Celebs You Didn’t Know Had Different First Names

Some of the most familiar faces in entertainment were introduced to the world with names that are not the ones on their original birth certificates. Sometimes the change came from a middle name or a childhood nickname. Other times it was a complete reinvention chosen for the stage or screen.

These switches often happened early in a career for practical reasons like union conflicts or to stand out on a marquee. In other cases the decision was personal or tied to family. Here are well known celebrities who use first names that differ from the ones they were given at birth, along with the simple facts behind each change.

Reese Witherspoon

She was born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon in New Orleans. Reese is her middle name, taken from her mother’s maiden surname.
She began using Reese as her professional first name at the start of her acting career and the industry has used it consistently ever since.

Brad Pitt

He was born William Bradley Pitt in Oklahoma and raised in Missouri. Bradley is his middle name.
He chose to go by Brad when he began acting and the shortened form from his middle name became his public first name.

Vin Diesel

He was born Mark Sinclair in California and grew up in New York City. The name Vin Diesel is a stage identity he created early in life.
He adopted the name before his film breakthrough and has used it across acting and producing to maintain a single professional identity.

Jamie Foxx

He was born Eric Marlon Bishop in Texas. The name Jamie Foxx was adopted when he started doing stand up comedy.
He kept Jamie as his professional first name as he moved into television and film, and all major credits list him under that name.

Whoopi Goldberg

She was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in New York City. She adopted the name Whoopi from a backstage nickname and chose Goldberg as a surname later.
Whoopi became the first name used on all her screen credits and award listings, replacing the given first name Caryn in public records of her career.

Natalie Portman

She was born Neta Lee Hershlag in Jerusalem. Portman is her maternal family name and Natalie is the anglicized first name she adopted.
She began using Natalie Portman as a child actor and the name appears on all film and theater credits as her professional first and last name.

Miley Cyrus

She was born Destiny Hope Cyrus in Tennessee. Miley came from a family nickname inspired by the word Smiley.
She legally changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus in 2008 and the first name Miley has appeared on all subsequent music and acting work.

Emma Stone

She was born Emily Jean Stone in Arizona. Emma was adopted professionally when she entered the actors union where Emily Stone was already registered.
She has been credited as Emma Stone from her earliest television appearances and the first name Emma is used in all official billing.

Michael Caine

He was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr in London. He chose Michael Caine as a stage name at the start of his career.
The first name Michael replaced Maurice in his professional life and he later aligned legal documents to the name inspired by the film ‘The Caine Mutiny’.

Elton John

He was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Middlesex. He adopted the professional name Elton John during his early music career and later made it legal.
Elton became the first name used on all recordings and tours after he formed his stage identity, replacing the given first name Reginald in public use.

Freddie Mercury

He was born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar and grew up in India and England. Freddie was a first name he used informally before creating his stage persona.
Mercury became part of his full stage identity and Freddie served as the public first name on all releases and performance credits.

Ben Kingsley

He was born Krishna Pandit Bhanji in England. Ben Kingsley was adopted when he started working in British theater and film.
Ben has been the first name on his credits since the early stage years and it remains the name used across film roles and honors.

Bruno Mars

He was born Peter Gene Hernandez in Hawaii. Bruno was a nickname from childhood that he later used professionally with the surname Mars.
Bruno is the first name credited on all albums, singles, and tours, replacing the birth first name Peter in public-facing materials.

Charlie Sheen

He was born Carlos Irwin Estevez in New York City. He adopted Charlie Sheen as a stage name while pursuing acting in Los Angeles.
Charlie is the first name used on all film and television credits and it distinguishes his professional identity from his birth name Carlos.

Martin Sheen

He was born Ramon Antonio Gerardo Estevez in Ohio. He adopted Martin Sheen as a stage name at the beginning of his acting career.
Martin is the first name that appears on all stage and screen credits while his given first name Ramon remains on personal documents.

Calvin Harris

He was born Adam Richard Wiles in Scotland. Calvin Harris was chosen as a recording name when he began releasing electronic music.
Calvin became the first name on his albums, singles, and DJ bookings and industry references use Calvin rather than the birth first name Adam.

John Wayne

He was born Marion Robert Morrison in Iowa and later recorded as Marion Michael Morrison. The studio introduced John Wayne as his screen name.
John became the public first name on all film posters and credits from his early westerns onward and it replaced Marion in his professional life.

Rock Hudson

He was born Roy Harold Scherer Jr in Illinois. The stage name Rock Hudson was selected at the start of his film career.
Rock served as the first name on all studio contracts and screen credits and it remained the name used in publicity throughout his career.

Tina Fey

She was born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey in Pennsylvania. Tina is derived from her middle name Stamatina and became her professional first name.
She has been credited as Tina Fey in television, film, and publishing with Tina serving as the first name used across her work.

Drake

He was born Aubrey Drake Graham in Toronto. He chose to use his middle name Drake as his performing first name in music.
Drake appears as the first name on all albums, singles, and tours while Aubrey remains part of his legal name.

Gigi Hadid

She was born Jelena Noura Hadid in Los Angeles. Gigi was a family nickname that became her modeling first name.
Gigi is the first name used on runway bookings, fashion campaigns, and brand collaborations and it is the name that appears in industry listings.

Lana Del Rey

She was born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant in New York City. Lana Del Rey was adopted as a stage name at the start of her recording career.
Lana is the first name printed on all albums and public appearances and it replaced Elizabeth in her professional identity.

Portia de Rossi

She was born Amanda Lee Rogers in Australia. She adopted Portia de Rossi as a new name in her teens and later used it professionally.
Portia appears as the first name on her acting credits and public records related to her career and it remains her recognized first name.

Cary Grant

He was born Archibald Alec Leach in England. The name Cary Grant was introduced when he signed with a Hollywood studio.
Cary became the first name used on all film credits and promotional materials, replacing Archibald in the public record of his career.

Judy Garland

She was born Frances Ethel Gumm in Minnesota. Judy Garland emerged as her stage name during the transition from vaudeville to film.
Judy is the first name on her screen credits and recordings and it replaced Frances as the name known to the public.

Share your favorite surprising name change in the comments and tell us which ones we should add next time.