Musicians trade in their real names for stage names for a variety of reasons. Some don’t feel their given names aren’t as marketable, others are looking for street cred. As you can see by this list, plenty of the talented people on the list could definitely do with a name change, for others, it boggles the mind why they would choose something so silly. Glamorati is happy to present:

Real Names of 182 Musicians

1. Clay Aiken – Clayton Holmes Grissom
2. Akon – Aliuane Badara Thiam
3. Tori Amos – Myra Ellen Amos
4. Trey Anastasio – Ernest Joseph Anastasio III
5. Adam Ant – Stuart Leslie Goddard
6. Marc Anthony – Marco Antonio Muniz
7. Frankie Avalon – Francis Avallone
8. Baby Face – Kenneth Edmonds
9. Erykah Badu – Erica Wright
10. Ginger Baker – Peter Edward Baker
11. Syd Barrett – Roger Keith Barrett
12. Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Russell Tyrell Jones
13. Pat Benatar – Patricia Andrejewski
14. Tony Bennett – Anthony Dominick Benedetto
15. Dickey Betts – Forrest Richard Betts
16. Jello Biafra – Eric Reed Boucher
17. Bo Bice – Harold Elwin Bice
18. Marc Bolan – Mark Feld
19. Michael Boltin – Michael Bolotin
20. Jon Bon Jovi – John Francis BonGiovi
21. Bono – Paul David Hewson
22. Sonny Bono – Salvatore Bono
23. David Bowie – David Jones
24. Jackson Browne – Clyde Jackson Browne
25. J.J. Cale – John W. Cale
26. Irene Cara – Irene Escelera
27. Eric Carr – Paul Charles Carravello
28. 50 Cent – Curtis Jackson
29. Ray Charles – Ray Charles Robinson
30. Cher – Cherilyn LaPierre
31. Charlotte Church – Charlotte Reed
32. Gene Clark – Harold Eugene Clark
33. Patsy Cline – Virginia Patterson Hensley
34. Ry Cooder – Ryland Cooder
35. Alice Cooper – Vincent Furnier
36. Elvis Costello – Declan MacManus
37. Peter Criss – George Peter Criscuola
38. Ice Cube – Oshea Jackson
39. Bobby Dall – Robert Harry Kuykendall
40. Bobby Darin – Walden Waldo Robert Cassotto
41. Dimebag Darrell – Darrell Abbott
42. Mac Davis – Morris Davis
43. Taylor Dayne – Leslie Wonderman
44. Mos Def – Dante Terrell Smith
45. John Denver – John Deutschendorf
46. Rick Derringer – Rick Zeringer
47. Buck Dharma – Donald Roeser
48. Snoop Dogg – Calvin Broadus
49. Thomas Dolby – Thomas Robertson
50. Mickey Dolenz – George Michael Braddock
51. Dr. Dre – Andre Young
52. Bob Dylan – Robert Zimmerman
53. Sheena Easton – Sheena Orr
54. Falco – Johann Holzel
55. Fergie – Stacy Anne Ferguson
56. Flavor Flav – William Drayton
57. Flea – Michael Peter Balzary
58. Ace Frehley – Paul Daniel Frehley
59. Kenny G – Kenneth Gorelick
60. Crystal Gayle – Brenda Gail Webb
61. Boy George – George O’Dowd
62. Gary Glitter – Paul Gadd
63. Macy Gray – Natalie McIntyre
64. MC Hammer – Stanley Burrell
65. Faith Hill – Audrey Faith Perry
66. Billie Holiday – Eleanora Gough
67. Buddy Holly – Charles Holley
68. Englebert Humperdinck – Arnold Dorsey
69. Janis Ian – Janis Eddy Fink
70. Vanilla Ice – Robert Van Winkle
71. Billy Idol – William Broad
72. Tito Jackson – Toriano Jackson
73. Rick James – James Johnson
74. D.J.Jazzy Jeff – Jeff Townes
75. Joan Jett – Joan Larkin
76. Grace Jones – Grace Mendoza
77. Tom Jones – Thomas Woodward
78. Elton John – Reginald Dwight
79. Wynonna Judd – Christina Ciminella
80. Juvenile – Terious Grey
81. R.Kelly – Robert Kelly
82. Alicia Keys – Alicia Cook
83. Chaka Kahn – Yvette Marie Stevens
84. L’il Kim – Kimberly Jones
85. B.B, King – Riley B. King
86. Uncle Kracker – Matthew Schafer
87. L.L. Cool J – James Tood Smith
88. Patti LaBelle – Patricia Holt
89. k.d.lang – Katherine Dawn Lang
90. Queen Latifah Dana Owens
91. Mario Lanza – Alfred Cocazza
92. Geddy Lee – Gary Weinraub
93. Julian Lennon – John Charles Julian Lennon
94. Huey Lewis – Hugh Craig
95. Liberace – Wladziu Valentino
96. Ludacris – Christopher Bridges
97. Mama Cass – Ellen Cohen
98. Barry Manilow – Barry Pincus
99. Yngwie Malmsteem – Lars Lannerback
100. Manfred Mann – Manfred Lubowitz
101. Marilyn Manson – Bruce Warner
102. Mick Mars – Robert Deal
103. Dean Martin – Dino Crocetti
104. Ricky Martin – Enrique Jose Martin Morales
105. Paul McCartney – James Paul McCartney
106. Meat Loaf – Marvin Lee Aday
107. Freddie Mercury – Farrokh Bulsara
108. George Michael – Yorgos Panayiotou
109. Joni Mitchell – Roberta Anderson
110. Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana – Destiny Hope Cyrus
111. Moby – Richard Melville Hall
112. Van Morrison – George Morrison
113. Nas – Nasir Jones
114. Rick Nelson – Eric Nelson
115. Nelly – Carnell Haynes
116. Vince Neil – Vince Neil Wharton
117. Juice Newton – Judy Newton
118. Nortorious B.I.G. – Christopher Wallace
119. Ric Ocasek – Richard Otcasek
120. Billy Ocean – Leslie Sebastian Charles
121. Tony Orland – Michael Anthony Orlando Cassivitis
122. Ozzy Osborne – John Michael Osborne
123. Robert Palmer – Alan Robert Palmer
124. Gram Parsons – Cecil Ingram Connor
125. Pink – Alecia Moore
126. Iggy Pop – James Osterberg
127. Puffy/Puff Daddy/Diddy/P.Diddy – Sean Combs
128. C.J. Ramone – Chris Ward
129. Dee Dee Ramone – Douglas Colvin
130. Joey Ramone – Jeffrey Hyman
131. Johnny Ramone – John Cummings
132. Marky Ramone – Mark Bell
133. Richie Ramone – Richie Reinhart
134. Tommy Ramone – Tom Erderlyi
135. Lou Reed – Louis Firbank
136. Busta Rhymes – Trevor Smith
137. Nick Rhodes – Nicholas Bates
138. Smokey Robinson – William Robinson
139. Henry Rollins – Henry Garfield
140. Axl Rose – William Bailey
141. Johnny Rotten – John Lydon
142. Ja Rule – Jeffrey Atkins
143. Mitch Ryder – William Levise
144. Sade – Helen Adu
145. Boz Scaggs – William Scaggs
146. Bon Scott – William Scott
147. Seal – Henry Samuel
148. Gene Simmons – Chaim Witz
149. Sir Mix-A-Lot Anthony Ray
150. Nikki Sixx – Franklin Ferrana
151. Slash – Saul Hudson
152. Grace Slick – Grace Wing
153. Fatboy Slim – Quentin Cook
154. Paul Stanley – Stanley Eisen
155. Ringo Starr – Richard Starkey
156. Cat Stevens – Steven Georgiou changed name to Yusef Islam
157. Sting – Gordon Sumner
158. Michael Stipe – John Michael Stipe
159. Joss Stone – Jocelyn Eve Stocker
160. Joe Strummer – John Mellor
161. Donna Summer – LaDonna Gaines
162. Ice T – Tracey Marrow
163. Timbaland – Timothy Mosely
164. Peter Tosh – Winston Macintosh
165. Tina Turner – Anna Mae Bullock
166. Shania Twain – Eileen Edwards
167. Conway Twitty – Harold Jenkins
168. Steven Tyler – Steven Tallarico
169. Dionne Warwick – Marie Warwick
170. Roger Waters – George WAters
171. Fee Waybill – John Waldo
172. Bob Weir – Robert Hall
173. Leslie West – Leslie Westein
174. Jack White – John Gillis
175. Hank Williams – Hiram Williams
176. Paul Williams – Billy Paul
177. Peter Wolf – Peter Blankfield
178. Stevie Wonder – Steveland Morris
179. Zakk Wylde – Jeffrey Wieldlandt
180. Bill Wyman – William Perks
181. Xzibit – Alvin Joiner
182. Rob Zombie – Robert Cummings

Image via Newscom

Celebrities change their names for many different reasons. Sometimes it’s a SAG issue, sometimes it’s to avoid accusations of nepotism, and other times, well, it’s pretty obvious. Take a look and see what I mean.

At 50, this list is no where near complete. Check back often for periodic lists of celebrities real names.

1. Allen Stewart Konigsberg changed his real name to Woody Allen.
2. Fred Astaire’s real name is Frederick Austerlitz
3. Jane Alexander’s real name is Jane Quigley.
4. Jennifer Aniston was christened Jennifer Annasstakis
5. Julie Andrews was originally Julie Wells
6. Eric Bana’s name is really Eric Banadinovi
7. Antonio Banderes’ real name is José Antonio Dominguez Bandera – That’s a hell of mouthful.
8. Jack Black is really Thomas Black, Jr.
9. David Jones changed his name to David Bowie.
10. Heh. Marlon Brando’s real name was Marlon Junior Brandeau. Excuse me but who uses Junior as a middle name? Smart move changing that.
11. Mel Brooks was born Mel Kaminsky.
12. George Burns changed his name from Nathan Birnbaum.
13. Nicolas Cage was born Nicolas Coppola – He changed his name so no one would equate his name with his famous uncle’s.
14. Lucille La Sueur later changed her name to Joan Crawford.
15. Tom Cruise is the stage name for Tom Mapother.
16. HIs real name was Jacob Cohen but you knew him as Rodney Dangerfield.
17. Geena Davis was born Virginia Elizabeth Davis.
18. Do you recognize the name Doris von Kappelhoff? No? How about Doris Day?
19. Danny DeVito is really Daniel Michaeli.
20. Sally Fields was born Sally Mahoney.
21. Fortunately Frances Gumm changed her name to Judy Garland.
22. Even though Whoopie Goldberg’s name is just so believable, her real name is Caryn Johnson.
23. Charlton Heston’s real name is Charles Carter.
24. It’s no secret Hulk Hogan’s real name is Terry Jene Bollea.
25. Rock Hudson’s real name was Roy Sherer, Jr.
26. Believe it or not, Boris Karloff’s real name is William Henry Pratt.
27. Diane Keaton was born Diane Hall.
28. Ben Kingsley’s real name is Krishna Banji. No really.
29. Michael Landon was born Eugene Orowitz.
30. You may know him as Larry the Cable Guy but his real name is Daniel Lawrence Whitney.
31. Shirley MacLaine’s real name is Shirley Beatty – she’s Warren’s big sister.
32. Try and pronounce this one: Walter Matthau’s real name is Walter Matuschanskayasky.
33. Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Baker.
34. If I was born Demetria Gene Guynes I’d change my name – so did Demi Moore.
35. Chuck Norris is really Carlos Ray.
36. Lou Upchurch changed his name to Lou Diamond Phillips. What the hell is up with the “Diamond?”
37. Brad Pitt’s not too far off from his real name, William Bradley Pitt.
38. Tony Randall was born Leonard Rosenberg.
39. Meg Ryan is really Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra.
40. Wynona Ryder was born Wynona Horowitz.
41. Jane Seymour’s real name is Joyce Frankenberg.
42. Charlie Sheen is really Carlos Irwin Esteves. Irwin?
43. Christian Slater was born Christian Michael Leonard Hawkins.
44. You probably already know Tina Turner’s real name is Anna Mae Bullock.
45. One can see why Jean-Claude Van Damme shortened his name from Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg.
46. Christopher Walken is really Ronald Walken.
47. We don’t know why Susan Alexandra Weaver changed her name to Sigourney.
48. Gene Wilder was born Jerome Silberman.
49. Reese Witherspoon is shortened from Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon.
50. Bruce Willis is really Walter Willison.

Image:PR Photos