Although in an age of instant media, we know a lot about the personal lives of our favourite musicians and performers, there is still plenty we don’t know—their real names, for instance. Celebrities’ off-stage personas have social media users trying to figure out their real names; while you wouldn’t want any of these suggestions for a child’s name, they do seem to be reasonably accurate. Or, at the very least, amusing. So, here we have some amusing celebrity ‘real names’.
Cardi B – Belcalis Almanzar
Cardi B is a Grammy Award-winning rapper, social media personality, and former reality star, born in October 1992. She revealed that her stage name comes from the drink Barcadi, which she shorted to Cardi and added the ‘B’.
Ice-T – Tracy Lauren Marrow.
Ice-T is a rapper and actor born in February 1958. He says his stage name comes from Iceberg Slim, one of his favourite authors.
Ice Cube – O’Shea Jackson
Ice Cube explained in an interview that the story of his stage name comes from family banter. He used to wind his brother up, and his brother threatened to slam him in the freezer so hard he would become an ice cube.
The Rock – Dwayne Douglas Johnson
The Rock started his career in wrestling but is now a world-famous actor starring in many huge movies. His stage name comes from his wrestling name ‘Rocky Maivia’.
Elton John – Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Elton John chose the name “Elton” after saxophonist Elton Dean and the name “John” after singer Long John Baldry, in homage to his Bluesology bandmates. Elton describes his legal name change in 1972 as being like a new lease of life.
50 Cent – Curtis James Jackson lll
Born in the summer of 1975, 50 Cent chose his stage name in honour of a famous drug dealer who passed away with the same nickname.
And for good measure, here are some more famous people who have shied away from using their real names:
Marilyn Monrow – Norma Jeane Morteson
Meghan Markle – Rachel Meghan Markle
Rhianna – Robyn Rihanna Fenty
Miley Cyrus – Destiny Hope Cyrus
Natalie Portman – Neta-Lee Hershlag
Whoopi Goldberg – Caryn Johnson
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