If you’ve ever thought that a celebrity was destined for stardom purely because they have a cool name, chances are it’s not their real moniker.
Thousands of actors and musicians have adopted stage names for a myriad of reasons.
Some think they’ll stand out from the crowd with a catchier name, others just really dislike what their parents called them at birth.
A handful of actors have been forced to change their names because their union in the US only allows one person to be registered under that title, such as a Batman star who had to change his surname to ‘Keaton’ because there was already someone in the system called Michael Douglas.
Here are just some of the stars that you’ll be surprised to know have changed their names.
This article originally appeared on News.com.au.
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1. Miley Cyrus
AP The twerk-tastic singer was actually born Destiny Hope Cyrus. As a child she was always smiling, so her parents nicknamed her ‘smiley,’ which later got shortened to Miley.
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2. Katy Perry
Getty Images The “I Kissed a Girl” singer was born Kathryn Hudson. She decided to change her surname to Perry (which is her mother’s maiden name) so that people wouldn’t confuse her with actor Kate Hudson.
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3. Olivia Wilde
Getty Images Understandably the “Tron” actor wasn’t wild about her real surname … Cockburn.
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4. Ashton Kutcher
AP The “Two and A Half Men” star was born Christopher Ashton Kutcher but decided that Ashton was a much catchier name to use. Agreed.
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5. Elton John
Getty Images The ageing singer changed his name from Reginald Kenneth Dwight, because when it comes down to it, Reginald isn’t exactly the most hip and happening name.
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6. Joaquin Phoenix
Getty Images The oddball actor was originally known as Joaquín Rafael Bottom. He probably changed his name because he was the butt of too many jokes.
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7. Tina Fey
WireImage The “30 Rock” star was born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey. We don’t care what name she goes by, she’s hilarious.
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8. Vin Diesel
Reuters The macho man decided not to keep his real name Mark Sinclair Vincent. Good call Vin.
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9. Bruno Mars
Getty Images The singer didn’t like his name just the way it was, so he ditched his birth name of Peter Gene Hernandez and became Bruno Mars.
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10. Nicki Minaj
WireImage The rapper’s real name is Onika Tanya Maraj. We’re not sure how she came up with Nicki, but it sounds a lot better than Onika (no offence to anyone called Onika).
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11. Portia De Rossi
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi Startraksphoto Would Ellen still have fallen in love with her if she still went by her real name, Amanda Lee Rogers? Probably.
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12. Demi Moore
AP The actor thought she’d have ‘moore’ chance of a successful career if she changed her name from Demetria Gene Guynes.
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13. Michael Caine
Everett Collection Close your eyes and imagine Caine using his majestic cockney accent to pronounce his real name, Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. It’s not right is it?
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14. Ricky Martin
Getty Images The “Cup of Life” singer was born Enrique Martín Morales.