What is in a name? For these stars, a whole lot.
Because if you ever wondered how their monikers seemed too good to be true is because, well, they are. Indeed, many of your favorite celebrities switched up their names before they skyrocketed to superstardom. Why? Well, for some, their fans had a hard time remembering their names. And, for others, it's simply a childhood nickname they didn't want to shake. (Yes, we're looking at you Miley Cyrus, who legally changed her name from Destiny Hope Cyrus in 2008.)
But regardless the reason, plenty of famous faces have decided to reinvent themselves.
For Frank Ocean (born: Christopher Edwin Breaux), changing his name "was the most empowering shit I did in 2010, for sure," he admitted. "It just felt cool. None of us are our names. If you don't like your name, then change your name...I'll be boarding planes as Christopher Francis Ocean."
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
Celebrity Names You're Mispronouncing
He's not alone in that belief.
Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Aniston, Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga all remade themselves by making a tweak years ago, and we can't even imagine thinking that they could go by anything other than their well-known stage names.
U.S. & World
But can you guess the names they ditched from their birth certificates?
Keep reading to learn what all your favorite stars were originally called...
Daniel Sudeikis
Jason Sudeikis confirmed on "Today" that he was named Daniel after his father, but following some confusion, his mom started using his middle name Jason to avoid confusion.
Eilleen Regina Edwards
Shania Twain shared the origin story of her stage name during an appearance on Apple Music's Home Now Radio: "In short, I was born, Eilleen Regina Edwards, and then I was adopted and I became Eilleen Regina Twain. Then I became a professional singer and I needed a stage name that sounded a little less like my grandmother's name, because I'm named after my grandmother, both my grandmothers, Eilleen and Regina. I think, in my mind, I was just not really wanting to be called my grandmother's name onstage, so I decided to change it to Shania Twain. I met somebody with the name Shania, thought it was beautiful, and Shania Twain was born."
Belcalis Almanzar
Cardi B took on the name Bacardi after family and friends started calling her sister Hennessy. Later on she shortened the name to something that suited her quite a bit more.
Jelena Noura Hadid
Oddly enough, Gigi Hadid got her stage name in school when the teacher would confuse her and a girl named Helena. Since her mom called her "gigi" as a term of endearment at home, she told the teacher to just call her Gigi and it simply stuck.
Mark Vincent
If you're looking for an explosive action-star name, how about Vin Diesel instead?
Rachel Meghan Markle
Before she became the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle was briefly known as Rachel.
Destiny Hope Cyrus
Miley Cyrus' bright smile is what inspired her childhood nickname, Smiley. Eventually the name was shortened to Miley and it stuck.
Peter Gene Hernandez
Apparently the singer looked more like a Bruno than a Peter, so one day his dad started calling him Bruno. Ever since, he has been known as Bruno Mars.
Stefani Germanotta
Before the meat dresses and chart-topping music, Lady Gaga was just an everyday girl from New York.
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
Turns out Reese isn't even Reese Witherspoon's middle name. The actress chose the moniker in honor of her mother, whose maiden name is Reese.
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
Every artist has an alter ego, and Lana Del Rey just happens to be the persona of choice for the singer.
Christopher Edwin Breaux
In 2014, Frank Ocean legally changed his name because, why not?
Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
A little known fact about "30 Rock's" Tina Fey is that she is actually named Elizabeth. The comedian made a not so subtle tribute to her birth name by naming her character Liz Lemon.
Calvin Broadus
This pioneer of West Coast rap would later go on to be known as Snoop Dogg.
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor
Turns out the "Royals" singer is really into learning about the aristocracy, hence the reason why she chose the name Lorde, but with a feminine 'e.'
Enrique Morales
Before he started shaking his bonbon for the masses, music superstar Ricky Martin went by this everyday name.
Amethyst Kelly
It's hard to believe that Iggy Azalea was born Amethyst Kelly!
Adam Richard Wiles
Fans were confused when Taylor Swift thanked then-boyfriend Adam in an acceptance speech, which lead people to the discovery that Calvin Harris is simply a stage name. The DJ told Shortlist magazine he chose the name because his first single was more soulful and wanted something a bit more "racially ambiguous."
Jennifer Anastassakis
Before she became a household name, this was what erstwhile Friend Jennifer Aniston answered to.
Alicia Augello Cook
Alicia Keys didn't always have such a musical name.
Thomas Mapother IV
Before he became arguably the biggest movie star in the world, Tom Cruise went by this name.
Natalie Hershlag
Back when she was born in 1980, this was how the future big time actress Natalie Portman greeted the world.
Amanda Lee Rogers
Before she became a big-time TV star and married Ellen DeGeneres, this was the name Portia de Rossi answered to.
Reginald Dwight
Guess music superstar Elton John didn't think his original name would be a hit with audiences.
Nicole Camilla Escovedo
Check former Paris Hilton BFF Nicole Richie's birth certificate and this is the name you'll see.
Paul Hewson
All it took was a nickname from some high school friends, and U2 frontman Bono's famous moniker was born.
Tara Patrick
We agree. Carmen Electra is much more effective when it comes to selling a sexy "Baywatch" persona.
Eric Bishop
True, Jamie Foxx just seems more fitting for an Oscar-winning Hollywood party guy.
Demetria Gene Guynes
Before she'd starred in dozens of huge Hollywood movies and married two Tinseltown A-listers, this was the name Demi Moore went by.
Shawn Carter
Jay-Z is definitely a more fitting name for a hip-hop impressario.
A version of this story was originally published on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 6:20 a.m. PT.