Just when you think you know celebs, they go and offer a new facet of themselves.
This could be a sibling we never knew about, an odd job they worked growing up, or even their real name.
Yep, the celebs you know best may be hiding a whole other identity. Here are 10+ celebs who don't use their real names.
Born: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
It should be pretty obvious that The Weeknd isn't his real name.
In a Reddit Ask Me Anything, the singer revealed that he picked the stage name after he left home as a teenager.
"It sounded cool. I took out the 'e' because there was already a Canadian band named the weekend (copyright issues)."
Born: Belcalis Almánzar
If the rapper's name reminds you of Barcardi rum, that's no coincidence. Cardi B explained to Jimmy Fallon that everyone used to call her Bacardi while she was growing up, and so eventually she changed her name!
Born: Jelena Noura Hadid
Gigi seems to be a name that has been passed down! Gigi revealed to Vogue that her mother had the same nickname by her mother when she was a child too.
She continued on, saying that she adopted Gigi full-time in grade school.
That was because there was another girl in school named Helena who made thing things confusing when the teacher called out their names.
Born: Adam Richard Wiles
The Scottish DJ decided to change his name "to exploit the racial ambiguity of his stage name," he told Shortlist.
He felt that the name Calvin Harris fit that more than his actual name.
Born: Norma Jeane Mortenson
Her name is one of the most iconic in the world, but she wasn't born with it.
It all started when a 20th Century Fox executive suggested that she change her name for more star quality.
They suggested Marilyn since she reminded them of the 1920s Broadway starlet, Marilyn Miller.
Born: Onika Tanya Maraj
The story behind Nicki's stage name is a little sad.
In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, she revealed that someone in the industry actually changed her name, and she never liked it.
“My rule is, whatever you were calling me four years ago is what you should be calling me now, because I don’t like it when my family or close friends call me Nicki Minaj," she explained to The Guardian. "To me I’m not Nicki Minaj when I’m with them.”
Born: Emily Jean Stone
In the early days of her career, she changed her name since there was already an Emily Stone in Hollywood.
But she told W magazine that most people that know her well call her "M."
Born: Amanda Lee Rogers
The Australian actress and Ellen DeGeneres' wife changed her name for fame — and to connect more with her sexuality.
She opened up about this to the LGBTQ+ news site, The Advocate.
She was looking for things she could identify with, and that included a new name for herself.
Born: Ashley Frangipane
The story behind the singer's name change is actually really sweet.
When talking to Vevo, she revealed that a friend lived on Halsey Street in Brooklyn and she spent a lot of time there making music. Plus, it's a different way of spelling "Ashley."
Born: Joaquín Rafael Bottom
"Bottom" just doesn't have the same kind of star quality as "Pheonix"...
His family had the last name until they left their religious group, the Children Of God, and chose Phoenix as their new surname.
Born: Christopher Catesby Harington
Get this: The star's parents didn't tell him his real name was Christopher until he was 11.
"I think they could see that I wanted to be Kit," Harington told Glamour.
"Kit is traditionally an offshoot of Christopher, it's just not used that often. My middle name is Catesby."
Born: Neta-Lee Hershlag.
Since she's Jewish, this was her Hebrew birth name.
She adopted her paternal grandfather’s maiden name, Portman, as a way to protect her identity as a child actress. This was a super smart call!
Born: Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
"I created this wonderful character called Katy Perry that I very much am, and can step into all the time, but I created that character out of protection,” the singer told The Guardian.
The singer changed her last name from Alicia Augello-Cook to Alica Wild, before landing on Alicia Keys. She felt it would better suit her as a performer.
Since she plays the piano so much, this made complete sense to her.
The former duchess was born Rachel Meghan Markle, but shortened it only slightly for the entertainment world.
It definitely flows off the tongue better, but we are all going to remember her as the duchess anyhow!
This megastar was born William Bradley Pitt.
According to Page Six, the actor uses his first name, William, when he's flirting with a woman. I'd be shocked though if they didn't know it was him...
This Italian queen was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.
She decided to name herself Lady Gaga after being inspired by the famous 1984 Queen song "Radio Ga Ga." It's very on brand for her, to be honest.
Miley Cyrus got her name because of a childhood nickname.
Her birth name, Destiny Hope, evolved to Miley because she was always smiling, so they'd call her Smiley. Smiley ended up becoming Miley.
This queen was born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon, but decided to take her mother's name as her first name.
I wonder if she still would have made it just as far in Hollywood with her real name.
Surprisingly, this iconic rock star's last name is not Love. But she has adopted the stage name for so long, people assumed it was!
Her birth name is Courtney Michelle Harrison. Doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it?
Spike Lee, born Shelton Lee, is another celeb who got his stage name from a nickname.
When he was younger, his mother nicknamed him "Spike" because he was a baby with an attitude. He was, apparently, very tough.
Olivia Wilde, born Olivia Cockburn, actually changed her name in tribute to Oscar Wilde.
When she was in high school, she played Gwendolen in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. She was so inspired that she changed her name!
Drake's birth name is Aubrey Drake Graham.
While he was on Degrassi: The Next Generation, he was actually known as Aubrey Graham for a while. But once he turned to rap, he dropped the name and stuck to Drake.
Lana Del Rey was born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant.
When she was 25 and started to really pursue her musical dream, she decided to become Lana Del Rey instead. It definitely sounds more dreamy to me.
Ashton Kutcher was Christopher Ashton Kutcher.
He revealed his full name at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards. He explained that when he was trying to make it in Hollywood, he dropped his first name and stuck to Ashton.
