Hulk Hogan – Terry Gene Bollea
Both Terry and Gene aren’t names that suit the “Hulkster” and his tendency to “run wild” on others, but that hasn’t stopped him from doing just that. It also hasn’t stopped tabloids from referencing him as Hulk Hogan in secret tape scandals and rifts with his family.
Tina Fey – Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
She’s filled our hearts with laughter over the years but it’s difficult to believe that her real name isn’t Tina Fey or even Liz Lemon. The “30 Rock” star used to go by Elizabeth Stamatina, with her second name deriving from her Greek/German/Scottish background.
Mila Kunis – Milena Markovna Kunis
The other half of “Black Swan” has an ancestry that’s hard to pinpoint (just ask GQ, Cosmo and other magazines). Though she calls Los Angeles her home now, Mila was actually born in Chernivtsi, in the Ukrainian SSR (which is now Ukraine).
Nicolas Cage – Nicholas Kim Coppola
Ever wondered where Nicolas Cage’s acting abilities stem from? Believe it or not, the 49-year-old actor is actually the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola and is the cousin of directors Roman Coppola and Sofia Coppola.
Jamie Foxx – Eric Marlon Bishop
Before his acting career took off in “In Living Color” and “The Jamie Foxx Show”, the star of “Django Unchained” had a keen interest in music. He began playing the piano at age five and upon graduating high school, received a scholarship to study classical music and composition.
Natalie Portman – Natalie Hershlag
Contrary to popular belief, Natalie Portman was born in Jerusalem, Israel, and didn’t move to the United States where she receive dual citizenship until 1984. As her name stems from a Hebrew background, Natalie learned to speak her native tongue all throughout elementary school.
Charlie Sheen – Carlos Irwin Estevez
It’s hard to believe that someone named Carlos coined the phrase “winning” but Charlie Sheen’s paternal grandparents were from Galicia, Spain and Ireland. He also has two older brothers, Emilio Estevez and Ramon Estevez, and a younger sister, Renee Estevez – all of whom are actors.
Olivia Wilde – Olivia Jane Cockburn
Did You Know: Before Olivia Wilde received her breakout role in the television drama, “House”, she had recurring parts in NBC’s “The Black Donnellys” and “The O.C.”, where she dated both Seth Cohen and Marissa Cooper in the second season of the series.
Snoop Dogg – Calvin Cordozar Broadus
Snoop may go by Lion instead of Dogg in 2013 but those who know him from his Long Beach days will always refer to him by his real name. His parents nicknamed him “Snoopy” due to his appearance but he was usually addressed as Calvin at home.
Nicki Minaj – Onika Tanya Maraj
Hip hop’s own Barbie doll was originally born in Trinidad & Tobago but moved to the Queens borough of New York City when she was five-years-old. Before joining the ranks of Lil Wayne and Drake, she once rapped in a group of four called the “Hoodstars”.
Jay-Z – Shawn Corey Carter
The 43-year-old MC’s business dominance has been hard to track lately as “Jay” recently sold his shares in the Brooklyn Nets to start his own sports agency, Roc Nation Sports.
Miley Cyrus – Destiny Hope Cyrus
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Miley’s parents named her Destiny Hope because they believed she would accomplish great things in life. They later gave her the nickname “Smiley” – which was shortened to “Miley” – because she smiled quite a lot when she was just a baby.
Bruno Mars – Peter Gene Bayot Hernandez
Bruno Mars may have been nominated for more than a half-a-dozen Grammy Awards, but it all stems from hard work. After graduating high school, the songwriter moved to California and eventually became a successful solo artist despite signing to Motown Records in 2004 for a deal that went “nowhere”.
Katy Perry – Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
At this point, everyone knows about her secret gospel album and her brief stint on the Vans Warped Tour, but did you know Katy Perry changed her stage name due to another celebrity? Her full name is Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, which is almost identical to actress Kate Hudson.
Lady Gaga – Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
Considering Lady Gaga’s eccentricity, it’s not surprising that her birth name falls on the unique side. Gaga is just one of the many celebs who have changed their names, and in her case, it derived from Queen’s 1984 hit “Radio Ga Ga”.
