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The Good Blog - 12 Celebs Who Changed Their Names Before Stardom

───   19:00 Sun, 17 Sep 2017

The Good Blog - 12 Celebs Who Changed Their Names Before Stardom  | News Article

By kcscannell in Entertainment


In Hollywood, it's all about appearances. You need to have the right look, the right style, but you especially need a good name. A solid name can catapult a C-list actor straight to the top purely based on its level of "cool". 

But not everybody is born with an inherently awesome name. Sometimes, you have to take those matters into your own hands, which is exactly what this list of celebrities did. 

Below are some of the most notorious name changes to happen in show biz history!



1. Vin Diesel

There's no more uniquely named tough guy in La La Land right now than Vin Diesel. But many Fast and Furious fans may not know that his actual name is really Mark Sinclair. But if you're planning on having a career based on car movies, Diesel's a wise choice. 


IMDb| Universal Pictures

2. Jamie Foxx

The double "X" at the end of Jamie's name was always something that would raise suspicion about the legitimacy of his moniker. Turns out, Foxx is just a stage name. This multi-talented actor was born Eric Marlon Bishop. That would've been a strong name choice, too.


IMDb| Wilson Webb | TriStar Pictures

3. Demi Moore 

This longtime actress is known for her wide range of roles. But, did you know that her name is actually Demetria Gene Guynes? Nice to see she kept the Demi-esque start in her new name.


IMDb| Lion's Gate Home Entertainment


4. Joaquin Phoenix

This change of name was a symbolic one. Originally named Joaquin Rafael Bottom, he switched it to Phoenix to help better represent his new, rising lease on life. It's all about new beginnings...



5. John Legend 

Ah-ha! We knew this super smooth name was too good to be true. The "All of Me" singer's real name is John Roger Stephens. But, hey, he'll always be a legend in our book. 


IMDb

6. Meg Ryan

This beloved actress' actual government name is, Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra. Phew, that's a mouthful. Totally understand why she chose to take a shorter route with her stage name.


IMDb


7. Olivia Wilde

Olivia Cockburn (yup, that's her real name) always wanted to be in show business. One of her idols was Oscar Wilde. Once she broke it big, she knew she had to pay tribute to him somehow, and, boom, Olivia Wilde was born. Pretty cool, right?


IMDb


8. Liam Neeson 

When it comes to keeping your original name, Liam Neeson can taken or leave it. (Apologies for the lame joke.) 

This tough actor was born William Neeson, but only held onto the "Liam" in his professional years. Way to keep it short and sweet, buddy.


IMDb| Myles Aronowitz | Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.


9. Natalie Portman 

This brilliant V for Vendetta star's actual name is Neta-Lee Hershlag. We think it's awesome she decided to use the phonetics of her birth name to form her Hollywood moniker. Pretty clever, Neta-Lee...


IMDb


10. Elton John 

As mundane as it may sound, Elton John is actually a stage name for this famous singer. Not sure why he changed from his original name, to be honest. Sir Reginald Kenneth Dwight kinda has a nice ring to it. Don't you think?


IMDb


11. Katy Perry 

Inspired by her own name, Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, Katy opted for a more unconventional surname. Because, as we all know, there's a very well-known Kate Hudson already strolling the streets of Hollywood. 


IMDb| Paramount Pictures


12. Jennifer Aniston

This is one you're going to want to tell your friends about. While the last name of "Aniston" does sound unique enough to be real, it is anything but! Her real name is actually Jennifer Linn Anastassakis! Crazy, right?! We had no idea!


IMDb| Glen Wilson | Paramount Pictures



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