These Celebrities Don't Actually Use Their Real Names

Some celebrities change their name in order to make it in the industry, some change it due to familial reasons, and some just don't like their name to begin with. Find out which of your favorite stars have actually been using a moniker this whole time. 

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was actually born Norma Jeane Mortenson. She's had several different names throughout her life, but the story of how she chose "Marilyn" as her stage name didn't come until later. She was born with the last name Mortenson, baptized as Baker, and married into Dougherty.

Infamous Stage Name

Time magazine reported that Norma Jeane scrapped "Dougherty" because studio executives believed people would pronounce it too many different ways and needed something simpler. She suggested the last name "Monroe" from her mother's side of the family. An exec then deemed her "Marilyn" because he reminded her of 1920s Broadway star Marilyn Miller.

Advertisement

Next Page →

The More You Know

  • Jamie Lee Curtis is Jake Gyllenhaal's godmother, and Jake is Heath Ledger's daughter's godfather.
  • Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was also the voice of Shredder from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon.
  • When Lady Gaga went to NYU, a group of students started a "Stefani Germanotta, you will never be famous" Facebook group.
  • Lady Gaga spent $50,000 to find out if a ghost named Ryan was haunting her.
Next Page →

Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.