WHAT’S IN A NAME?

What’s in a name? Apparently, in some cases, a lot.

One cannot control one’s birth name. It is what it is. Our parents named us, and that’s that. The vast majority of us go through life with our given names and make the best of it, although some people create a nickname such as “Buddy,” “Sonny,” or “Junior.” Not so for many celebrities.

Many celebrities have changed their birthnames. There are various reasons for this. For example: 1) They or their agent may have felt it was “too ethnic.” This was fairly prevalent years ago in less enlightened times, not so much now. 2) It was too foreign sounding. 3) It could be confused with another celebrity’s name.  4) It was too hard to pronounce, which might impair the public’s ability to remember it. 5) It was too long for a billboard. 

Below I have selected 20 celebrity stage names and 25 celebrity birth names. See how many you can pair up. As you go through the lists, I think the reasons for many of the name changes it will become apparent to you. To be fair, I have tried to select people that were fairly well-known. Have fun, and good luck. 

Birth names:

1. Eric Marlon Bishop
2. Aubrey Graham
3. Elizabeth Grant
4. Neta-Lee Hershlag
5. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
6. Belcalis Almanzar
7. Caryn Johnson
8. Peter Gene Hernandez
9. Ilyena Lydia Mironoff
10. Alecia Beth Moore
11. Maurice Joseph Micklewhite
12. Carlos Irwin Estevez
13. Robert Allen Zimmerman
14. Vincent Damon Furnier
15. David Robert Jones
16. Archibald MacLeish
17. Reginald Kenneth Dwight
18. Marion Robert Morrison 
19. Dana Elaine Owens
20. Issur Danielovitch Demsky

Stage names:

1. David Bowie
2. John Wayne
3. Drake
4. Cardi B
5. Whoopi Goldberg
6. Demi Moore
7. P!NK
8. Bob Dylan
9. Lee Grant
10. Alice Cooper
11. Kirk Douglas
12. Ben Affleck
13. Elton John
14. Tom Jones
15. Queen Latifah
16. Jamie Foxx
17. Matt Damon
18. Lana Del Ray
19. Lady Gaga
20. Bruno Mars
21. Helen Mirren
22. Natalie Portman
23. Eric Bana
24. Charlie Sheen
25. Michael Caine

Answers: 1. Jamie Foxx; 2. Drake; 3. Lana Del Ray; 4. Natalie Portman; 5. Lady Gaga; 6. Cardi B; 7. Whoopi Goldberg; 8. Bruno Mars; 9. Helen Mirren; 10. P!NK; 11. Micharl Caine; 12. Charlie Sheen; 13. Bob Dylan; 14. Alice Cooper; 15. Cary Grant; 16. David Bowie; 17. Elton John; 18. John Wayne; 19. Queen Latifah; 20. Kirk Douglas.