Celebrities who don't use their real names: From Tom Cruise to Meghan Markle

The former Suits actress' full name is actually Rachel Meghan Markle, which is the same baptismal name as her on-screen character, Rachel Zane.

The mother of two has never explained why she changed her name, and we speculate that, like many actors, the star has ditched her original stage name for something more catchy.

Anchorman star Will Ferrell feels “embarrassed” by his real name, John William Ferrell.

“My real name is John, John William Ferrell, so I remember being called John on the first day of school and being super embarrassed,” he said on the MeSsy podcast.

“The teacher would say, 'John Ferrell?' and I'd have to say, 'But I call him Will, I don't call him John,' which was really embarrassing.”

When asked why he ditched John, he responded: “It wasn't my choice. My parents named me John, but they called me Will. I grew up as Will, but on the rule sheet, my legal name is John Ferrell.”

Emma Stone was born Emily Jean Stone, but had to drop her first name after joining the Screen Actors Guild and finding out there was another woman with the same name.

However, in a recent interview, the Cruella star confessed that she “prefers” to be called by her real name whenever possible.

When asked The Hollywood Reporter Asked if she would correct fans when they called her Emily instead of Emma, ​​she replied, “No. I'm very happy about that. I'd love to be Emily.”

Katie was born Katherine Elizabeth Hudson, the daughter of Pentecostal pastor Mary Christine (née Perry) and Maurice Keith Hudson, but chose to adopt the surname of her film-maker uncle Frank Perry as her stage name.

Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise's full name is Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, after his father, Thomas Mapother III, but he shortened the stage name before his Hollywood career began.

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta got her stage name from one of her producers, Rob Fusari, who texted her the Queen song “Radio Gaga,” but somehow “Radio” autocorrected to “Lady,” and Lady Gaga was born.

Reese's real name is Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon, but she shortened it to her mother, Betty's maiden name, before beginning her acting career in the '90s.

To avoid the dreaded “Nepobaby” label, Nicholas changed his last name from the original Coppola to Cage.

He decided to choose a different name because he didn't want to be associated with his famous uncle, Francis Ford Coppola. Nicholas is said to have been inspired by comic book hero Luke Cage.

American supermodel Gigi Hadid has changed her name from Jelena to her nickname “Gigi,” which was invented by the model's famous mother, Yolanda, according to Vogue Paris.

In an interview with Style.com, the blonde beauty revealed, “In first or second grade, there was a girl named Helena, and we got confused because the teacher had to call us by our names, so she asked my mom, 'If we had to call Jelena a nickname, what would it be?' And my mom said, 'I call her Gigi sometimes,' and the name stuck.”

Sir Elton John's real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight. In his later years, the star is said to have grown to hate his name. In a 1987 interview, the “Rocket Man” singer explained: “When I became Elton John, it was like a new breath of life was breathed into my life.

“I never particularly liked being Reg Dwight. It brings up too many unhappy memories.”

Various reports say the global star's new first name was inspired by bandmate Elton Dean, while John was borrowed from musician Long John Baldry.

Lana Del Rey's full name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant. She tried out the stage name Lizzy Grant before settling on Lana Del Rey.

Her source of inspiration? After a road trip to Miami with her sister, she decided she wanted a name that sounded exotic and reminded her of the beaches of the Florida coast.

Peter Gene Hernandez is now known as Bruno Mars, and the star's father was reportedly behind the name change: “My dad gave me the nickname Bruno from the time I was two years old,” he told Latina magazine.

What about his last name? “I was going to go by the name 'Bruno'. Mars said it as a joke because the name sounds larger than life. That's it, simple as that,” he explained.

Helen was born Irina Lydia Mironov, but her father, a Russian taxi driver, changed her surname to the anglicised Mirren in 1951.

Despite her Russian birth name and ancestry, she does not speak Russian, but is fluent in French.