Sometimes we are given names that are either too hard to pronounce or too long to keep in their entirety. And if you are someone with a normal 9-5 job, that is completely fine. But, if you are someone in the entertainment industry who wants your name to be known by everyone, this may not be the best thing. That’s why many people choose to either shorten their full names or completely change them.
1. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus legally changed her name back in 2008 from Destiny Hope Cyrus to Miley Cyrus. The name Miley is a rendition of her childhood nickname “Smiley” in honor of her paternal grandfather.
2. Victoria Beckham
Prior to becoming known as the fashion diva, Victoria Beckham, back in the early days of the iconic group we love, Victoria Adams was the name used for her records. However, when the Spice Girls became rising stars, she changed her name to Posh Spice. Years later, she become the famous Victoria Beckham we know today.
3. Vin Diesel
At the age of 17, Mark Sinclair was a rather big guy. He even used to work as a bouncer at a nightclub called The Tunnel. Around that time he took the name Vin Diesel and started to shave his head regularly.
4. Rachel Weisz
Early in her career, she changed her name to Rachel Vyce, but when people told her that it was too difficult to pronounce, she changed it to Kenya Campbell. She decided to keep it that way for a while, but she soon realized that it sounded unpleasant. The actress then decided to stay with Rachel Weisz and made a lot of iconic movies.
5. Natalie Portman
It was in 1994 when a very young Neta-Lee Hershlag auditioned for Leon and landed her first role in a major production. While filming, the actress changed her name to “Natalie” and took her mother’s maiden last name. Apparently, she wanted to maintain her privacy because some scenes in the movie were polemical.
6. Alicia Keys
Her real name is Alicia Augello-Cook, but she changed it and decided to have her own different stage name with a special meaning behind it. She explained, “It’s like the piano keys, and it can also open a lot of doors,” and she ended up with the name Alicia Keys and broke multiple records in her career.
7. Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop, now known as Jamie Foxx, tried out a couple of different names when he first started doing open mic nights. When he’d sign up to the open mic lists, he used the names Tracy Brown and Stacy Green but eventually landed on Jamie Foxx.
8. Iggy Azalea
Her birth name is Amethyst Amelia Kelly, and she ended up with Iggy Azalea because she has a dog named “Iggy,” and it became her nickname. She came up with the surname Azalea, as she explained, “Because that is a street name that my mom and family live on, and it sounds very feminine, and I thought it would balance out Iggy being so masculine.”
9. Lana Del Rey
The singer’s real name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, but she’s now known as Lana Del Rey. When she began singing, she went by the name, “Lizzy Grant,” and also performed as “Sparkle Rope Jump Queen” until she landed on Lana Del Rey.
10. Tom Hardy
Before becoming Tom Hardy, his birth name was Edward Thomas Hardy, and he only used his first name before deciding to go by his middle name instead. Even though the Internet was aware of his true identity, it was not widely publicized.
11. Blake Lively
After Blake became an actress she decided to take the surname of her mother, Elaine Lively as her stage name.
12. Aaron Paul
His full name is Aaron Paul Sturtevant, but when he went to auditions, no one could pronounce his surname, “Sturtevant,” so he had to change it so that everyone could say it, and then he shortened it when he entered Hollywood.
13. Lorde
Lorde changed her original name at the age of 12 when she was signed to a development contract with the Universal Music Group after an agent of theirs saw footage of her singing at a middle school talent show. Her real name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor. The royalty hidden in the name Lord encouraged her in changing her original name, but she also added an “e” because she felt that Lord would be too masculine for a girl.
Preview photo credit Laurent VU/SIPA/Sipa Press Russia/East News, mileycyrus / Instagram
From being the most prominent child star of the 1970s to now appearing quite worn, his latest look has sparked concerns among fans
Many people aspire to carve out a niche for themselves under the Hollywood spotlight, but few realize that dream. Ricky Schroder, who gained fame as a child actor, became a household name at a young age. However, recent images of him have raised concerns among fans.
Born on April 13, 1970, in Staten Island, New York, Ricky began his acting journey in the late 1970s with the film The Champ, a role that earned him a Golden Globe and opened doors to more opportunities. He became well-known for his role in the beloved sitcom Silver Spoons, which ran from 1982 to 1987, further solidifying his reputation as a talented young actor.
Throughout his career, Ricky has appeared in various popular shows, including NYPD Blue, Scrubs, and Strong Medicine. He also ventured into directing and producing, notably earning the Best Director Award at the San Diego International Film Festival for his 2004 project, Black Cloud.
Despite his professional success, Ricky faced challenges in his personal life. In 1992, he was arrested following allegations of domestic violence made by his girlfriend, Andrea Bernard. The couple later reconciled, married, and had four children: Holden, Luke, Cambrie, and Faith, but their marriage ended in 2016.
After the divorce, Ricky struggled with personal issues, including partying, and faced estrangement from his eldest daughter. He was arrested again for domestic violence, though the case was ultimately dismissed.
In recent years, Ricky has distanced himself from the public eye, opting to live on his farm. He occasionally connects with fans through social media, sharing glimpses of his life and home.
One recent video sparked considerable attention, with viewers commenting on his noticeable change in appearance. Clad in typical farmer attire, he reminisced about his youth and spoke about his uncle’s military influence while urging fans to stay vigilant against corruption in the federal system.
However, many comments focused less on his message and more on his looks, with some expressing concern over his “rough” appearance. “What happened to Ricky Schroder?” one viewer questioned, while others echoed similar sentiments.
Conversely, some fans defended him, attributing his rugged look to his hard work as a farmer. “He’s living an honest life”, one commenter praised. It’s heartening to see Ricky Schroder embrace life on his own terms.
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