“I made a decision to alter my identify once more. I’m simply not who I’m earlier than.”
Some individuals are simply destined for stardom — however generally, their identify doesn’t fairly match the invoice. Not everyone seems to be given a reputation that’s meant for an album cowl or a film poster, which is why some aspiring stars select a stage identify earlier than making it massive. However determining a memorable moniker isn’t simple. It could actually take time and somewhat tweaking and sometimes these celebs will undergo a number of names earlier than they discover the right match. And generally they’re nonetheless making modifications, even in the course of their careers!
Discover out why these celebs modified their names so many instances…
1. Rachel Weisz
Earlier than Rachel Weisz made it massive, she performed round with a number of completely different skilled names. At first she thought of altering the spelling of her final identify to Vyce however her agent thought it seemed like a porn star, so she by no means ended up utilizing it. Then, she briefly glided by the identify Kenya Campbell earlier than ultimately returning to her given identify.
“My agent stated [Rachel Vyce] appeared like a porn star identify, so he didn’t let me do it however I really suppose I might have had a a lot better profession had I had that identify. I really feel that deep in my coronary heart,” she shared again in 2012.
She continued, “[I did use] Kenya Campbell as soon as. It was an homage to an English actor that handed away. His identify was Ken Campbell, who I cherished very a lot. So I used to be Kenya Campbell for a TV present that I didn’t need to have my identify on, as a result of it was a extremely crappy TV present.”
2. Cheryl
When British singer Cheryl first joined Women Aloud, she was recognized by her given identify, Cheryl Tweedy. After marrying soccer participant Ashley Cole, she determined to take his final identify and publicly grew to become referred to as Cheryl Cole. However after they cut up years later, she stored the identify for a while earlier than in the end deciding to easily go by her first identify. She is now simply referred to as Cheryl.
“Cheryl has been utilizing her first identify professionally for a while now and can proceed to take action,” her rep stated in an announcement in 2017.
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3. JAY-Z
Jay Z was born Shawn Carter however earlier than he grew to become well-known, he adopted his iconic stage identify. Derived from his nickname Jazzy and as an homage to his mentor Jaz-O, the rapper grew to become referred to as Jaÿ-Z. Not lengthy after, he removed the umlaut above the y — whereas deciding to maintain the hyphen. However in 2013, he utterly dropped the hyphen from his identify, formally making his stage moniker Jay Z. When requested in regards to the change, Jay stated he’d been phasing out the hyphen for years.
“That was like three years in the past, I don’t know the way that story resurfaced, however I suppose it was a gradual information day,” he stated on Huge Boy’s Neighborhood. “The hyphen was actually massive again within the day. It’s not helpful anymore. I had umlauts over one of many letters; I eliminated that too.”
Then in 2017, he introduced the hyphen again and altered his identify to be stylized in all caps, thus making his identify JAY-Z.
4. Diddy
All through his profession, Diddy has gone by way of quite a few identify modifications. Born Sean John Combs, he picked up the stage identify Puff Daddy earlier in his profession. In 2001, he shortened it to P. Diddy after which a number of years later, he abbreviated it once more to simply Diddy. In 2017, he made the most important change but, asserting he can be referred to as Brother Love.
“I made a decision to alter my identify once more. I’m simply not who I’m earlier than. I’m somebody completely different. So my new identify is Love AKA Brother Love. I cannot be answering to Puffy, Diddy, Puffy Daddy or any of my different monkiers however Love or Brother Love,” he stated in a video on social media.
Whereas the rapper has continued to make use of the brand new identify, he’s nonetheless broadly known as Diddy.
5. Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey was born Elizabeth Grant however early in her profession, she launched music below the identify Could Jailer. Then in 2008, she dropped her debut album as Lizzy Grant. By 2011, she had lastly settled on the identify Lana Del Rey.
“I wished a reputation I might form the music in the direction of. I used to be going to Miami rather a lot on the time, talking loads of Spanish with my mates from Cuba — Lana Del Rey reminded us of the glamor of the seaside. It sounded beautiful coming off the tip of the tongue,” she instructed Vogue.
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6. Lisa Bonet
Early in Lisa Bonet’s profession, she was credited below the identify Lisa Boney. She ultimately began utilizing the identify Lisa Bonet however in 1993, after her divorce from Lenny Kravitz, she legally modified her identify to Lilakoi Moon. She reportedly did so to “shield her privateness.” By way of the years, she’s privately stored the identify Lilakoi however has continued to make use of the identify Lisa Bonet in public.
7. RM
BTS member RM was born Kim Namjoon however upon becoming a member of the group, he began going by the identify Rap Monster. In 2017, he modified his identify once more to formally go by RM as a result of he felt that Rap Monster didn’t replicate the music he wished to create.
“I’ve grow to be keenly conscious of the truth that it’s grow to be completely different from [what I want] to place on the entrance of the music I’ve made for the previous 5 years, and the music I need to share sooner or later,” RM wrote, in accordance with Soompi, including that he wished to make music “with an unrestricted and open thoughts and think about.”
8. FKA Twigs
FKA Twigs was given the identify Tahliah Barnett at start however when she started her music profession, she began utilizing the identify Twigs. The choice derived from a long-running nickname given to her by mates who have been poking enjoyable at how her bones cracked. However after utilizing the stage identify for a while, she discovered herself at odds with one other artist referred to as Twigs. In the end, she needed to change her identify as soon as once more, selecting to go by FKA Twigs — quick for Previously Recognized As Twigs.
9. Emma Stone
Emma Stone was given the identify Emily when she was born however as an adolescent she was pressured to alter it by the Display screen Actors Guild. Since there was already a member named Emily Stone, she determined to go by the identify Riley. She used the identify for a number of months however when she really bought on the set of a TV present, she realized she couldn’t be referred to as Riley. Ultimately, she selected to go by Emma.
“For a 16-year-old, selecting a brand new identify is an fascinating prospect, and again then I stated, ‘I’m now going to be Riley Stone!’ So, for about six months I used to be referred to as Riley,” she instructed W Journal. “I landed a visitor spot on Malcolm within the Center, and at some point they have been calling, ‘Riley! Riley! Riley! We’d like you on set, Riley!’ and I had no concept who they have been speaking to. At that second, I noticed that I simply couldn’t be Riley. So I grew to become Emma. However I miss Emily. I might like to get her again.”
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10. Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg, born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., bought his iconic stage identify as a result of he regarded like Snoopy the cartoon canine rising up. When he made his music debut, he picked the identify Snoop Doggy Dogg which he used all through the ’90s. When he joined a brand new label in 1998, he shortened his identify to simply Snoop Dogg.
In 2012, he modified issues up once more when he briefly glided by Snoop Lion after changing to Rastafari. He used the identify whereas releasing his reggae album, Reincarnated, however ultimately went again to Snoop Dogg.
11. Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix was born with the identify Joaquin Backside however when his household left the non secular cult Youngsters of God, they determined to present themselves the final identify Phoenix as a recent begin. As a baby, Joaquin determined to alter his identify to Leaf and was credited as so on a few of his earliest movies. By the point he was 15, Joaquin had reverted to his given identify and has been referred to as Joaquin Phoenix ever since.
12. Kesha
Musician Kesha was born Kesha Sebert however as she pursued a profession in leisure, she determined to solely go by her first identify and stylize it as Ke$ha. After years of utilizing the greenback sign up her identify, Kesha ended up dropping it after a visit to rehab.
“It occurred after I went to rehab for my consuming dysfunction. I let go of my facade about being a woman who didn’t care. My facade was to be sturdy, andI realized it was complete bullshit. I took out the $ as a result of I noticed that was a part of the facade. It was a journey and I’m completely happy — that was me in that a part of my life. However then I turned a nook — however I nonetheless have a f–king tattoo of it on my hand. I’ll need to determine that out!” she instructed Refinery29.
13. Shad Moss
Rising up, rapper Shad Moss was referred to as Lil Bow Wow. As he bought older, he determined to drop the “lil” from his identify, merely being referred to as Bow Wow. Then in 2014, Shad determined to return to his given identify, explaining that his stage moniker now not match who he was.
“We made loads of historical past as bow wow,” he wrote in a now-deleted Instagram put up. “Now its time for the subsequent chapter and problem. Bow wow doesn’t match who I’m at present. Ima father, enterprise man, TV host, Actor, and rapper! Time for MR Moss to take over!”
