might not know—and yes, you know Farrokh Bulsara, aka Freddie Mercury, really well!

1. Freddie Mercury – Farrokh Bulsara

•Real Name: Farrokh Bulsara

•Famous For: Lead singer of Queen

Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar. When he formed Queen, he changed his name to Freddie Mercury, a name that symbolized his bold, larger-than-life persona on stage.

2. Elton John – Reginald Kenneth Dwight

•Real Name: Reginald Kenneth Dwight

•Famous For: Singer, songwriter, and pianist

Before he became Sir Elton John, he was Reginald Dwight. He changed his name early in his career, combining the names of two of his bandmates: Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.

3. Lady Gaga – Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta

•Real Name: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta

•Famous For: Pop star and actress

Lady Gaga adopted her stage name as a nod to the Queen song “Radio Ga Ga.” Her theatrical persona perfectly matches her eclectic stage name.

4. Jamie Foxx – Eric Marlon Bishop

•Real Name: Eric Marlon Bishop

•Famous For: Actor and comedian

Jamie Foxx chose his stage name because he noticed that female comedians often got called on stage first during open mic nights. He picked “Jamie” because it was gender-neutral.

5. Bruno Mars – Peter Gene Hernandez

•Real Name: Peter Gene Hernandez

•Famous For: Singer, songwriter, and producer

Bruno Mars changed his name because he wanted to avoid being stereotyped in the music industry. He chose “Bruno” after the wrestler Bruno Sammartino and “Mars” to reflect his out-of-this-world talent.

6. Katy Perry – Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson

•Real Name: Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson

•Famous For: Pop star

Katy Perry adopted her mother’s maiden name (Perry) to avoid confusion with actress Kate Hudson when she launched her music career.

7. Natalie Portman – Neta-Lee Hershlag

•Real Name: Neta-Lee Hershlag

•Famous For: Actress

Natalie Portman, born Neta-Lee Hershlag, changed her last name to her grandmother’s maiden name to protect her family’s privacy when she started her acting career.

8. Joaquin Phoenix – Joaquín Rafael Bottom

•Real Name: Joaquín Rafael Bottom

•Famous For: Actor

Joaquin Phoenix was born into the Bottom family, but after his parents left the Children of God cult, they changed their surname to “Phoenix” to symbolize their rebirth from the ashes.

9. Whoopi Goldberg – Caryn Elaine Johnson

•Real Name: Caryn Elaine Johnson

•Famous For: Comedian and actress

Whoopi Goldberg’s stage name comes from the word “whoopee cushion,” reflecting her sense of humor. She adopted “Goldberg” because she thought having a Jewish-sounding last name would help her career.

10. Miley Cyrus – Destiny Hope Cyrus

•Real Name: Destiny Hope Cyrus

•Famous For: Singer and actress

Miley’s real name was Destiny Hope, but her nickname growing up was “Smiley,” which was eventually shortened to “Miley.” She officially changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus in 2008.

11. Drake – Aubrey Drake Graham

•Real Name: Aubrey Drake Graham

•Famous For: Rapper and actor

Drake uses his middle name as his stage name. Before his music career took off, he was known as Aubrey Graham, his character’s name on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation.

12. Nicki Minaj – Onika Tanya Maraj

•Real Name: Onika Tanya Maraj

•Famous For: Rapper and singer

Nicki Minaj adopted her stage name as part of her early music persona. While “Minaj” sounds catchy, it’s quite different from her real surname, Maraj.

13. Vin Diesel – Mark Sinclair

•Real Name: Mark Sinclair

•Famous For: Actor

Vin Diesel created his stage name in his early acting days. “Vin” comes from his mother’s married name, Vincent, while “Diesel” was a nickname given to him by his friends due to his energetic personality.

14. Lorde – Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor

•Real Name: Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor

•Famous For: Singer and songwriter

Lorde’s stage name was inspired by her fascination with aristocracy and royalty. She added an “e” to the end of “Lord” to make it more feminine.

15. Meghan Markle – Rachel Meghan Markle

•Real Name: Rachel Meghan Markle

•Famous For: Actress and Duchess of Sussex

Although the world knows her as Meghan Markle, her first name is actually Rachel. She has always gone by her middle name, Meghan.

16. Rihanna – Robyn Rihanna Fenty

•Real Name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty

•Famous For: Singer and entrepreneur

Rihanna’s first name is Robyn, but she chose to use her middle name professionally. Fans, however, often refer to her simply as “Rihanna.”

17. Martin Sheen – Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez

•Real Name: Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez

•Famous For: Actor

Martin Sheen adopted a stage name to help him get roles in Hollywood, believing his real name, Ramón Estévez, might limit his opportunities. He chose “Sheen” after Catholic bishop Fulton J. Sheen.

Final Thoughts

Many celebrities have adopted stage names to create a more marketable image or to reflect their personalities. While their real names might not be as well-known, these stars prove that sometimes, reinventing yourself with a catchy name can be the first step to success!