Celebrities have been using stage names for decades, leaving many fans unaware of their favorite stars' real names.
Reese Witherspoon surprised fans in an interview on June 5 when she revealed that she doesn't call Laura Dern by her first name because her name is so similar to hers.
Reese, 48, appeared in a Vanity Fair video alongside her “Big Little Lies” co-star Nicole Kidman, who questioned why Reese always called Laura, 57, by her last name.
“I hate it when you call her Dahn,” she confessed.
“It feels so weird. I always say, 'Laura' and you're like, 'No, darn, darn,' and I'm like, 'Why?'”
Reese quickly stepped in to clear up the confusion.
“My name is Laura and her name is Laura so it's confusing,” she said.
Reese's real name is Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon.
Though Nicole admitted she “forgot” her co-star's real name, she still seemed confused, pointing out that Laura “don't call you Laura.”
Reese couldn't argue with that.
“You're trying to make sense of something that doesn't make any sense,” she retorted sarcastically.
But she's not the only celebrity to have kept a stage name throughout her career.
Celebrities who use stage names
Celebrities frequently change their names and reinvent themselves in their pursuit of fame and fortune. Many fans don't know the real names of their favorite stars. Here are some A-list celebrities and their lesser known real names.
- Snoop Dogg (Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.)
- Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Elaine Johnson)
- Portia de Rossi (Amanda Lee Rogers)
- Jamie Foxx (Eric Marlon Bishop)
- Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty)
- Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham)
- Joaquin Phoenix (Joaquin Rafael Bottom)
- Jay Z (Shawn Corey Carter)
- John Legend (John Roger Stevens)
- Olivia Wilde (Olivia Jane Cockburn)
- Vin Diesel (Mark Sinclair)
- Jason Sudeikis (Daniel Jason Sudeikis)
- Meg Ryan (Margaret Mary Emily Ann Hyler)
- Mindy Kaling (Vera Mindy Chokalingam)
- Lil Nas X (Montero Lamar Hill)
Many of the biggest stars in the industry, including Katy Perry, Jason Sudeikis, Cardi B, and John Legend, go by names other than the one they were given at birth.
Katy Perry
Katy, 39, was born Katheryn Hudson, a name unknown to her current fans, but before she became famous she was a Christian and gospel singer under that name in Nashville, Tennessee.
After failing to find success with gospel, she moved to Los Angeles and turned to pop music.
Katie began using her mother's maiden name, Perry, to avoid being confused with or associated with actress Kate Hudson.
Miley Cyrus
The Flowers singer was born Destiny Hope Cyrus but has been known as Miley since her acting career began.
The name comes from her childhood nickname “Smiley”.
Miley legally changed her name in 2008, when she was 15 years old.
She became Miley Ray Cyrus in honor of her father, Billy Ray Cyrus.
Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey began her career under her real name, Elizabeth Grant, but struggled to find success.
Eventually, she decided to rebrand and chose the new name Lana Del Rey.
She tried out a few different nicknames before settling on the one that fans know and love today.
She came up with the name during a trip to Miami with her sister, and was inspired by the tropical setting.
Alexis Bledel
The Gilmore Girls star was born Kimberly Alexis Bledel.
She has never revealed why she decided not to use her birth name, but has always acted and modeled as Alexis.
Bruno Mars
While he may be known as Bruno to fans, the Hawaiian native is actually named Peter Hernandez, and Bruno was a family nickname.
His father noticed his resemblance to professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino when he was a child and began calling him Bruno.
When he moved to Los Angeles at age 17, he adopted the stage name Bruno Mars.
According to Rap Up, Bruno comes from his father's nickname, while Mars represents his supernatural talents.
Cardi B
Cardi B's real name is Belcalis Almanzar.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, she revealed that her stage name comes from the alcoholic beverage brand Bacardi.
“My sister's name is Hennessy, so people used to call me Bacardi,” she explained.
“Then my Instagram name became Bacardi, Bacardi B. But for some reason, my Instagram kept getting deleted, and apparently Bacardi had something to do with it, so I just shortened it to Cardi B.”
Demi Moore
The Rough Night actress was born Demi Guynes, and although her last name comes from her mother's husband, Dan Guynes, Dan was not her biological father.
Demi was three months old when her mother married Dan.
Demi was married to musician Freddie Moore when she was a teenager.
The marriage didn't last, but she decided to keep her last name.
Natalie Portman
The Star Wars actress was born in Israel and named Neta Lee Hershlag.
When she was three years old, her family emigrated to the United States and she became known as Natalie.
When she began acting, she decided to use her grandmother's maiden name, Portman.
Halsey
Halsey was born Ashley Nicolette Frangipane.
She told People magazine that she changed her name because “Ashley isn't that special and she felt like she didn't deserve to be famous or successful.”
She decided on Halsey and never regretted it.
lady gaga
Lady Gaga's real name is Stefani Germanotta.
Her stage name is a homage to the Queen song “Radio Ga Ga”.
Brad Pitt
The Fight Club star was born William Bradley Pitt.
The actor was nicknamed Bradley, or Brad, because he and his father, William Alvin Pitt, have the same name.
As a professional actor, he decided to use that stage name too.
