27 Celebrities Who Aren't Actually Using Their Real Names

We are shook.
LOADINGERROR LOADING

A stage name is nothing new in the world of showbiz - the practise of using a different moniker when in the public eye dates way back to the early days of Hollywood.

However, we often don’t know when celebrities are using them, especially as it’s something more commonly associated with actors, rather than TV presenters or reality stars.

With that in mind, here are 27 of the more unlikely stars who go by a different name to the one they were born with...

Tess Daly

Karwai Tang via Getty Images

We’d always assumed Tess was short for Tessa, but turns out the ‘Strictly’ presenter was born Helen Elizabeth Daly.

Alex Jones

David Levenson via Getty Images

The ‘One Show’ host is usually using her middle name, as her parents called her Charlotte when she was born.

Greg James

PA Archive/PA Images

Greg James is a strong radio name, so it’s maybe understandable why Greg Milward decided to start using his middle name as his surname.

Jessie Wallace

PA Wire/PA Images

You may know her best at EastEnders’ Kat Slater, but her real name isn’t Jessie at all - it’s Karen.

Kim Woodburn

Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment

The controversial ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ housemate, who made a name for herself by shouting “chicken livered shits” at people in the house, was actually born Patricia.

Meghan Markle

PA Wire/PA Images

Now referred to as the Duchess Of Sussex, Meghan’s birth name is actually Rachel.

Denise Welch

Karwai Tang via Getty Images

The ‘Loose Women’ star will always be wor Denzy to us, but her real name is actually Jacqueline.

Dermot O’Leary

PA Wire/PA Images

Dermot, who has an Irish family, follows a long-standing Irish tradition that sees people called by their middle name, which is why Sean Dermot Fintan O’Leary Jr, is simply known as Dermot.

Louis Walsh

David M. Benett via Getty Images

Likewise, Michael Louis Vincent Walsh is more commonly known as little old Louis Walsh.

Anton Du Beke

Mike Marsland via Getty Images

The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ pro has jazzed up his name for the ballroom world somewhat, as he is actually called Anthony Beke.

Ola Jordan

Mark R. Milan via Getty Images

Speaking of ‘Strictly’ stars, former pro Ola was actually born with the name Aleksandra, with her maiden name being Grabowska.

Graham Norton

Karwai Tang via Getty Images

Did you know that we actually tune into ‘The Graham Walker Show’ every Friday night on BBC One?

Mutya Buena

Jonathan Brady - PA Images via Getty Images

Former Sugababe singer Mutya actually uses one of her two middle names, with her full name being Rosa Isabel Mutya Buena.

Pixie Lott

Daniele Venturelli via Getty Images

You probably guessed that Pixie wasn’t her real name, but did you know she was actually born Victoria Lott?

Darcey Bussell

Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images

Darcey’s full name is actually rather grand. She was born Marnie Mercedes Darcey Pemberton Crittle, although she took on her stepfather’s surname at a young age.

Chizzy Akudolu

Mike Marsland via Getty Images

The former ‘Holby City’ actress actually goes by a nickname dervived from her middle name, as her birth name is Andrea Chizoba Akudolu.

Ayda Field

Karwai Tang via Getty Images

The new ‘X Factor’ judge flicks between using Field and Williams (from her husband Robbie) as her surname, but her family name is actually Evecan.

Gabrielle

PA Archive/PA Images

Gabrielle is one of few artists who is known by just her first name - although even that’s not what we thought it was. It’s actually Louise (Gabrielle is her middle name, with her surname being Bobb).

Paul Daniels

PA Archive/PA Images

Paul was one of the country’s best-loved magicians, but it turns out he magicked up the name Paul too, as his real name was Newton Edward Daniels.

Liam Gallagher

Joseph Okpako via Getty Images

Liam actually uses a shortened version of his name, William.

Matt Di Angelo

Karwai Tang via Getty Images

Former ‘EastEnders’ star Matt, who played Dean Wicks, was born Mario Angelo Constantinou.

Kelly Brook

Karwai Tang via Getty Images

Kelly changed her surname from Parsons to Brook when she became a model.

Calvin Harris

Dave J Hogan via Getty Images

He may be a world-famous DJ, but would you probably wouldn’t recognise his real name, which is Adam Wiles.

Tulisa

PA Archive/PA Images

The former ‘X Factor’ judge was called Tula at birth, but Tulisa is Greek for ‘Little Tula’.

Rylan

PA Wire/PA Images

Rylan has achieved mononymous status, but his real name is actually Ross, and he only began using ‘Rylan’ when trying to break into showbiz. His family also still call him Ross.

Lionel Blair

Karwai Tang via Getty Images

The legendary entertainer borrows his middle name, as he was born Henry Lionel Ogus.

David Tennant

Isabel Infantes - PA Images via Getty Images

The former ‘Doctor Who’ star’s real name is much more Scottish - David McDonald.

Close

What's Hot