Everyone has a name, but not everyone is happy with the name they are called. Some celebrities don’t like to have their name revealed because they don’t think it looks great, some feel it’s weird, or maybe they simply don’t like it. Names can also be changed if some people think that a different name will bring them luck and success.
In some cases, as with many celebrities, they don’t even have to officially change names. These individuals simply create stage names and perform behind them. Below is a list of seven famous celebrities with fake names. Let’s see if you think they made a wise decision or should have stayed with the name their parents gave them.
1. Marilyn Monroe grew up as Norma Jeanne
You might be aware that Marilyn Monroe was one of the most famous celebrities of her time, and she was known as Norma Jean when she was a child. The legendary actress was born to the family name Mortenson, baptized as Baker, and later married to Dougherty. But do you know how she was known as Marilyn? According to Time, the actress dropped her first husband’s last name because a 20th Century Fox executive thought there would be too many different ways to pronounce it. The studio executive gave her the nickname “Marilyn” because it reminded him of Broadway star Marilyn Miller in the 1920s. Norma Jean volunteered the family name “Monroe,” a name on her mother’s side of the family.
2. Miley Cyrus changed her real name as a child star
Some stars are known to change their names early in life. When you are a child actor, it is only natural to start your career under a stage name. Miley Cyrus is an example of a famous celebrity. She is a unique character, and many people believe that her fate has become as famous as she did. By the way, her real name is Destiny. Somewhere along the line, she or her parents decided that changing her stage name to Miley would be a good idea. Honestly, it turns out to be a great decision because it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t heard of Miley Cyrus today.
3. Gigi Hadid’s name is Jelena
Loyal fans know that the world-famous supermodel was initially using a different name. Hadid was originally Jelena (pronounced Yelena) and was only named Gigi by her close family. In an interview, Gigi revealed, “My mom was called that as a kid by her mom when she was younger, but it’s just around the house.” When Jelena got complicated in elementary school, Gigi became full-time. “In first or second grade there was a girl named Helena and it was confusing with the teacher who had to call our names, so the teacher asked my mom, ‘If I need to give Jelena a nickname, what would it be? Onwards, the name ceased.
4. Onika Tanya Minaj changed her name to Nicki Minaj
Some would argue that Nicki is a simple name that can be pronounced and that it resonates with listeners after hearing it. Onika Tanya Minaj, on the other hand, is her real name. And say whatever you want about Onika, but we think it’s an excellent name for an artist. This is the kind of name used by celebrities that stays stuck in people’s minds. Sometimes it seems that actors, musicians, and everyone else in the show business want to make their names more natural to attract a larger audience. However, if you have a cool name like this, maybe staying with him for a while is a better option.
5. Frank Ocean was initially known as Christopher Edwin Breaux
Ocean was originally named Christopher Edwin Breaux, but he didn’t think his given name was interesting enough. In an interview, he mentioned that on his birthday in 2010, he changed his name. He said it was probably one of the most exciting things he accomplished. He used LegalZoom to change his name because it sounded great. “None of us are our names,” the Novakani singer wisely commented. He recommended people change their name if they don’t like it. “I’m just a few steps away from that process, so I probably shouldn’t be talking about it, but by the beginning of summer, I’ll be honest. I’m going to be flying planes like Christopher Francis Ocean.”
6. Alison Brie does not use her full name
Choosing a stage name is often the best way to avoid confusion caused by a particularly difficult family name. When you first hear the name Alison Brie, you might assume it’s her first name. However, it turns out that only part of Alison Brie’s real name is Alison Brie. That’s just her first and middle names together. Her real family name is Schermerhorn. Yes… We are also at a loss as to how someone could possibly speak such a word. Some people may find it simple, but consider if English is not your native language and you are a fan who just found out about Alison’s actual last name.
7. The Weeknd grew up as Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
It’s very clear that The Weeknd’s first and last names are not “The” and “Weeknd”. Abel Makkonen Tesfaye is actually the singer’s real name. He dropped out of high school when he was about 17, ran away from home, and convinced another band member, Lamar, to do the same. They grabbed their parents’ mattresses, loaded them into a friend’s car, drove away for the weekend, and never came back. He despised his first name at the time, so he used this as a stage name, which he liked. He had to remove the letter “e” since there was already a Canadian band of the same name, so there would be copyright concerns.
