Celebrities Who Changed Their Name and Became Famous – WION

Feb 22, 2024, 12:34 PM IST
Zeba Khan
With Barack Obama’s daughter Malia dropping her famous surname to pursue a career in films, here’s taking a look at celebrities who changed their names and became famous
Cardi B took on the name Bacardi after family and friends started calling her sister Hennessy. On Instagram, she used to call herself Bacardi B but eventually shortened it to Cardi B because her page kept getting deleted.
The “Lonely” singer changed his name to Akon as he found his original to be very long and hard for people to remember. The singer’s real name is Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam. 
Lady Gaga was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. In a 2013 interview, she said she changed her name because she associated Stefani with a "perpetually tortured artiste."
In 2016, Halsey told Rolling Stone she did not like her real name Ashley Frangipane saying, "It was a person I thought was weak and silly and sad."
She was born Destiny Hope Cyrus. Due to her jovial personality, her father nicknamed her 'Smiley'. Over the years, she shortened the nickname to Miley and legally changed her name in 2008.
Bob Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman. The Nobel Prize-winning singer-songwriter changed his name several times.
Apparently, the name Mark Sinclair didn't sound tough enough for the actor when he worked as a New York City bouncer before his big break so he changed his name.
The rapper’s stage name is a shortened version of her real name, Onika Tanya Maraj.
She was born as Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson but changed her name so she wouldn't be confused with actress Kate Hudson. Perry is her mother's maiden name. 

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