Behind many iconic names lies a story of reinvention. Some celebrities changed their names to stand out, honor family, simplify a tricky surname, or create a persona that felt truly their own. From classic stars to modern icons, these transformations show how identity, branding, and self-expression go hand in hand in the world of fame.
Elton John
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Elton John changed his name from Reginald Kenneth Dwight because he wanted a fresh start to escape his unhappy childhood and create a new, iconic persona. He combined elements from his bandmates in Bluesology—saxophonist Elton Dean and singer Long John Baldry—to form “Elton John,” while adding the middle name “Hercules” from a TV show.
Audrey Hepburn
Source: IMDb
Born Audrey Kathleen Ruston, she inherited the surname “Hepburn-Ruston” after her father, Joseph Ruston, added “Hepburn” to his name because he believed he was descended from a Scottish noble family. During the German occupation, her mother briefly changed Audrey’s name to “Edda,” fearing that “Audrey” sounded too English and could draw unwanted attention. When she began her acting career, Audrey dropped “Ruston” and chose to go by Audrey Hepburn, adopting the elegant name that would become world-famous.
Martin Sheen
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Martin Sheen, born Ramón Gerard Antonio Estévez, changed his name at the start of his acting career in the late 1950s because he feared anti-Hispanic prejudice in Hollywood would limit his opportunities. He chose “Martin” from a supportive casting director, Robert Dale Martin, and “Sheen” from the televangelist Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, whom he admired. While the change helped him succeed professionally, he now deeply regrets it and has encouraged his sons to keep their real names and honor their heritage.
Charlie Sheen
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Following his father’s example, Charlie Sheen, born Carlos Estévez, adopted the surname “Sheen” early in his career. Martin Sheen had changed his own name to avoid anti-Hispanic prejudice in Hollywood, and Charlie wanted a fresh start while taking advantage of his father’s established reputation. He felt the name “Sheen” sounded more marketable for his acting career, though he has occasionally used “Carlos Estévez” on projects to honor his heritage.
Marilyn Monroe
Source: IMDb
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, she changed her name after studio executive Ben Lyon decided her birth name wasn’t glamorous enough for Hollywood. He helped her create the now-iconic stage name “Marilyn Monroe” in 1946, combining the first name of Broadway star Marilyn Miller with her mother’s maiden name. She officially changed it in 1956 for her acting career.
Bruno Mars
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Bruno Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez, adopted his stage name to avoid being stereotyped in the music industry, since he felt his Hispanic last name led people to expect him to sing Latin music. He took “Bruno” from a childhood nickname and added “Mars” because he thought his real name lacked flair — and because girls often told him he seemed “out of this world.”
Natalie Portman
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Natalie Portman, born Neta-Lee Hershlag, changed her name as a young teenager to protect her privacy and establish a professional identity when she began acting, choosing “Portman,” her paternal grandmother’s maiden name, to separate her public life from her personal one while she was still in school. The shift coincided with her breakout role in “Léon: The Professional,” giving her a more mature, polished stage name that helped create a clear boundary between “Natalie Portman” the actress and “Natalie Hershlag” the student.
Vin Diesel
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Vin Diesel, born Mark Sinclair, changed his name to create a tougher, more memorable persona while working as a bouncer in New York City clubs. “Vin” came from his stepfather’s last name, Vincent, and “Diesel” was a nickname from friends for his high energy and muscular build, helping him establish a new identity for acting.
Jamie Foxx
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Born Eric Marlon Bishop, he tried a new name after noticing female comedians were called to the stage first during open-mic nights. With a gender-neutral name, he improved his chances of performing. The star chose the surname “Foxx” as a tip of the hat to his favorite comedian, the trailblazing Redd Foxx (real name John Elroy Sanford).
Kirk Douglas
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Kirk Douglas changed his name from Issur Danielovitch because he felt his birth name sounded “too Jewish” and too difficult for Hollywood, which he feared would limit his chances of getting roles. He chose a more American-sounding name to improve his prospects and build a career, though he later expressed regret and grew to fully embrace his heritage.
Meg Ryan
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Meg Ryan changed her name from Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra to Meg Ryan when she started acting, using “Ryan” from her maternal grandmother’s maiden name and shortening “Margaret” to “Meg,” primarily for a professional, stage-friendly identity that was easier to remember and say for her acting career,
Joaquin Phoenix
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Joaquin Phoenix changed his name twice: born Joaquin Rafael Bottom, he first chose the name “Leaf” as a child so he could match his siblings’ nature-themed names—River, Rain, Liberty, and Summer. After his family left the Children of God cult, his parents changed their surname from Bottom to Phoenix to symbolize a rebirth and a fresh start. He used “Leaf Phoenix” during his early acting years, but as he grew older, he embraced his original identity and eventually returned to using Joaquin while keeping the Phoenix surname.
Tina Turner
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Tina Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock, received her stage name from her then-husband Ike Turner in the early 1960s, who crafted “Tina Turner” for their act and even trademarked it to maintain control if she ever left the band. Inspired partly by the comic book heroine Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, he shaped the name to fit the image he wanted—and to keep the “Turner” brand tied to him. After their divorce, she fought to reclaim the name for herself, ultimately turning it into a symbol of independence and owning her identity as a solo artist.
Diane Keaton
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Diane Keaton, born Diane Hall, changed her name because another actress was already registered with the Actors Guild under that name. She adopted her mother’s maiden name, Keaton, for her acting career, and the choice ended up fitting perfectly for her role in “Annie Hall.”
Nicolas Cage
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Nicolas Cage changed his name from Nicholas Coppola to avoid accusations of nepotism as Francis Ford Coppola’s nephew and to establish his own identity in Hollywood. Inspired by Marvel’s Luke Cage and avant-garde composer John Cage, he chose a name that felt bold, unique, and memorable.
Michael Keaton
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Because his birth name, Michael Douglas, was already registered with the Screen Actors Guild, Michael Keaton had to choose a new professional name when he started acting. He landed on “Keaton” after finding it in a phone book. Last year, the a-lister shared that he plans to shift toward using “Michael Keaton Douglas” to honor his original family name.
John Legend
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John Legend changed his name from John Stephens because friends in the studio, particularly spoken-word artist J. Ivy, started calling him “the legend” due to his old-school soul sound, and the nickname caught on, eventually becoming his stage name as a way to challenge himself to live up to the title. Kanye West further popularized it on mixtapes, and Legend decided to embrace the bold name to push his career forward.
Mindy Kaling
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Mindy Kaling, born Vera Mindy Chokalingam, shortened her name because her full surname was difficult for Americans to pronounce, leading to awkward moments and jokes during her early comedy work. She realized that people treated her more kindly and that her career moved more smoothly when she used a simpler, Anglicized name, something she later noted is a common experience for many people of color in Hollywood.
Demi Moore
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Demi Moore, born Demetria Gene Guynes, adopted the last name of her first husband, musician Freddy Moore, whom she married as a teenager. She kept the name professionally even after their divorce because it was already established and worked well for her career. Later, she legally changed her surname to Kutcher when she married Ashton Kutcher, but continued using Moore in her professional life.
Emma Stone
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Emma Stone changed her name from Emily Jean Stone because another actress had already registered “Emily Stone” with the Screen Actors Guild, so she was required to choose a new one. After briefly trying “Riley Stone” and finding it didn’t feel right, she settled on “Emma” as a tribute to her childhood idol, Baby Spice (Emma Bunton).
