25 famous bands who changed their original names

Green Day once went by the name Sweet Children. However, at the time, there was another popular band named Sweet Baby, and many confused the two. Green Day made their switch in 1989, just one year after forming.

Radiohead was not always known as Radiohead. In fact, when they first started as a band, they named themselves “On a Friday.” Why? Because apparently they would hold their rehearsals… on a Friday. It didn’t take long for them to neglect their original name, however. Just a few years later, their record label requested the change.

Maroon 5 first named themselves Kara’s Flowers. Allegedly, each of the original four members of the band shared a crush on the same girl in high school. Her name? Kara. Once they added their fifth member, however, they changed it to Maroon 5. They held their OG name for five years and even released a few albums under it.

Allegedly, Coldplay originally named their band Starfish. It’s unclear why, exactly, they went with such a basic name. However, even prior to that, it seems they toyed with the names Big Fat Noises and Pectoralz as well. Nevertheless, they ended up going with Coldplay after a fellow classmate recommended it from a book of poetry.

The Beatles went by various other titles before landing on their iconic name. First, they started as The Quarrymen, then Johnny and the Moondogs, then The Silver Beetles, and apparently even a few other monikers. However, they eventually settled on The Beatles, an obvious play on words.

Linkin Park had two previous names before sticking with their final pick. Funnily enough, the band was originally named Xero, like the popular accounting software company. They then became Hybrid Theory before finally landing on Linkin Park. 

Did you know that Nirvana went through several name changes before the members chose their permanent moniker? That’s right: they were previously called Stiff Woodies, Skid Row, and Pen Cap Chew, among others. I don’t know about you, but I think Nirvana was their best pick.

Before their heightened success, Queen originally went by the name Smile. Yes, they chose this basic name for the band’s original formation. However, after Freddie Mercury joined, they became the iconic Queen—which I, for one, believe was the right choice.

Oddly enough, I like Kiss’s initial moniker better than their final name. The original group, formed by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, was known as Wicked Lester. However, Wicked Lester was technically dissolved when Simmons and Stanley recruited drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley to form a harder, edgier, more experimental band. The new band soon became Kiss.

The Who originally went by the band name The Detours. However, they eventually changed their name to The Who based on a friend’s recommendation. It seemed they went through an experimental period where they were back and forth between a few different names, but The Who stuck.

The infamous pop-punk band Blink-182 was originally just named Blink. Why did they add the random numbers to the end of their name? No one really knows for sure why they picked 182 in particular, but they did so in response to a cease-and-desist letter from an Irish band that also went by the name Blink. It was far easier than undergoing a lengthy legal battle.

The OG name of Black Sabbath was The Polka Tulk Blues Band. Of course, this was when they were still considering making blues rock music. I cannot imagine the name would have panned out given their massive genre switch-up. However, more notably, the band was known as Earth for a few years. Eventually, they settled on Black Sabbath.

If you thought Red Hot Chili Peppers was a mouthful, just wait until you learn the band’s original name. The rock group initially called themselves Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem. Obviously, the name didn’t last long.

Before Liam Gallagher joined Oasis, the group originally went by the name The Rain. After joining, however, Gallagher recommended the switch to Oasis. For an iconic band, they certainly deserved an iconic title like Oasis, unlike their basic original name.

Pearl Jam originally named their band after the NBA basketball player Mookie Blaylock. At the time, they just needed a temporary name for a show. However, to avoid legal trouble, they quickly settled on their permanent name, Pearl Jam.

When the beloved emo/pop-punk band was first created, childhood friends and original members Ryan Ross, Brent Wilson, and Spencer Smith called the group Pet Salamander. They also experimented with the title Summerleague Rock. However, eventually, once iconic Brendon Urie joined, the band became Panic! at the Disco. Many believe they drew inspiration from a song by The Smiths, but Urie confirmed they got the name from “Panic,” a song by a lesser-known early emo band, Name Taken. The lyrics are as follows: Panic at the disco / Sat back and took it so slow / Are you nervous? / Are you shaking?

Lady A’s name change was as recent as 2020, when the band received major backlash for the title’s slavery-era associations. At the time, the group released a public apology/statement and changed their name to Lady A. However, this also sparked controversy, as they apparently took the same name as Anita White, a Black blues singer who went by the name Lady A for decades prior.

The band Chicago went by a few different names in their history. First, they were known as The Big Thing. (Original, right?) Then, they changed their name to Chicago Transit Authority, which got them into some legal trouble with the actual Chicago Transit Authority. Finally, they settled on just Chicago.

In dedication to surf culture, The Beach Boys originally named the band The Pendletones after the Pendleton wool shirts—popular in the surf scene. However, their record label pushed back, wanting to rename the group The Surfers. After discovering it was already taken, music executive Russ Regan committed to renaming them The Beach Boys—without alerting the band members. In fact, they found out after their records were released. But hey, it worked out for them, as the name stuck and they eventually became iconic in their scene.

The legendary rock band Evanescence did not originally start under that name. Initially, they went by Childish Intentions, then changed to Stricken before settling on their permanent name. Evanescence definitely matches their music best, in my opinion. 

Before they were The Temptations, the popular vocal group went by the moniker The Elgins. However, they soon realized that another group went by the same name. Because of this, they were forced to change their name quickly.

The infamous English rock band Muse did not start with its current name. In fact, early on in the band’s career, they went by Rocket Baby Dolls. However, the band allegedly chose Muse simply because it was short and looked good on a poster. Fair enough.

Snow Patrol had a few names before settling on their final moniker. Originally, they went by Shrug but had to change it after realizing other bands shared the same name. Funnily enough, they then chose another winter-themed name, Polar Bear, which suffered the same fate as Shrug. Eventually, they landed on Snow Patrol.

For a few years, The Cure originally went by the name Easy Cure. Lead singer Robert Smith once mentioned that the name was “hippyish,” noting how much he hated it. When they changed it to The Cure, they apparently upset quite a few fans—a consequence they felt was worth the switch.

Well, this was one switch-up I was not expecting. Apparently, The Goo Goo Dolls originally went by the name The Sex Maggots. However, allegedly, a concert promoter did not approve of their name when adding them to his marquee, and they were forced to choose a less crude name.