ADVERTISEMENT

A nepo baby, referring to individuals who benefit from nepotism based on their familial relationships, typically enjoys the advantage of having easier access to opportunities in the industry, whether it's in entertainment or other fields.

Kendall Jenner, Brooklyn Beckham, and Lily-Rose Depp are just some of the handful of celebrities out there who have undoubtedly benefited from their notable last names, allowing them to pursue their interests without immediate financial concerns.

Nevertheless, other celebrities who were born into rich and famous families have chosen to drop their last names; rather, they have chosen to avoid being perceived as privileged individuals devoid of talents, bypass additional public scrutiny, or simply want to make a name of their own.

Bored Panda takes a look at 14 celebrities who changed their famous last names.

#1

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage

Believe it or not, Nicolas Cage is, in fact, a Coppola. Indeed, he was born Nicolas Kim Coppola. 

At age 15, the Gone in 60 Seconds actor tried to convince his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, to give him a screen test, telling him: "I'll show you acting." His outburst was met with "silence in the car," as per the New York Magazine.

At the time, Coppola had already directed big names such as Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, and Robert De Niro. 

Although early in his career, Nicolas appeared in some of his uncle's films. He subsequently changed his name to Nicolas Cage to avoid the appearance of nepotism as Coppola's nephew, the New York Times reported. 

According to Biography.com, the actor’s choice of name was inspired by the Marvel Comics superhero Luke Cage and composer John Cage.

Jimmy Kimmel Live Report

Add photo comments
POST
Omiyaru
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew that it was Coppola, but I didn't know that one of the reasons was because of a marvel character

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#2

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie was born Angelina Jolie Voight in 1975 to actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand.

The 48-year-old humanitarian has had a lifelong dysfunctional relationship with her famous father, which began when the Ray Donovan actor left the family when Angelina was less than a year old.

In 2002, the Lara Croft star petitioned the court to legally remove her surname, Voight, in favor of her middle name, which she had long used as a stage name.

angelinajolie Report

Add photo comments
POST
#3

Henry Wolfe

Henry Wolfe

Henry Wolfe is a musician whose real name is Henry Gummer. He is also notably the only son of Meryl Streep and renowned American sculptor Don Gummer. 

Like his sister Louisa, Henry uses his middle name professionally.

He once told American Songwriter, "Wolfe is my middle name. It was given to me, so I thought I might as well use it."

henrywolfe Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#4

Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde’s real name is Olivia Jane Cockburn, and she descends from a long line of talented artists. 

The 39-year-old actress is related to Evelyn Waugh, author of Brideshead Revisited (he was her grandfather’s cousin). 

According to Vogue, the novelist Emma Tennant was also a distant cousin, and her grandfather, Claud Cockburn, was a well-known journalist and writer who fought alongside Ernest Hemingway during the Spanish Civil War.

Additionally, Olivia’s father, Andrew Cockburn, is a famous British journalist, and her mother, Leslie Cockburn, also a journalist, was a producer on the American TV show 60 Minutes. 

In high school, the Don’t Worry Darling director reportedly attended the same boarding school in Massachusetts as George Bush Snr and Jnr.

In honor of family members who wrote under pen names and for her love of Oscar Wilde, Olivia reportedly left Cockburn behind and changed her name.

oliviawilde Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

Norah Jones

Norah Jones

Norah Jones was born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar to American concert producer Sue Jones and Indian Bengali musician Ravi Shankar.

At the age of 16, with both parents' consent, the Don’t Know Why hitmaker officially changed her name to Norah Jones.

The now 44-year-old singer reportedly had few dealings with her father until she was 18.

norahjones Report

Add photo comments
POST
#6

Emilio Estevez

Emilio Estevez

American actor and filmmaker Emilio Estevez is the son of actor Martin Sheen and the older brother of Charlie Sheen. 

The Breakfast Club star technically didn't change his name, but he reportedly dulled the association with his famous father, Martin Sheen, by not opting for a stage name as his dad had done. 

In 2023, Emilio told Today that his father deeply regretted not using his birth name professionally.

akawilliamhbonney Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tabitha
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I’m not mistaken, Estevez is Martin Sheen’s real last name. He took Sheen as his stage name because it was his mother’s (Emilio’s and Charlie’s grandmother) maiden name. Basically, Emilio just kept his real last name instead of the stage name.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#7

Joan Fontaine

Joan Fontaine

Hollywood Golden Age star Joan Fontaine was born Joan de Havilland in 1917 in Tokyo, Japan.

She was the younger sister of fellow Old Hollywood actor Olivia de Havilland. 

The Rebecca actress was discovered in the Warner Bros. parking lot while working as her sister's chauffeur, but she had to choose both a different studio and a different name because Olivia felt that "two de Havillands on the marquee would be too many."

IMDB Report

Add photo comments
POST
#8

Louisa Jacobson

Louisa Jacobson

Louisa Jacobson’s birth name is Louisa Gummer. She is the daughter of Meryl Streep and Don Gummer. 

While her sisters, Mamie and Grace Gummer, act under their real names, she uses her middle name because there's already another actor working under the name Louisa Gummer.

louisa_jacobson Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Leila George

Leila George

31-year-old model Leila George, whose real name is Leila D'Onofrio, is the daughter of fellow actors Vincent D'Onofrio and Greta Scacchi. 

Leila has been using her middle name as a stage name.

Vogue Australia Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#10

Elle King

Elle King

Singer-songwriter Elle King was born Tanner Elle Schneider and is the daughter of comedian, actor, and former SNL star Rob Schneider.

Nevertheless, the Ex’s and Oh’s singer goes by her middle name and mom's maiden name. 

“It's not that I wanted to be a famous person. I wanted to be a performer,” Elle told ABC News in 2015.

elleking Report

Add photo comments
POST
RabidChild
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I were Rob Schneider's daughter I'd definitely change my name too.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

King Princess

King Princess

King Princess was born Mikaela Mullaney Straus in Brooklyn, New York, in 1998.

Growing up, she spent a long time in recording studios with her dad, Oliver Straus, who is a recording engineer. 

Moreover, Oliver is the owner of the studio Mission Sounds, where bands such as the Arctic Monkeys have worked. This is where King Princess recorded her debut album Cheap Queens.

The Straus family's last name is also well-known outside the music industry. Isidor Straus, King Princess's great-great-grandfather, co-owned Macy's, and he and his wife, Ida, were the Titanic passengers who inspired the couple who refused to leave without each other and died together onboard the ship in James Cameron's Titanic.

kingprincess69 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jaysko
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. That scene & the scene with the mom holding the baby, frozen in the ocean (idk, should I have said 'spoiler'??) are the 2 scenes that make me cry every single time I watch it. I know it's all 'inspired' by real people but to know there was an actual couple behind that... whew! 🥺

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#12

Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling is the daughter of producer Aaron Spelling. 

According to Buzzfeed, she first heard about Beverly Hills, 90210 from her agent, but after the agent told her that her dad was executive producing it, she opted to audition under the stage name Tori Mitchell.

The actress’ fake name at the time was borrowed from a Heather Locklear character.

torispelling Report

Add photo comments
POST
Michael None
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WOW she looks like a painted piece of plastic. Surgery has not been kind to her.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Mabel

Mabel

Don’t Call Me Up hitmaker Mabel was born Mabel McVey in 1996 in Spain.

She is the daughter of singer, songwriter, and producer Cameron McVey and singer Neneh Cherry. 

Nevertheless, the 27-year-old songstress goes by the stage name Mabel. Her sister, Tyson, also sings under a mononym.

mabel Report

Add photo comments
POST
James016
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her uncle is Eagle Eye Cherry (Neneh Cherry's half brother)

View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Olivia Jade

Olivia Jade

Olivia Jade was born Olivia Jade Giannulli and is the daughter of actor Lori Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, who both spent time in prison for bribing their two daughters' way into the University of Southern California (USC). 

In high school, the 24-year-old influencer started her YouTube channel using her middle name, becoming a prominent figure on the internet under the name Olivia Jade.

oliviajade Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda