Jude Law’s Shocking Real Name Revealed: You Won’t Believe It!

People are only just realising that Jude Law isn’t actually the actor’s real name.

Shakespeare penned the following: ‘Is there more to a name than just its label? If it were given a different name, it would still have the same pleasant scent.’

For celebrities, choosing an appealing stage name versus an unremarkable one could determine whether they’re easily remembered or quickly forgotten.

Ever since my breakout role in The Talented Mr. Ripley in 1999 catapulted me into global stardom, people couldn’t stop talking about ‘Jude Law’. But I can’t help but wonder if the same level of popularity would have been achieved had they known me by my real name, David Law.

Indeed, the famous actor from Hollywood is known by a different name than what he was given at birth: David Jude Law. Interestingly, neither he nor his parents typically refer to him using his original name; instead, they usually call him just “David Law” or simply “Jude Law.

Without a doubt catching many off guard, here’s a look at several celebrities who altered their original names, and some of the motives might take you by surprise…

Jude Law =  David Jude Heyworth Law

52-year-old actor, originally named David, is widely recognized as Jude, a name that is, in fact, his middle name.

Previously, the actor has made it clear that no one uses his birth name; instead, they call him Jude. This appears to be the preferred nickname for him, even among his parents.

In simpler terms, a man who has seven children discussed his recent decision to change his name, during which he mentioned that the media often calls him “Famous Dave” or something similar.

In a conversation with The Guardian in September, he stated: “I wasn’t aware that photographers refer to me as ‘Celebrity Dave.’ It might be due to the fact that my passport reads ‘David Jude,’ instead of ‘Jude David.’

I’ve never been referred to as David, instead, my parents have always addressed me as Jude. It was simply one of the peculiar choices they made.

Eddie Redeemer, who plays Fantastic Beasts, shared that he never tires of listening to the Beatles’ hit “Hey Jude.” In fact, he adores the track and is grateful for its existence. He has a deep personal connection with the song as it was his mother’s favorite, so whenever he hears it, it brings back fond memories of her.

He firmly believed the song was exceptional, expressing satisfaction at being connected with it. Playfully, he suggested that people would start singing it whenever he entered a room.

Jude switched to his current stage name in 1980s after enrolling in a youth drama group in London.

Although he currently goes by his name without issue, he once expressed some remorse over the decision due to the frequent misunderstandings caused by its feminine nature.

In 2009, he shared with fashion.ie that during his teenage years, he was tasked with looking after the girls’ dormitories and sleeping quarters, while also being part of the National Youth Music Theatre.

‘Someone took a look at my name and clearly thought, “It has to be a girl.” How wrong can you get?’

Miley Rae Cyrus = Destiny Hope Cyrus

As a young child, the singer was known as ‘Smiley’ to her family due to her cheerful nature. 

Miley, formerly known as The Wrecking Ball, legally altered her name to a shorter version of her nickname in 2008 at the age of 15.

Her middle name honours her grandfather, the Democratic politician Ronald Ray Cyrus. 

Dido = Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong

Since her original name was somewhat difficult to pronounce (Dido), she decided to use the nickname she’d had as a child in her professional life instead.

In their early years, they went by the nicknames ‘Dido’ and ‘Rollo’, given to them by family members. These names have remained with them ever since, even as they grew up and became a musician and a record producer respectively.

In 2001, she expressed to The Observer: “Being labeled one way and given a different name is truly perplexing and frustrating. This is one of the most aggravating things my parents ever did to me.

It seems unfair to call Florian a strange name, especially when it comes to naming children. Those names were all quite awkward and uncomfortable.

‘I thought it was cruel to call me Dido and then expect me to just deal with it.’

Lana Del Rey = Elizabeth Woolridge Grant

Lana Del Rey was born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant in New York City. 

Initially, she took the stage at nightclubs using the aliases ‘Sparkle Jump Rope Queen’ and ‘Lizzy Grant and the Spectacle’.

Later, upon choosing her stage name, she said: ‘I wanted a name I could shape the music towards. 

At that point in time, I found myself frequently visiting Miami and conversing in Spanish with my Cuban friends. Lana Del Rey’s charm echoed the allure of the seashore. Her melodies were captivating, almost as if they were effortlessly rolling off her tongue.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but share this intriguing tidbit: It’s been claimed that my beloved Lana Del Rey wasn’t always known by that moniker. Her legal representatives and managers are said to have crafted the name, and then persuaded her to embrace it as her stage persona.

Gigi Hadid = Jelena Hadid

To prevent mix-ups with a classmate bearing the same name, she chose the moniker she’s recognized by today while still at school.

In an interview with Vogue, she explained that during her first or second year at school, there was another student named Helena. This led to confusion for the teacher when calling out names in class.

Or, more concisely:
In a Vogue interview, she shared that having another Helena in her class caused confusion with the teacher.

Both of these options maintain the original meaning while being easy to read and understand.

The teacher inquired from my mother about a suitable nickname for Jelena. My mom mentioned that she calls her ‘Gigi’ at times, and so the name was adopted.

Kit Harington – Christopher Catesby Harington

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: Contrary to popular belief, Kit Harington, the man we all know from Game of Thrones, wasn’t simply given that nickname at birth. In fact, he was christened Christopher, just like his family lineage dictated.

And what’s wild is the star didn’t actually realise his real name was Christopher until he was 11.

In an interview with Glamour, Kit shared his reasoning for changing his name: “It seemed my parents realized I preferred to be called Kit, as Christopher felt a bit traditional for me.

My brother goes by the nickname Jack, but his given name is John. The name Kit is derived from Christopher and is less commonly used. I bear the middle name Catesby.

Jamie Foxx = Eric Bishop 

Eric Bishop initially kick-started his journey in comedy at a young age. Upon realizing that women were frequently asked to take the stage first, he decided to rebrand himself as Jamie Foxx.

His new surname was inspired by comedian Redd Foxx.  

Iggy Azalea = Amethyst Kelly

15-year-old Amethyst Kelly, hailing from Sydney, Australia, migrated to the United States with the ambition of becoming a vocalist.

Or:

Amethyst Kelly, born in Sydney, Australia, set sail for America at age 15, with dreams of a singing career.

Her stage name comes from the name of her childhood pet dog, Iggy, combined with the street where she was raised, Azalea Street – a place that remains home for her family to this day.

Jay Z = Shawn Carter

Shawn Carter hails from Brooklyn, New York, where he grew up under the care of his mother together with his three other siblings. He has asserted that he’s been targeted by gunfire on three separate occasions in his life, and his music often speaks about dealing drugs, specifically crack cocaine.

Originating from his local nickname of “Jazzy,” Jay-Z’s stage name has a dual significance – it honors his musical mentor, Jaz-O. In 2013, he decided to drop the hyphen and now prefers to go by simply ‘Jay Z’.

Shania Twain = Eilleen Regina Edwards

Born in Canada as Eilleen Regina Edwards, the renowned country pop artist commonly known as Shania Twain began her musical journey at a tender age of eight, performing in local bars to assist with the family’s financial needs.

Her last name, Twain, was given to her by her stepfather. At the start of her professional journey, she adopted Shania, an Ojibwa term that signifies ‘I’m on my way’, as part of her name.

Carmen Electra = Tara Leigh Patrick 

In the year 1991, Tara Leigh Patrick shifted base to California. It was here that she encountered Prince. Shortly following this encounter, the multitalented American model, actress, and vocalist, recognized as Carmen Electra, inked a record deal.

Julianne Moore = Julie Smith

Julie Anne Smith, who hails from North Carolina, was the one known later as Julianne Moore. She pursued her passion for Theatre at Boston University and then relocated to New York City, where she took on the role of a waitress and eventually registered her professional stage name.

In 2001, she expressed to The New York Times that altering her name felt “awful”: “There was another Julie Smith, Julie Anne Smith, and so on.

My father’s middle name is Moore, and my mother’s first name is Anne. To combine their names in a way that doesn’t offend anyone, I created a new name by putting Anne together with Julie, which results in ‘AnneJulie’.

However, altering my name feels dreadful. After all, I’ve always been known as Julie Smith, and I wasn’t keen on changing that.

Lady Gaga = Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born to a catholic family in Manhattan. 

The name by which she is known originated in 2006, during her collaborative work with music producer Rob Fusari. Whenever Stefani entered the studio, Fusari would sing ‘Radio Ga Ga.’ Once, a predictive text from Fusari altered ‘radio’ to ‘lady.’ Upon seeing this, Stefani exclaimed, “That’s perfect! From now on, never call me Stefani again.

Elton John = Reginald Kenneth Dwight 

The well-known musician who goes by several stages names, originally named Reginald Kenneth Dwight, was born in Middlesex. He began playing the piano as early as three years old.

Afterward, he established a band named Bluesology, where his stage name was an homage to two of his bandmates, Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.

Katy Perry = Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson

Initially known for her gospel singing, Katharyn Hudson opted to change her name to clear up any mix-ups with actress Kate Hudson. As a result, the renowned pop artist decided to adopt her maternal grandmother’s surname, Perry.

Helen Mirren = Ilyena Lydia Mironoff

Ilyena Lydia Mironoff was born and brought up in Hammersmith, London. Her father, who was a Russian nobleman, changed the family surname to Mirren during the 1950s.

Jessie J = Jessica Ellen Cornish

Born and raised in London, Jessica Ellen Cornish commenced her education at the BRIT School when she turned 16 years old. At the age of 17, she became a member of the girl group Soul Deep.

As a die-hard fan, whenever someone inquires about the ‘J’ in my beloved artist’s stage name, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment as she admits there’s no deep meaning behind it. It’s just a simple part of her identity, yet it sparks such curiosity among us fans!

Calvin Harris = Adam Richard Wiles

Adam Richard Wiles began making music in his bedroom in Dumfries, Scotland. 

Calvin Harris got his name while creating his debut single, a soul track. I felt that the name Calvin Harris seemed somewhat racially neutral.

‘I thought people might not know if I was black or not. After that, I was stuck with it.’ 

 Avicii = Tim Bergling 

Late Swedish DJ Avicii’s real name was actually Tim Bergling. 

Avicii’s name originated when a friend informed him that it referred to a tier of Buddhist hell. He appended an additional ‘i’ since the name ‘Avici’ was unavailable on Myspace.

Macklemore = Ben Haggerty

The American rapper was born as Ben Haggerty, and was 14 when he started writing lyrics.

Back in the year 2000, I took on the moniker ‘Professor Macklemore’ as a creative alias for a high school art endeavor. Fast forward to 2005, and I decided to shed the ‘Professor’ title when I released my official, full-length debut album under the name Macklemore alone.

Cee Lo Green = Thomas DeCarlo Callaway

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Thomas DeCarlo Callaway started his music career in church. 

When he was just two years old, his father passed away, and later, at age eighteen, his mother perished in a car accident. This tragic event significantly influenced his decision to pursue a career in singing.

The game called ‘Cee-lo’ is played using three six-sided dice and has no fixed set of rules, which could be an appealing aspect for the singer when choosing its name.

Tom Cruise = Thomas Cruise Mapother IV

I hail from humble beginnings in New York, with the birth name of Thomas Cruise Mapother – an American actor. Growing up, I faced physical abuse at the hands of my domineering father, a man I would later label a bully.

After graduating from high school in 1980, the acclaimed actor moved back to New York and changed his name to the snappier version, “Tom Cruise”.

Charli XCX = Charlotte Emma Aitchison

Charlotte Emma Aitchison, who hailed from Cambridge, started penning songs at the tender age of 14. By 15, her talent caught the attention of organizers, leading her to perform at underground dance events like raves and Warehouse parties in the vibrant East London scene.

When asked for a name to use on the flyers, Charli provided her MSN Messenger username from back then, which was ‘Charli XCX’. This nickname appears to be the one she has been known by ever since.

Lorde = Ella Yelich-O’Connor 

New Zealand artist Ella Yelich-O’Connor attributes her songwriting talents to her poet mother.

The origin of her stage name, Lorde, comes from her interest in monarchy and nobility; she explains that she appended an ‘e’ to the word ‘lord’ to infuse a touch of femininity.

Snoop Dogg = Calvin Cordozar Broadus

Born in California, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. was affectionately called “Snoop Dogg” by his parents due to his resemblance to the popular Peanuts character, Snoopy.

Initially, he started using the stage name ‘Snoop Doggy Dogg’, a nickname derived from his old group Tha Dogg Pound.

In 2012, he adopted a fresh moniker, ‘Snoop Lion’, explaining to journalists that a Rastafarian priest in Jamaica had given him this new name. Later in the same year, he also put out music under the alias ‘DJ Snoopadelic’.

In an interview discussing his name, he stated: “They all understand one thing – creating music that’s enduring and packs a punch is my forte.

Pink = Alecia Beth Moore

Alecia Beth Moore, also known as Pink, hails from Pennsylvania. She started her singing career in clubs when she was just 14 years old using her childhood nickname.

The nickname was coined by her friends, as a reference to her tendency to blush when embarrassed.

Demi Moore = Demetria Gene Guynes

Demetria Gene Guynes is popularly known as Demi Moore, a name she adopted upon marrying singer Freddy Moore in 1980. However, the moniker persisted even after their marriage ended.

Since then, the American actress has been married twice, firstly with actor Bruce Willis, and later with Ashton Kutcher. However, her marriage to Kutcher ended in a divorce in 2013.

Lily James = Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson

Cinderella and Downton-Abbey star Lily James was born as Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson. 

Instead of using the original last name, she opted for her father’s Christian name for her professional title, since another performer named Lily Thompson was already established.

Flo Rida = Tramar Lacel Dillard

Born in Florida, rapper Tramar Dillard derived inspiration for his stage name from the sunny state where he spent his formative years and later pursued a career in music. Feeling that his original moniker ‘Ruckus Pimp’ was somewhat unconventional, he revealed that the new name came to him during a visit to a friend’s house.

‘Take Florida, break it in half and there you go: Flo Rida,’ he recalls. 

Pitbull = Armando Christian Pérez

Armando Perez, born in Florida, had already memorized the works of Cuba’s national hero and poet, José Martí, by the time he was just 3 years old.

In picking his stage name, he explains that Pitbulls “bite to hold on; they’re not smart enough to give up, and they’re banned in Dade County – much like myself, I’ve had a persistent struggle.

Nicki Minaj = Onika Tanya Maraj

The Trinidadian rapper and songwriter was raised in Jamaica as Onika Tanya Maraj. 

Initially using the stage name ‘Nicki Maraj’, she later switched to ‘Nicki Minaj’ upon meeting her manager, explaining: “My birth name is Maraj. Fendi altered it when he first encountered me because my rapping style was considered quite harsh! I devour competition.

Bruno Mars = Peter Gene Hernandez

Born and brought up in Honolulu, Peter Gene Hernandez was affectionately called ‘Bruno’ by his father when he was just two years old, due to a striking similarity with professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino.

At the start of his music journey, he chose the last name ‘Mars’, explaining: “I felt rather ordinary and many girls told me I’m otherworldly, so I thought, well, if I’m not from this world, then I must be from Mars.

50 Cent = Curtis James Jackson III

Jackson was born and raised in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queen’s, New York City. 

50 Cent, also known as Curtis James Jackson, took on his moniker following a difficult beginning. The name was symbolic of transformation, drawing inspiration from a notorious 1980s Brooklyn robber named “50 Cent” – Kelvin Martin.

He states that he selected it because it conveys everything he wants it to express. I share similar traits with 50 Cent, as I am self-reliant and find ways to earn a living in various ways.

Courtney Love = Love Michelle Harrison

As Love Michelle Harrison, Courtney was born and later on in her career as an exotic dancer, she selected her stage name. Now, the celebrated artist is returning to a part of her birth name, preferring to be recognized as ‘Courtney Michelle’ instead.

Alicia Keys = Alicia Augello Cook

Born in bustling Manhattan as Alicia Augello Cook, I later embraced my professional moniker, “Keys.” Initially, I considered adopting the name Wilde, but fate intervened when my manager had a vivid dream suggesting the name Keys instead.

The well-known American performer and vocalist chose the name as it reflected who she was, not only as an artist but also as a person.

So why do so many celebrities change their names?  

Matt Hood, the Head of Membership at Equity, performing artists’ union, stated: ‘Having a distinctive professional identity (or stage name) is crucial for a performer. Your identity serves as your brand and your reputation, and having a unique professional identity plays an essential role in standing out in a fiercely competitive field.’

The information about you, your skills, and potential job opportunities may spread through word-of-mouth, social media, television, newspapers, or books. This is how employers might discover you, and this is also where royalties and residuals could reach you even after your performing career has ended.

He noted that it’s quite usual for a person to have their mother’s maiden name as part of their double-barrel surname, or for someone tired of being called Boris, they now have the chance to embrace the Jamie they’ve always desired.

Mr. Hood mentioned that there seems to be a growing trend of professionals keeping their birth names: ‘Some folks feel quite attached to the name they were given at birth, and they may want to hold onto it even if it doesn’t help them stand out professionally.’

Read More

• Top gainers and losers

• FC Mobile 25 Hero Chronicles event Guide and Tips

• The White Lotus Season 4 release date, location, and more

• Weak Hero Class 1 Ending Explained

• All Overwatch 2 Totally Normalwatch event challenges and rewards

• The best Monster Hunter Wilds mods and how to install them

• Clash Royale Evolutions Mayhem Challenge best decks guide

• Beyond Joy Reid: MSNBC makes major schedule changes as it prepares for NBC News split

• Sam Thompson Heartbroken as Ex Zara McDermott Moves on with Louis Tomlinson!

• How to get the new MLBB hero Kalea for free in Mobile Legends

2025-04-03 12:52