Why Celebrities Are Returning to Their Birth Names
Entering into a different mindset is something I no longer aspire to. The concept of a name is poignant; it provides an identity. In the world of entertainment, it’s not unusual for celebrities to adopt an alternate name. However, these ‘stage names’ often serve to create a distinct, saleable persona and might not necessarily resonate with their actual personalities. Opting for a change in name amidst their career trajectory is a path some celebrities choose to tread. They abandon their famous aliases, embracing their birth names instead. The motives behind these changes vary – it could be an urge to reconnect with their roots, honor a family member, or simply a preference for the identity they carry within their private lives.
The popular artist known as The Weeknd serves as a prime example of this trend. Having largely become known to the public by his performance persona, the artist feels the pressing need to turn over a new leaf. He has occasionally expressed his desire to revert back to his original name, Abel Tesfaye, over the past few years. Recently, with the release of his latest album, he has announced his decision to do just that.
Another instance of renaming involves the widely known actor, Michael Keaton. Keaton has made use of a pseudonym throughout his professional life, as his real surname, Douglas, was occupied by another actor when he entered the industry. Looking ahead, he anticipates being acknowledged as a combination of his two identities: Michael Keaton Douglas.
Ariana Grande, a widely acclaimed star, has employed a condensed variant of her real name throughout her blossoming career. In a recent television appearance, she chose to adopt her full name, reverting to Ariana Grande-Butera. This decision marks a transition in the actor’s approach to her public persona.
Similarly, Emma Stone, who had picked a stage name during her teenage years, has had a change of heart. Originally christened Emily Stone, she was compelled to choose a different name due to the existence of a performer with the same name. The name Riley was her initial pick, but she soon realized a disconnect between it and her real self. Subsequently, she changed it to Emma, which shared a closer resemblance to her original name, Emily. Notwithstanding, she confesses she misses being called Emily in her professional life.
Angela White, popularly known by her stage name Blac Chyna, initially adopted this name during her professional journey. However, she recently turned towards her roots, expressing a wish to use her birth name once again.
Acclaimed actress Anne Hathaway has been utilizing her birth name throughout her professional pursuits in Hollywood, a choice she now reflects on with regret. If given the opportunity, she would wish for everyone to call her by her nickname, Annie.
The case of Thandie Newton offers an unusual example of a stage name arising from an accidental error rather than conscious choice. The misspelling of ‘Thandiwe’ as ‘Thandie’ in her movie credits led her to go by the latter for a considerable part of her career, before finally deciding to retract to her birth name.
Shad Moss, widely recognized by the rap moniker Lil Bow Wow, also went through an evolution in his naming. As he matured, he elected to remove the ‘lil’ from his stage persona, becoming Bow Wow. Subsequently, he felt the need to return to his given name, echoing the sentiment that he had grown distant from his stage identity.
A similar sentiment can be seen with the rapper known as Lil Xan. His stage name was influenced by his prior addiction to the anxiety medication Xanax. When he achieved sobriety, he realized that the alias no longer aligned with his personal journey. Preceding his entrance into rehab, he declared his intent to retire the stage name and adopted his first name, Diego, as part of his public identity.