Celeb's Real Names

Courtesy of NBC

Not all celebrities are born with the perfect show biz name. Some names are too long, some sound silly, and some just lack that certain Hollywood pizzazz. Imagine if your name was Cornelius Hunchback? None of these names are THAT bad! Check out the real names of some well-known celebs and musicians.

Courtesy of NBC

Courtesy of Fox

Tom Cruise
Cruise is a pretty smooth-sounding last name, but Tom Cruise's birth name was Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. I can see why he decided to drop the Mapother IV. It's not exactly catchy and sounds like the name of some stuffy old royal.

Reese Witherspoon
This Legally Blonde star didn't make up her name; she just altered her birth name. She was born Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon. Did you really think she'd make up the name Reese Witherspoon?

Winona Ryder
Actress Winona Ryder wasn't born with this last name. Her birth name is Winona Laura Horowitz. I think Ryder was a nice steal. Speaking of which...

Ashton Kutcher
The womanizing hottie from That '70s Show was born Christopher Ashton Kutcher. Isn't Ashton a nice name? It's original, and has a nice ring to it.

Demi Moore
Ashton Kutcher's leading lady, Demi Moore, was born Demetria Guynes. Sounds more like a name from Greek mythology.

Bono (U2)
The lead singer of U2 got tagged with the nickname Bono Vox (which means good voice in Latin) by a friend. He dropped the Vox and became known as Bono, but his real name is Paul Hewson.

Shaggy
I can see why Shaggy went with a nick. He was born Orville Richard Burrell. I can't help but associate that nerdy name with the popcorn man.

Ginuwine
I can also understand why Ginuwine changed his name from Elgin Lumpkin. For some reason, the image of pumpkins keep coming to my mind...

Kid Rock
Obviously, Kid wasn't born as Kid Rock. His birth name is Robert James Ritchie. Can you picture anyone calling this guy Robert?

Sisqo
This singer, of the famous Thong Song, adopted the name Sisqo. He was born Mark Andrews. B-o-r-i-n-g!

Alicia Keys
Keys is a musical last name, but this piano-playin' songstress was born Alicia Augello Cook, which isn't nearly as elegant as the name Alicia Keys.

Busta Rhymes
This fly rapper wasn't actually busting rhymes when he was born. Busta Rhymes' birth name is Trevor Tahiem Smith.

Do you know of a celeb or singer who isn't going by their true identity? If ya do, drop us a line.

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