20 celebrities who were pressured to use a stage name

It’s hard to imagine anyone telling Leonardo DiCaprio to do anything concerning his career other than what he’s done. But at the start of his career, the Oscar winner was advised to use a stage name to sound less “ethnic.” He was told by an agent that he should go by Lenny Williams, but DiCaprio’s father refused the suggestion. 

When John Mellencamp was first signed, his record label told him that they wouldn’t sign him unless he changed his name. The label gave him the name Johnny Cougar, which became John Cougar when the singer and the label parted ways. Eventually, he changed his name again to John Cougar Mellencamp, and he ultimately dropped Cougar, returning to his given name. 

Nicki Minaj’s real name is Onika Maraj. The rapper has always gone by Nicki, but early in her career she wanted to go by her given last name. A man she was working with at the time convinced her to use Minaj instead, a change she wasn’t fond of but agreed to. 

Emma Stone was born Emily Stone, but she couldn’t register with SAG using that name as someone already had. She went by Riley Stone for about six months before changing her stage name to Emma Stone. 

David Tennant was born David McDonald. Early in his career he had to change his given name because there was already an actor named David McDonald working in the U.K. When Tennant started working in the United States, SAG required that he legally change his last name, too. Ever since, he’s officially been David Tennant. 

Michael J. Fox had to adjust his name a little bit for SAG, too. Michael Fox was taken, and he thought that if he used his given middle initial, A, his name would’ve sounded too much like, "Michael, a fox." Michael J. Fox it was. 

Ben Kingsley was born Krishna Bhanji, but his given name kept him from getting roles. He decided to change it, and his career took off. 

Martin Sheen was pressured early in his career to use a stage name as his given name was Ramon Estevez. His given name and stage name are why his kids, Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez, go by two different last names. 

FKA Twigs started her career going by Twigs, which was already a stage name because the artist was born Tahliah Barnett. However, another artist who was already going by Twigs asked FKA to change her name, so she adopted the FKA part, which stands for Formerly Known As.

At the beginning of his career, Harry Morgan was pressured to use a stage name. He listened, though it was something he regretted. The actor’s given name was Harry Bratsberg. 

The Weeknd, who was born Abel Tesfaye, has been using his stage name for many, many years, but he spelled it the standard way to start. When he made it big enough, the singer had to alter the spelling by a letter because there was already a band in Canada called The Weekend, making for some copyright issues. 

Michael Keaton is an amazing name, but it’s not the actor’s real name. The star had to change his name to satisfy SAG rules. His given name? Michael Douglas. You see why it was an issue. 

Chloe Bennet’s given name is Chloe Wang. When she started her career, she felt that she wasn’t going to get cast if she kept her given last name, so she changed it. 

Diane Keaton wasn’t named Diane Keaton, either. She was born Diane Hall, which she had to change for SAG. She used Dorrie Hall and Cory Hall before settling on her mother’s maiden name, becoming the icon she was, Diane Keaton. 

When Yvonne Strahovski began her career, she worried that people would struggle to pronounce her given last name, Strzechowski. The actress opted for a more phonetic spelling as a stage name. 

Keke Palmer was born Lauren Palmer, the latter of which she prefers. However, when she was starting her career, her manager at the time heard her mother call her Keke, a nickname she had been given. The manager suggested using that as her stage name, and it stuck. 

Joan Crawford wasn’t just pressured to use a stage name; she was forced. The Old Hollywood actress’ given name was Lucille LeSueur, which MGM thought sounded too similar to the word sewer. The studio ran a magazine contest to decide the actress’ new name. 

Katy Perry was born Katheryn Hudson. At the start of her career, she worried that people would confuse her with Kate Hudson, so the singer changed her name to Katy Perry, using her mother’s maiden name. 

Rita Hayworth’s given name was Margarita Cansino. She went by Rita Cansino at the beginning of her career, but her first husband, who was also her agent, thought even that name was too “ethnic.” The starlet started using her mother’s maiden name instead, becoming Rita Hayworth. 

Even the biggest stars can be pressured at the beginning of their careers. Tom Cruise had an agent who suggested he change his name just a bit. His given name was Thomas Cruise Mapother IV.