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Celebs' Real Names

Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV.
Courtesy of NBC
Ashton Kutcher - originally Christopher Ashton Kutcher.
Courtesy of NBC
Does Shaggy look like an Orville Richard Burrell?
Courtesy of Fox
Celebs' Real Names - Reviewed by Kidzworld on Dec 27, 2006
( Rating: 1 Star Rating)

Not all celebs are born with the perfect show-biz name. Some are too long, sound silly or just lack that certain Hollywood pizazz. Tom Cruise, Shaggy and Reese Witherspoon are just a few celebs who changed their names for stardom ...

Not all celebrities are born with the perfect show biz name. Some names are too long, some sound silly, and some just lack that certain Hollywood pizzazz. Imagine if your name was Cornelius Hunchback? Don’t worry … none of these names are THAT bad! Check out the real names of some well-known actors, musicians and athletes.


Actors

1

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus was so sweet playing Hannah Montana on the hit Disney Channel TV show. She may currently be trying to shed that “good-girl” image, but her REAL name is always gonna sound sweet as honey: Destiny Hope Cyrus.


1

Tom Cruise

Cruise is a pretty smooth-sounding last name, but Tom Cruise's birth name was Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. We can see why he decided to drop the Mapother IV. It's not exactly catchy and sounds like the name of some stuffy old royal.


1

Reese Witherspoon

This Legally Blonde star didn't make up her name; she just altered her birth name. She was born Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon. Did you really think she'd make up the name Reese Witherspoon?


1

Winona Ryder

Actress Winona Ryder wasn't born with this last name. Her birth name is Winona Laura Horowitz. We think Ryder was a nice steal. Speaking of which...


1

Ashton Kutcher

The womanizing hottie from That '70s Show was born Christopher Ashton Kutcher. Isn't Ashton a nice name? It's original, and has a nice ring to it.


1

Demi Moore

Ashton Kutcher's leading lady, Demi Moore, was born Demetria Guynes. Sounds more like a name from Greek mythology.


Musicians

1

Lady Gaga

Lady G's music is definitely the hottest on the charts right now, but how much of that has to do with her creative stage name, which is definitely a lot more “in your face” than the name her mom gave her at birth: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.


1

50 Cent

He’s a rapper whose real name seems kinda tame (and has nothing to do with all the money he talks about in his lyrics). No wonder 50 Cent changed his name from Curtis Jackson.


1

Cher

We’re thinking that maybe Cher chopped her real name - Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPiere - to match some of the teeny-tiny outfits she wears on stage (or the plastic surgery she’s received over the years).


1

Eminem

Here’s another rapper whose given name just doesn’t seem “bad” enough to go with his lyrics. Eminem's birth name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III.


1

Alicia Keys

Keys is a musical last name, but this piano-playin' songstress was born Alicia Augello Cook, which isn't nearly as elegant as the name Alicia Keys.


1

Busta Rhymes

This fly rapper wasn't actually busting rhymes when he was born. Busta Rhymes' birth name is Trevor Tahiem Smith.


Athletes

As the best pro golfer in the entire world, it makes a lot of sense that Tiger Woods opts to use a nickname in place of his real name, which is Eldrick.


Do you know of a celeb or singer who isn't going by their true identity? If ya do, leave your a comment below this story!

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Comments

CoolerThanMyself
nicki minaj is actually called onika tanya maraj
commented: Sun Apr 07, 2013

celita10

celita10 wrote:

to josh huggerson or sometihing?? noo way....
commented: Sat Apr 21, 2012

Emma Girl

Emma Girl wrote:

wow this is awesome
commented: Sat Apr 21, 2012

there are 24 more comments

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