15 Stars With Stage Names

TheWrap

John Legend (John Roger Stephens) 
The title “Legend” was gifted to the R&B singer by a good friend who was impressed by his old-school sound. As Legend defined in a 2005 interview with Independent, “I knew it sounded a little presumptuous, but I figured it would grab people’s attention.”

Blake Lively (Blake Ellender Brown) 
The actress determined to take her mom’s maiden title when she turned an actress

Marilyn Manson (Brian Hugh Warner)
The musician’s moniker pairs the names of two opposing popular culture figures: Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. Manson has talked about in a number of interviews that his title is a trademark, not a stage title.

Natalie Portman (Natalie Hershlag) 
The award-winning actress and Harvard alumna was born Neta-Lee Hershlag. Portman was the maiden title of her paternal grandmother.

Michael Caine (Maurice Joseph Micklewhite) 
Upon recommendation from an agent, the actor modified his title to Michael Caine to reflect Humphrey Bogart’s character in “The Caine Mutiny.” In a 2009 interview with New York Magazine, Caine defined that Bogart was his childhood hero.

Katy Perry (Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson)  
The pop star, born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, determined to alter her surname when she entered the enterprise to keep away from confusion with the actress Kate Hudson.
 

Lana Del Rey (Elizabeth Woolridge Grant) 
On selecting her stage title, the singer stated, “I wanted a name I could shape the music towards. I was going to Miami quite a lot at the time, speaking a lot of Spanish with my friends from Cuba – Lana Del Rey reminded us of the glamour of the seaside. It sounded gorgeous coming off the tip of the tongue.”

Michael Keaton (Michael Douglas)  
When he entered the business, the “Birdman” star honored SAG guidelines by altering his surname to keep away from any confusion with the actor (and future Oscar winner) Michael Douglas and the TV host Mike Douglas.

Olivia Wilde (Olivia Jane Cockburn)  
When the actress-director modified her title in highschool, selecting to honor considered one of her favourite authors, Oscar Wilde.