It’s not uncommon for celebrities to change their names on their way to fame – so much so that fans are usually unaware that their favorite artists used to have different names.
Some have chosen to make the change official by legally adopting a new name, while others simply use their chosen aliases.
Bob Dylan, for example, was born Robert Zimmerman, but legally changed his name in 1962.
Portia de Rossi was once known as Amanda Lee Rogers, but like Dylan, she changed it legally, in her case at age 15.
2019, Rocketman documented Reginald Dwight’s decision to go by Elton John instead as he grew into his music star persona.
This is a common move for performing artists, with David Bowie, Katy Perry and John Legend all picking new stage names on their way to fame.
Below are 27 celebrities who were born with very different names
Click through the gallery below to see what made the list
The Thin White Duke was once known as David Robert Jones.
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Robert Zimmerman legally changed his name to Bob Dylan in 1962.
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Cage was born Nicholas Kim Coppola, but sharing his uncle Francis For Coppola’s last name was too much for the budding actor.
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Michael Caine was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr. in 1933.
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Elvis Costello was born Declan Patrick MacManus in 1954.
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Thomas Cruise Mapother IV chose a new name before becoming a Hollywood star.
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The Fast & Furious Icon was born Mark Sinclair in 1967.
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Minnie Driver was born Amelia Fiona Driver in 1970.
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Jodie Foster was born Alicia Christian Foster in 1962.
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The internet was shocked when it discovered in 2017 that Foxx’s birth name is Eric Marlon Bishop.
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Caryn Elaine Johnson has said that “Whoopi” is short for “whoopi kisses”.
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Once upon a time, the Breakfast at Tiffany’s star was known as Audrey Kathleen Ruston.
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Reginald Kenneth Dwight legally became Elton John in 1972.
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Vera Mindy Chokalingam chose to use her middle name, which itself was inspired by the sitcom Mork & Mindy .
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Spike Lee was born Shelton Jackson Lee in 1957.
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John Roger Stephens was nicknamed “Legend” by his friends and decided to use it as his stage name.
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Bruno Mars was born in 1985 as Peter Gene Hernandez.
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The rapper was born onika Tanya Maraj in 1982.
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Born Ilynea Lydia Mironoff in 1945, Helen Mirren changed her name before fame caught up with her.
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Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson was born in 1984 – and rose to fame two decades later under the name Katy Perry.
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Natalie Portman was born Neta-Lee Hershlag in 1981.
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Amanda Lee Rogers changed her name to Portia de Rossi at age 15.
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The You have mail star was born Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra in 1961.
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Tupac Shakur was born Lesane Parish Crooks in 1971. His mother changed his name to Tupac Amaru Shakur when he was one.
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Charlie Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estevez in 1965.
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Cobie Smulders was born in 1982 as Jacoba Francisca Maria Smulders.
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John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison in 1903.
(Photo by McCarthy/Express/Getty Images)
