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22 Celebrities Whose Real Names Will Surprise You

You might be surprised by these stars' real names...
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Meghan Markle

It turns out that Suits actress and girlfriend of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle’s real name isn’t actually Meghan.

The 35-year-old was actually born as Rachel Meghan Markle, but now goes by her middle name. Coincidentally, the character she plays in Suits is also named Rachel.

Sasha Obama

hocked to discover (again) that the former First Daughter’s real first name isn’t Sasha, but Natasha.Sasha Obama recently turned sixteen, and Twitter was s

Reese Witherspoon

Before she hit the big time, Ms. Witherspoon traded her birth name – Laura Jeanne – for her mother’s maiden name, Reese, reports Stylecaster. Mic. Drop.

Gigi and Bella Hadid

You know them as Gigi and Bella, but fashion’s favourite sisters were actually christened with completely different names: Gigi was born Jelena Noura Hadid and Bella, Isabella Khair Hadid. They both adopted their childhood pet names when they entered the modelling industry.

Emma Stone

Emma Stone was actually born Emily Jean Stone but changing it wasn’t her choice. The actress revealed that she was forced to change it when she went to join the Screen Actors Guild because there was already another Emma Stone enrolled. 

“Well, I was 16 when I found out at SAG I couldn’t have my own name,” she tells W magazine.

“So to ask a 16-year-old to pick a new name is really an interesting process, because I was like, ‘I’m going to be Riley. My name is going to be Riley Stone.’ And so my name was Riley Stone for about six months and I did a guest spot on Malcolm in the Middle and one day they were like, ‘Riley, Riley,’ and I had no idea who they were talking to and they were like, ‘Hey, hey come on we need you on set.’ And I was like, ‘Oh I’m not Riley, I can’t be Riley.’”

She finally settled on Emma because it was close to her real name, and people mostly call her M anyway, but she does admit that she would love her real name back.  

“I would love to get her back.”

Gigi Hadid

Gigi was actually born Jelena Noura Hadid. Gigi is a nickname her mother gave her when she was little.

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Calvin Harris

So it turns out Taylor Swift’s ex beau isn’t technically called Calvin Harris at all; his real name is Adam Richard Wiles… 

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Rooney Mara

Oscar-nominated actress Rooney Mara is actually called Patricia Mara. Rooney is her middle name, and it was her mother’s maiden name.

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Blake Lively

Blake Lively was born Blake Ellender Brown.

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Diane Kruger

Diane Kruger was born Diane Heidkrüger – she shortened it when coming to Hollywood.

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Kit Harrington

Kit Harrington was born Christopher Catesby Harrington.

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Tilda Swinton

Tilda Swinton was born Katherine Matilda “Tilda” Swinton.

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Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde was born Olivia Jane Cockburn.

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Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus was born Destiny Hope Cyrus.

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Demi Moore

Demi Moore was born Demetria Guynes

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Tina Fey

Tina Fey was born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey.

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Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was born Natalie Hershlag.

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Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren was born Ilyena Lydia Mironov.

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Iggy Azalea

Iggy Azalea was born Amethyst Amelia Kelly.

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Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx was born Eric Marlon Bishop.

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Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore was born Julie Anne Smith.

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Portia de Rossi

Portia de Rossi was born Amanda Rogers.

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