These 29 Famous People Changed Either Their First Or Last Name When They Became Famous But I Kinda Wish They Hadn’t
Fiyin Olowokandi
4 min read
These 29 Famous People Changed Either Their First Or Last Name When They Became Famous But I Kinda Wish They Hadn’t
1. Johnny Knoxville’s real name is Philip John Clapp.
Alexander Tamargo / Getty ImagesFieri is actually what his family’s name was before they came to the US, so he changed it back in honor of them.
4. Jon Bon Jovi’s real name is Jon Bongiovi. ? Bongiovi ?.
Gary GershoffHe changed his name to go along with what the band was called, which was Bon Jovi, because that was easier than saying Bongiovi with an Italian accent.
5. Olivia Wilde’s real name is Olivia Cockburne. Lol. I’m five.
Araya Doheny / Getty Images for Baby2BabyShe chose her new last name because of Oscar Wilde, to “honor all the writers in her family.”
6. Tim Allen’s real name is Timothy Alan Dick. Lol. Again, I’m FIVE.
Momodu Mansaray / Getty ImagesWhen he got a job early in his career the producer basically didn’t want the word “Dick” to show on screen, so he changed his name to Tim Allen. No Dick.
7. Kevin James’ real name is Kevin Knipfing.
Gary Gershoff / WireImageI guess he wasn’t happy with the last name Knipfing, so he changed it in honor of one of his favorite teachers.
8. Michael Caine’s real name is Maurice Joseph Micklewhite.
David M. Benett / Dave Benett/Getty ImagesHis first stage name was MICHAEL SCOTT!!! But then he changed it to Michael Caine after seeing a movie poster for The Caine Mutiny. He then legally changed his name to Michael Caine so that going through the airport would be smoother.
9. Ty Pennington’s real name is Gary Tygert Burton.
Michael Loccisano / FilmMagicHe dropped the Gary (bye, Gary!!) and went with Ty instead of Tygert. Then he changed his name to Pennington, which was his stepfather’s last name, because he didn’t see much of his birth father.
10. Albert Brooks’ real name is Albert Einstein.
Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for DisneyHe changed his name for obvious reasons.
11. Téa Leoni’s real name is Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni.
Noam Galai / WireImageShe took her middle name and half her last name and ran with it.
12. Stevie Wonder’s real name is Stevland Hardaway Morris.
Arturo Holmes / Getty Images for Legal Defense FundHe was given the name Little Stevie Wonder when he was signed to Motown records at 11. I guess he dropped the “little” when he became big.
13. Gigi Hadid’s real name is Jelena Hadid.
Gotham / WireImageGigi was a family nickname that became a whole-world nickname.
14. G-Eazy’s real name is Gerald.
Unique Nicole / Getty ImagesObviously it wasn’t G-Eazy, but GERALD?!
15. Meryl Streep’s real name is Mary Streep. Just Mary.
Taylor Hill / FilmMagicMeryl was a family nickname.
16. Camila Cabello’s real name is Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao.
John Lamparski / WireImage,She dumped the Karla! She says it’s because her family called her Camila and that’s the name she identified with.
17. Bruno Mars’ real name is Peter Gene Hernandez.
Paras Griffin / Getty Images for BETHis dad nicknamed him “Bruno” when he was two because of his resemblance to professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino.
18. Jason Derulo’s real name is Jason Desrouleaux.
Alexander Tamargo / Getty Images for CATSI’m assuming he changed it because we are all too stupid to correctly pronounce a French name like that.
19. Lucy Hale’s real name is Karen Hale.
Steve Granitz / FilmMagicFor some weird reason she did not want to go by Karen. But she got Lucy from her middle name, Lucille.
20. Shania Twain’s real name is Eilleen Edwards.
Thomas Niedermueller / Getty Images for ZFFFirst, she was Eilleen Edwards. Then she was adopted and she became Eilleen Twain. Then she met someone with the name Shania, thought it was beautiful, and decided to become a Shania herself.
21. Andrew Lincoln’s real name is Andrew Clutterbuck.
Jerod Harris / Getty ImagesLook, I cannot imagine why he would ever want to change his name from Clutterbuck to Lincoln, but he did.
22. David Tennant’s real name is David McDonald.
David M. Benett / Dave Benett/Getty Images for GOOD the playHis birth name was already taken with the actor’s union Equity (SAG for theater), so he changed it to his new name inspired by Pet Shop Boys’ frontman Neil Tennant.
23. Macy Gray’s real name is Natalie Renée McIntyre.
Alberto E. Rodriguez / FilmMagicShe was riding her bike, fell off, and landed in front of a mailbox that said “Macy Gray.” It stuck with her and then she became Macy Gray herself.
24. LL Cool J’s real name is James Smith.
David Becker / Getty Images for iHeartRadioLadies Love Cool James Smith.
25. Shane West’s real name is Shannon Snaith.
Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Mammoth Film FestivalBasically, he was embarrassed by his name, so he started going by his middle name Bruce, and then changed it up altogether.
26. Liam Neeson’s real name is William John Neeson.
Bruce Glikas / Bruce Glikas/Getty ImagesLIAM IS THE LAST HALF OF WILLIAM. I’m shook.
27. Meg Ryan’s real name is Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra.
Taylor Hill / WireImageShe went with Ryan while joining SAG because it was her grandma’s maiden name. Mary, Emily, Anne, and Hyra were tossed out like garbage.
28. Will Smith’s real name is Willard Carroll Smith.
Frazer Harrison / Getty ImagesHe just wanted a shorter name so people could remember him more easily. It will always be Willard to me.
29. Finally, Michael J. Fox’s real name is Michael A. Fox.
Noam Galai / Getty Images for The Michael J. Fox FoundationHis middle name is actually Andrew, but he changed it to “J” in homage of actor Michael J. Pollard.
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