Cheryl J
techmanChange your name, change your fame? What are their real names?
April 17th 2008 01:54
In true celebrity spirit, Cate Blanchett and her husband Andrew Upton have chosen an unusual baby name. Ignatius is in fact a very old name of Latin origin but I was very amused to find on a baby name origin site it was rated under saints and pirate names! Now I knew about Saint Ignatius but I can’t say I’ve ever heard of Ignatius the Pirate. But while we often raise our eyebrows at the names celebrities inflict upon their children as I poked fun at in my previous post, do we know the real names of many celebrities?
Many stars have dropped part of their name when climbing their way to fame but seems to be a music thing rather than the acting profession like Madonna (Ciccone), Beyonce (Knowles), Prince (Nelson) – who also changed his name to a ridiculous symbol and then became The Artist formerly Known as Prince but is now just Prince again (?!), Bjork (Guðmundsdóttir) and Shakira (Ripoll).
Others have changed their names to ‘street’ names, like Eminem (Marshall Mathers), Snoop Dog (Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr) and Ludacris (Christopher Bridges). Although some of these people also act, this style of name is usually the domain of rappers.
Some have more than one incarnation of name change, such as the above-mentioned Prince. Singer songwriter Steven Georgiou went by the stage name Cat Stevens and then became Yusuf Islam when he converted to the Islamic faith.
River Phoenix was born of hippie parents who changed their surname from Bottom after leaving the Children of God sect to represent their rebirth into a new life. But not before they named all of their children what could be seen as unusual names: Joaquin – who was known for a while as Leaf, Liberty, Rain, Summer and Jodene who was born of a different mother and changed her name to Trust.
Plain old David Jones became David Bowie and then became a superstar. He named his son Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones who for many years was known as Zowie Bowie. At 12 years of age, probably after endless taunting, ‘Zowie’ changed his name to Joey Bowie and at 15 he reclaimed his real name Duncan Jones. I’m sure on some level he has never forgiven his father for the ridiculous moniker.
This is not a new trend, celebrities have been changing their own names since entertainment began.
Some change their names because their original name wouldn’t even fit on a billboard. Audrey Hepburn would have had to have her name scroll across the screen as Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston would have been completely unworkable. And TV’s Without a Trace sleuth Poppy Montgomery was born Poppy Petal Emma Elizabeth Deveraux Donahue, obviously her parents had a hard time choosing a name. And she of the lovely voice and unusual name of Dido has the even more unusual and lengthy name Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong
Then there are the boring names. Would Leslie Flynn have been able to become the swashbuckling matinee idol that Errol Flynn became? And I doubt people would have embraced Frances Gumm in the way they embraced Judy Garland although with her extraordinary talent she would have become a star anyway, albeit one with a terrible name. And there is nothing sexy about Archibald Leech although as Cary Grant he had women all over the world swooning. Natalie Hershlag also does not sound as elegant as Natalie Portman.
Many have ‘Anglicised’ their names perhaps to make it easier to pronounce, perhaps because they thought an ethnic sounding name may hurt their careers but I think this is far more infrequent today than with stars of yesteryear as multiculturalism is far more acceptable now. Hit Me With Your Best shot by Patricia Andrzejewski? Pat Benatar is far more of a rock chick name and infinitely more pronounceable. British born Krishna Banji became Sir Ben Kingsley, a far more English name, yet he is known best for playing one of India’s most famous figures, Ghandi. Alan Alda who was Mash’s famous Hawkeye Pierce started life as Alphonse d'Abruzzo, Andy Garcia, who at least kept a name with Latino roots was born Andres Arturo Garcia Menendez.
Some change their names because their own real name is already in use by another famous person such as Michael Keaton who was actually born Michael Douglas. Whereas Michael J Fox and Vanessa L Williams just added a middle initial as actors were already registered under their names. Funnily, Michael J Fox’s middle name is actually Andrew but according to his autobiography, because he is Canadian, he didn’t want to be known as Michael ‘eh’ Fox.
Even the coolest of cool Christopher Walken is actually an uncool sounding Ronald Walken and tough guy Chuck Norris is really Carlos.
Gary Glitter was a seventies glam rock star but Paul Gadd was a secret paedophile and is currently serving a prison sentence for child sexual abuse. Truly scary.
Marvin Aday didn’t carry quite the weight that Meatloaf did, and who would you rather have your clothes designed by, Ralph Lifschitz or Ralph Lauren.
But some defy belief. Arnold Dorsey is a far better name than Engelbert Humperdinck but for some unimaginable reason the latter was a name he chose himself and became a huge singing star in the sixties and seventies with it. Go figure.
Do you think the name influenced the fame? Do you think they would have become famous on sheer talent or would have become another unknown in the shadows?
Photo by Kevin Rosseel
Many stars have dropped part of their name when climbing their way to fame but seems to be a music thing rather than the acting profession like Madonna (Ciccone), Beyonce (Knowles), Prince (Nelson) – who also changed his name to a ridiculous symbol and then became The Artist formerly Known as Prince but is now just Prince again (?!), Bjork (Guðmundsdóttir) and Shakira (Ripoll).
Others have changed their names to ‘street’ names, like Eminem (Marshall Mathers), Snoop Dog (Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr) and Ludacris (Christopher Bridges). Although some of these people also act, this style of name is usually the domain of rappers.
Some have more than one incarnation of name change, such as the above-mentioned Prince. Singer songwriter Steven Georgiou went by the stage name Cat Stevens and then became Yusuf Islam when he converted to the Islamic faith.
River Phoenix was born of hippie parents who changed their surname from Bottom after leaving the Children of God sect to represent their rebirth into a new life. But not before they named all of their children what could be seen as unusual names: Joaquin – who was known for a while as Leaf, Liberty, Rain, Summer and Jodene who was born of a different mother and changed her name to Trust.
Plain old David Jones became David Bowie and then became a superstar. He named his son Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones who for many years was known as Zowie Bowie. At 12 years of age, probably after endless taunting, ‘Zowie’ changed his name to Joey Bowie and at 15 he reclaimed his real name Duncan Jones. I’m sure on some level he has never forgiven his father for the ridiculous moniker.
This is not a new trend, celebrities have been changing their own names since entertainment began.
Some change their names because their original name wouldn’t even fit on a billboard. Audrey Hepburn would have had to have her name scroll across the screen as Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston would have been completely unworkable. And TV’s Without a Trace sleuth Poppy Montgomery was born Poppy Petal Emma Elizabeth Deveraux Donahue, obviously her parents had a hard time choosing a name. And she of the lovely voice and unusual name of Dido has the even more unusual and lengthy name Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong
Then there are the boring names. Would Leslie Flynn have been able to become the swashbuckling matinee idol that Errol Flynn became? And I doubt people would have embraced Frances Gumm in the way they embraced Judy Garland although with her extraordinary talent she would have become a star anyway, albeit one with a terrible name. And there is nothing sexy about Archibald Leech although as Cary Grant he had women all over the world swooning. Natalie Hershlag also does not sound as elegant as Natalie Portman.
Many have ‘Anglicised’ their names perhaps to make it easier to pronounce, perhaps because they thought an ethnic sounding name may hurt their careers but I think this is far more infrequent today than with stars of yesteryear as multiculturalism is far more acceptable now. Hit Me With Your Best shot by Patricia Andrzejewski? Pat Benatar is far more of a rock chick name and infinitely more pronounceable. British born Krishna Banji became Sir Ben Kingsley, a far more English name, yet he is known best for playing one of India’s most famous figures, Ghandi. Alan Alda who was Mash’s famous Hawkeye Pierce started life as Alphonse d'Abruzzo, Andy Garcia, who at least kept a name with Latino roots was born Andres Arturo Garcia Menendez.
Some change their names because their own real name is already in use by another famous person such as Michael Keaton who was actually born Michael Douglas. Whereas Michael J Fox and Vanessa L Williams just added a middle initial as actors were already registered under their names. Funnily, Michael J Fox’s middle name is actually Andrew but according to his autobiography, because he is Canadian, he didn’t want to be known as Michael ‘eh’ Fox.
Even the coolest of cool Christopher Walken is actually an uncool sounding Ronald Walken and tough guy Chuck Norris is really Carlos.
Gary Glitter was a seventies glam rock star but Paul Gadd was a secret paedophile and is currently serving a prison sentence for child sexual abuse. Truly scary.
Marvin Aday didn’t carry quite the weight that Meatloaf did, and who would you rather have your clothes designed by, Ralph Lifschitz or Ralph Lauren.
But some defy belief. Arnold Dorsey is a far better name than Engelbert Humperdinck but for some unimaginable reason the latter was a name he chose himself and became a huge singing star in the sixties and seventies with it. Go figure.
Do you think the name influenced the fame? Do you think they would have become famous on sheer talent or would have become another unknown in the shadows?
Photo by Kevin Rosseel
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Comment by Johnny Come Lately
Jack's Back
I'm not sure how much of a part the name plays in becoming famous but I'd have to say some of the original names would possibly give you preconceptions on someone. Interesting thought.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
Comment by Cheryl J
Funny Videos
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
Budget Centsability
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
Comment by May
Music Dime
Sometimes the name change works....sometimes it doesn't....from Amanda M-something to Portia DiRossi...actually, i think i'm leaning towards exotic sounding names...but don't hold your breath! I'll change my mind again!
Comment by Cheryl J
Funny Videos
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
Budget Centsability
Comment by Anonymous
coked up porn star names are NOT family friendly Cheryl J
*tut tut*