Yves Saint Laurent (born Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent)[1] X Research source Rudolph Valentino (born Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina D’Antonguolla)[2] X Research source
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara)[3] X Research source Kal Penn (born Kalpen Suresh Modi)[4] X Research source
Katy Perry (born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson)[5] X Research source chose to use her mother’s maiden name when she switched from gospel to pop music. Catherine Deneuve (born Catherine Fabienne Dorléac)[6] X Research source chose to use her mother’s maiden name to differentiate herself from her then-more famous sister Françoise. Joan Fontaine used her mother’s maiden name because her real last name, de Havilland, was being used by her sister, actress Olivia de Havilland.
Beyoncé (born Beyonce Giselle Knowles)[8] X Research source Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone)[9] X Research source Rihanna (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty)[10] X Research source Zendaya (born Zendaya Maree Stormer Coleman)[11] X Research source
Sid Vicious (born John Simon Ritchie)[12] X Research source Slash (born Saul Hudson)[13] X Research source
2pac (born Tupac Amaru Shakur)[14] X Research source E-40 (born Earl Stevens)[15] X Research source Ke$ha (born Kesha Rose Sebert)[16] X Research source
Cassie Ramone of Vivian Girls was inspired to adopt her surname by The Ramones. Lady Gaga’s name was inspired by the song “Radio Ga Ga” by Queen. [17] X Research source
Bono got his stage name from a childhood nickname, “bono vox,” which is Latin for “good voice. “[19] X Research source Slash claims he was called his stage name as a kid because he was always running all around. [20] X Research source
