• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
Celebrities' real names revealed as Meghan Markle’s first name isn’t what you think

Home> Entertainment> Celebrity

Published 12:26 10 Mar 2025 GMT

Celebrities' real names revealed as Meghan Markle’s first name isn’t what you think

The Duchess of Sussex has gone by a stage name since sky-rocketing into the spotlight on 'Suits'

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

Following the revelation last week that Meghan Markle actually shares a secret surname with her husband and their two children, there has seemingly been a spark in intrigue over Royal titles.

Speaking on her new self-fronted Netflix series last week, the former Suits actress announced that her family have gone by the surname 'Sussex' since Prince Harry's grandmother, The late Queen, bestowed the name upon them following their 2018 wedding.

Meghan's 'real' name

The news subsequently prompted followers of the monarchy deep-diving into the real names of modern day Royals - and some were left even further surprised to see that Meghan isn't actually called 'Meghan'.

That's right, according to her five-year-old son Archie's birth certificate, the Duchess was actually born 'Rachel', and her name is now listed on all official documentation as 'Rachel Meghan Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex'. Who knew?

Advert

As we say, the double-whammy revelation has left many gossip-fans - Team Tyla included - wondering which other huge-name stars go by different names in the spotlight, and why they have a stage name in the first place...

Meghan was actually born 'Rachel' (Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for Ink PR Group)
Meghan was actually born 'Rachel' (Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for Ink PR Group)

Other stars who go by 'stage names'

Miley Cyrus

The former Hannah Montana star has gone by 'Miley' since her childhood years, when her father - country star Billy Ray Cyrus - began nicknaming her 'Smiley'.

Advert

It turns out that the 32-year-old was actually born 'Destiny Hope Cyrus, but changed her name to 'Miley Ray Cyrus' in 2008 - a nod to both her father and her grandfather, Ronald Ray Cyrus, as per CNN.

Millie Bobby Brown

Last week, the Stranger Things actress broke the news to her Electric State co-star Chris Pratt that 'Bobby' isn't actually her real name.

Brown explained in a Buzzfeed interview that she was born with the middle name 'Bonnie', but partially opted to change it to 'Bobby' as a tribute to her father Robert Brown when she became famous, and partially made the change for 's***s and giggles'.

Emma Stone

There was already a star named 'Emily Stone' (Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
There was already a star named 'Emily Stone' (Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Advert

The two-time Best Actress Academy Award winner was told when she began acting, she had to register in the Screen Actors Guild with a name different to the one she was born with.

After being told there was already an 'Emily Stone' on the roster - her birth name - she initially opted for 'Riley' before changing it to 'Emma'.

She told W Magazine in 2017: "For a 16-year-old, picking a new name is an interesting prospect, and back then I said, 'I'm now going to be Riley Stone!'. So, for about six months I was called Riley.

"I landed a guest spot on Malcolm in the Middle, and one day they were calling, 'Riley! Riley! Riley! We need you on set, Riley!' and I had no idea who they were talking to."

Cher

Some lucky stars have been able to get away with using one name in total - including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Madonna and, of course, Cher. It turns out, however, that this isn't even the 'Believe' singer's real name.

Advert

The singer only learned her 'real' name in the 70s (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
The singer only learned her 'real' name in the 70s (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

The singer initially thought that upon her 1946 birth, she was named 'Cherilyn', but in the 70s, discovered her mother had actually registered her as 'Cheryl'.

Katy Perry

The US hitmaker was actually born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, but only recently did she reveal the real reason she opted to develop a stage name all those years ago.

Advert

She told The Guardian in 2017 she created the character of 'Katy Perry' in a bid to 'liberate' herself following a difficult childhood, having been raised by devout Christian and fundamentalist parents.

Katy told the publication her stage persona couldn't be further from her real personality.

Shania Twain

The country music star was given her father Clarence Edwards' surname upon her birth, and 'Eilleen Regina' as her first and middle names after her grandmothers on each side.

The singer was born with a different name (Disney/Eric McCandless)
The singer was born with a different name (Disney/Eric McCandless)

When her stepfather adopted her following her parents' divorce, however, she became a 'Twain'.

And after she got her record deal, she changed her first name to 'Shania'.

"I needed a stage name that sounded a little less like my grandmother's name," she recently explained on Apple Music's Home Now Radio.

"Because I'm named after my grandmother, both my grandmothers, Eilleen and Regina. I think, in my mind, I was just not really wanting to be called my grandmother's name onstage, so I decided to change it to Shania Twain.

"I met somebody with the name Shania, thought it was beautiful, and Shania Twain was born."

Chappell Roan

The 'Pink Pony Club' hit-maker was actually born 'Kayleigh Rose Amstutz', but opted for her stage name as part of a 'drag project' in a bid to set a boundary between her stardom and personal life.

Gigi Hadid

Some stage names make complete sense - like Gigi Hadid's.

Gigi goes professionally by her nickname (Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Gigi goes professionally by her nickname (Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

The model was actually born 'Jelena Noura Hadid', but after one of her teacher's consistently got her confused with another student named 'Helena' - and her mother already nicknamed her 'Gigi' at home - her new one stuck.

Lady Gaga

Stefani Germanotta adopted the stage name 'Lady Gaga' when she entered showbiz, choosing the iconic moniker as a reference to Queen's hit song 'Radio Ga Ga'.

Reese Witherspoon

The actress was actually born 'Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon', but opted to go for 'Reese' as her stage name in honour of both her middle name and her mother's maiden name, which was also 'Reese'.

Lana Del Rey

The singer's real name is actually 'Elizabeth Woolridge Grant', but she opted her legendary triple-whammy stage name in a bid to sound exotic - reportedly inspired by fellow actress Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey sedan.

Featured Image Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage/Dave Benett/VF25/WireImage for Vanity Fair

Topics: Celebrity, US News, UK News, Royal Family, Meghan Markle

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

X

@rhiannaBjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
2 days ago
  • a day ago

    Kim Kardashian explained NSFW reason why she filmed infamous tape with ex Ray J

    The Kardashians star has addressed the 2007 sex tape scandal a number of times since it was first leaked

    Entertainment
  • a day ago

    1000-lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton revealed 'biggest concern' after skin removal surgery as she shows off shocking transformation

    The 38-year-old TLC star has opened up about some of the struggles she's faced throughout her weight loss journey

    Entertainment
  • a day ago

    Lip reader reveals Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s secret conversation during first public date since Super Bowl loss

    It's the first time the couple has been spotted out and about together on a date since February

    Entertainment
  • 2 days ago

    Tammy Slaton's surgeon reveals 'hardest moment' of skin removal surgery process as she shows off dramatic transformation

    The 1000-lb Sisters star showed TLC viewers the results after having 15 pounds of excess skin removed

    Entertainment
  • Midwife defends Meghan Markle's labour dance video amid intense backlash from cruel trolls
  • Meghan Markle’s 'hidden message' in first Instagram post in years revealed
  • Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's photos of trip to Disneyland with Lilibet and Archie spark bizarre conspiracies
  • Drew Barrymore confirms Meghan Markle’s name change during her latest TV appearance