Stars Whose Real Names Will Surprise You
114 Stars Whose Real Names Will Surprise You
Image Source: Getty / Dia Dipasupil / Frazer Harrison / Jon Kopaloff
One thing that's never gone out of style with celebrities? Cultivating a unique persona with the help of a stage name. Even today, as social media influences celebrities to be more authentic and accessible, new stars have traded their names for shorter or more-memorable zingers. While some completely wipe the slate clean (we're looking at you, Lady Gaga!), others simply replace a first or last name. Scroll through to discover the real names your favorite stars were born with.
1 Cardi B = Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar
Image Source: Getty / ROBYN BECK
2 Billie Eilish = Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell
Image Source: Getty / Debbie Hickey
3 Stormzy = Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr.
Image Source: Getty / Samir Hussein
4 Gigi Hadid = Jelena Noura Hadid
Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola
5 H.E.R. = Gabriella Wilson
Image Source: Getty / John Sciulli
6 Maluma = Juan Luis Londoño Arias
Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison
7 Maddie Ziegler = Madison Nicole Ziegler
Image Source: Getty / Stefanie Keenan
8 Lil Nas X = Montero Lamar Hill
Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison
9 SZA = Solána Imani Rowe
Image Source: Getty / Craig Barritt
10 Labrinth = Timothy McKenzie
Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz
11 Meghan Markle = Rachel Meghan Markle
Image Source: Getty / Pool/Samir Hussein
12 Megan Thee Stallion = Megan Pete
Image Source: Getty / Rodin Eckenroth
13 Ariana Grande = Ariana Grande-Butera
Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola
14 Sofia Carson = Sofía Daccarett Char
Image Source: Getty / Daniele Venturelli
15 Lizzo = Melissa Viviane Jefferson
Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison
16 Skylar Astin = Skylar Astin Lipstein
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
17 Maisie Williams = Margaret Constance Williams
Image Source: Getty / David M. Benett
18 Zendaya = Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman
Image Source: Getty / Kristy Sparow
19 Kit Harington = Christopher Catesby Harington
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
20 Barbie Ferreira = Barbara Linhares Ferreira
Image Source: Getty / JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX
21 Becky G = Rebbeca Marie Gomez
Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz
22 Jonah Hill = Jonah Hill Feldstein
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
23 Dove Cameron = Chloe Celeste Hosterman
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann
24 Elton John = Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
25 Halsey = Ashley Nicolette Frangipane
Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur
26 Vin Diesel = Mark Sinclair Vincent
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
27 Normani = Normani Kordei Hamilton
Image Source: Getty / Mark Horton
28 Alicia Keys = Alicia Augello Cook
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
29 Paul Wesley = Paul Wasilewski
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
30 Camila Cabello = Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao
Image Source: Getty / Gabe Ginsberg
31 JAY-Z = Shawn Corey Carter
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
32 Rihanna = Robyn Rihanna Fenty
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
33 Beanie Feldstein = Elizabeth Greer Feldstein
Image Source: Getty / Manny Carabel
34 Common = Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr.
Image Source: Getty / Kevork Djansezian
35 Demi Lovato = Demetria Devonne Lovato
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
36 Keke Palmer = Lauren Keyana Palmer
Image Source: Getty / Amy Sussman/SHJ2019
37 King Princess = Mikaela Straus
Image Source: Getty / Erika Goldring
38 Nelly = Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr.
Image Source: Getty / Michael Buckner
39 Mindy Kaling = Vera Mindy Chokalingam
Image Source: Getty / Rich Fury
40 Reese Witherspoon = Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
41 Ludacris = Christopher Brian Bridges
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
42 Lucy Hale = Karen Lucille Hale
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
43 Lil Wayne = Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.
Image Source: Getty / Kevin Winter
44 Betty Who = Jessica Anne Newham
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
45 Lady Gaga = Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
46 Nicki Minaj = Onika Tanya Maraj
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
47 Calvin Harris = Adam Richard Wiles
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
48 Dakota Fanning = Hannah Dakota Fanning
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
49 Snoop Dogg = Calvin Cordozar Broadus
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
50 Charli XCX = Charlotte Emma Aitchison
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
51 Jason Derulo = Jason Desrouleaux
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
52 Lily James = Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
53 Ne-Yo = Shaffer Chimere Smith
Image Source: Getty / Stephen J. Cohen
54 Kesha = Kesha Rose Sebert
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
55 Jamie Foxx = Eric Marlon Bishop
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
56 Emma Stone = Emily Jean Stone
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
57 Ricky Martin = Jose Enrique Martin Morales
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
58 Ashton Kutcher = Christopher Ashton Kutcher
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
59 Sia = Sia Kate Isobelle Furler
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
60 Zedd = Anton Zaslavski
Image Source: Getty / Jason LaVeris
61 Aaron Paul = Aaron Paul Sturtevant
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
62 Tina Fey = Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
63 Pink = Alecia Beth Moore
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
64 John Legend = John Roger Stephens
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
65 Adele = Adele Laurie Blue Adkins
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
66 Miley Cyrus = Destiny Hope Cyrus
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
67 Macklemore = Ben Haggerty
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
68 Nina Dobrev = Nikolina Konstantinova Dobreva
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
69 Theo James = Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
70 Katy Perry = Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
71 Swizz Beatz = Kasseem Dean
Image Source: Getty / Aaron Davidson
72 Lorde = Ella Yelich-O'Connor
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
73 Stevie Wonder = Stevland Hardaway Judkins
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
74 Cee Lo Green = Thomas DeCarlo Callaway
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
75 Faith Hill = Audrey Faith Perry
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
76 Rooney Mara = Patricia Rooney Mara
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
77 Drake = Aubrey Drake Graham
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
78 Whoopi Goldberg = Caryn Elaine Johnson
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
79 Bruce Willis = Walter Bruce Willis
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
80 Julianne Moore = Julie Anne Smith
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
81 Tom Cruise = Thomas Cruise Mapother IV
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
82 Téa Leoni = Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
83 Natalie Portman = Natalie Hershlag
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
84 Fergie = Stacy Ann Ferguson
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
85 50 Cent = Curtis James Jackson III
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
86 Aloe Blacc = Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III
Image Source: Getty / Kevork Djansezian
87 Mila Kunis = Milena Markovna Kunis
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
88 Olivia Wilde = Olivia Jane Cockburn
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
89 Helen Mirren = Ilyena Lydia Mironoff
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
90 Lana Del Rey = Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
91 Hozier = Andrew Hozier-Byrne
Image Source: Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris
92 Jessie J = Jessica Ellen Cornish
Image Source: Getty
93 Tim McGraw = Samuel Timothy McGraw
Image Source: Getty / Ethan Miller
94 Meg Ryan = Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
95 T.I. = Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr.
Image Source: Getty / Paras Griffin
96 Portia de Rossi = Amanda Lee Rogers
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
97 Bruno Mars = Peter Gene Hernandez
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
98 Lea Michele = Lea Michele Sarfati
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
99 Shania Twain = Eilleen Regina Edwards
Image Source: Getty / Gregg DeGuire
100 Mandy Moore = Amanda Leigh Moore
Image Source: Getty / Donato Sardella
101 Kat Dennings = Katherine Litwack
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
102 Shakira = Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
103 Carmen Electra = Tara Leigh Patrick
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
104 Flo Rida = Tramar Lacel Dillard
Image Source: Getty / Pascal Le Segretain
105 Pitbull = Armando Christian Pérez
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
106 Joaquin Phoenix = Joaquin Rafael Bottom
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
107 Demi Moore = Demetria Gene Guynes
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
108 Missy Elliott = Melissa Arnette Elliott
Image Source: Getty / Andrew H. Walker
109 Iggy Azalea = Amethyst Amelia Kelly
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
110 Kelly Rowland = Kelendria Trene Rowland
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
111 Zachary Levi = Zachary Levi Pugh
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
112 Jack Black = Thomas Jacob Black
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
113 Nicolas Cage = Nicolas Kim Coppola
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
114 Madonna = Madonna Louise Ciccone
Image Source: Getty / Presley Ann / Frazer Harrison / Kevin Mazur
