10 Celebs Who Changed Their Original Names To Stupid Names And Regretted It
In the world of celebrities name changes are not uncommon. Some seek uniqueness, while others strive for a fresh start with truly stupid names. Those names are not only unusual but downright regrettable.
Here's a list of the top 10 most surprising and, at times, downright ridiculous celebrity name changes. Scroll down to check them out!
#1. Snoop Dogg To Snoop Lion
Source: Google Images
Some of these celebrities opted for the funniest names you could ever imagine!
Snoop Dogg (born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.) made waves when he changed his stage name from Snoop Dogg to Snoop Lion. The change was as unexpected as it was unforgettable.
The American rapper (@snoopdogg) decided to change his name to Snoop Lion after embracing Rastafarianism during a trip to Jamaica. While in Jamaica recording a new reggae album, a High Priest at a temple told him he should no longer go by Snoop Dogg and instead be called Snoop Lion, referring to him as "the light" and "the lion."
“I want to bury Snoop Dogg and become Snoop Lion,” he said.
#2. Lisa Bonet To Lilakoi Moon
The young star from the 1980s sitcoms "The Cosby Show" and "A Different World," Lisa Bonet, surprised fans when she changed her name to Lilakoi Moon in the early '90s. She did this because she wanted more privacy. However, she still used Lisa Bonet for her acting roles.
#3. Ol' Dirty Bastard To Big Baby Jesus
Source: Google Images
The late rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, also known as ODB, took the concept of reinvention to a new level when he briefly adopted the weirdest name, Big Baby Jesus. It was a move that left many puzzled.
In 1998, as he started his solo career, he told Vibe magazine that he was changing his name.
He said, "There's no more ODB no more; from now on, my name is Big Baby Jesus."
It's hard to believe that anyone would willingly choose such stupid names for themselves.
#4. Caryn Johnson To Whoopi Goldberg
The legendary actress and comedian Caryn Johnson adopted the name Whoopi Goldberg early in her career. The story behind the unique choice is as intriguing as the name itself.
She was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in 1955. She didn't shy away from humor about bodily functions, saying, "If you get a little gassy, you've got to let it go." People used to compare her to a whoopee cushion, which inspired her stage name.
To boost her chances in Hollywood, the actress’s mother suggested she use a Jewish last name, so she changed Johnson to Goldberg. And just like that, she had a name that led to many jokes and a highly successful career.
I've heard of unique stage names, but these take the cake for being hilariously stupid names.
#5. Mark Sinclair Vincent To Vin Diesel
Source: vindiesel
Action star Vin Diesel (@vindiesel) is known for his tough-guy image, but his birth name, Mark Sinclair Vincent, doesn't quite match up. The transition to Vin Diesel was a surprising move.
The well-known actor once shared that he started using his stage name Vin Diesel when he was 17 and worked as a bouncer at the New York nightclub Tunnel. He wanted a name that sounded tougher for his job. The "Vin" part came from his mother's married last name, Vincent. And his friends added "Diesel" because he was known for being full of energy.
These celebrities must have a great sense of humor to go with those stupid names.
#6. Ron Artest To Metta World Peace To The Pandas Friend
Source: Google Images
Many celebrities certainly didn't shy away from choosing some crazy names for themselves!
Ron Artest (@mettaworldpeace37), a basketball player, is one of them. He decided to change his name to “Metta World Peace” during the 2011 offseason when he was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
"I changed my name because I got tired of Ron Artest," he told The Los Angeles Times' Bill Plaschke.
He explained that "Metta" is a Buddhist word that means friendship, love, and kindness.
In 2014, after joining the Chinese Basketball Association's Sichuan Blue Whales, he changed his name again. This time, he went by "The Pandas Friend." China Daily reported this, and he confirmed the change himself, showing that he liked having unique names.
#7. Prince To A Symbol
Source: Google Images
30 years ago, Prince (@prince) did something truly unique by changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol on his 35th birthday. While the exact reason for this change wasn't clear, many believed it was a move to break free from his contract with Warner Bros. Records.
He announced it in a statement: “It is an unpronounceable symbol whose meaning has not been identified. It’s all about thinking in new ways, tuning in 2 a new free-quency.”
This symbol had appeared differently on some of Prince's album artwork before, but he altered it with the help of a design studio, making it unique and copyrighted. It became the title, or rather the unpronounceable title, of his 1992 album, often referred to as "Love Symbol" by fans.
These names are proof that even in Hollywood, you can end up with the most ridiculously stupid names!
#8. Steven Demetre Georgiou To Cat Stevens To Yusuf Islam
Source: Google Images
Cat Stevens, the British singer-songwriter, had good reasons to change his name not once but twice.
Originally named Steven Demetre Georgiou, he began his music career as Cat Stevens because his girlfriend thought he had cat-like eyes.
In 1976, after a near-drowning incident off the California coast, Stevens had a religious awakening and started studying Islam. By the end of 1977, he had converted to Islam and adopted the name Yusuf Islam. He chose Yusuf because it's the Arabic version of Joseph, a name he admired.
Some of these are such stupid names that they could be mistaken for pranks.
#9. Puff Daddy To P. Diddy To Diddy
Source: Google Images
When it comes to stupid names, some celebrities have truly pushed the boundaries of creativity.
Sean Combs (@diddy), known in the hip-hop world by various stage names, officially changed his name from Puff Daddy to P. Diddy. This change happened after he was acquitted of five counts of bribery and criminal possession of a weapon on March 17, 2001.
During his first interview since the acquittal of MTV News' Sway Calloway, then known as Puff Daddy, he announced the name change. He said, "No more Puff Daddy. The first week in June, we’re gonna have a name change ceremony. I’m not doing it as seriously as Prince [but] I just want something fresh. I’m going with P. Diddy now. My man Biggie gave me that name."
And now, his name is just Diddy.
#10. Chad Johnson To Chad Ochocinco
Source: Google Images
Chad Johnson (@ochocinco), the former NFL player known for his charismatic and unconventional style, made headlines by changing his name not once but twice during his football career.
Initially, in 2008, he legally changed his last name to "Chad Ochocinco," which means "eight five" in Spanish, to match his jersey number.
However, in 2012, after several years as Ochocinco, he reverted to his original name, Chad Johnson, while retaining Ochocinco as a middle name.
Who in their right mind would willingly change their name to such ridiculously stupid names?
Conclusion
Celebrity name changes can be intriguing, amusing, and sometimes downright bizarre. While these top 10 celebrity name changes, including some truly stupid names, have left us scratching our heads at times, they also serve as a reminder that in the world of fame and creativity, anything is possible—even changing your name to something truly unexpected.