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Home · Celebrity

Do You Know These Celebs' Real Names?

Actor Mahershala Ali recently revealed his real name, and it's so beautiful you'll need a second to practice saying it. Did you know Jamie Foxx, Timbaland and Nicki Minaj's real names? We've uncovered the unknown, and surprising, government names of your favorite celebs.

By Jolie A. Doggett · February 24, 2015October 27, 2020
01
Mahershala Ali
Real name: Mahershalalhashbaz Ali (It’s a tongue twister isn’t it?!)
getty images
02
Common

Real name: Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr.

(Did you have a moment when you thought “Who’s that?!” when his name was announced at Oscars? It’s okay to admit it)

Mat Hayward/Getty Images
03
Nicki Minaj

Real Name: Onika Tanya Maraj

Beyoncé called Nicki by her government name during the “Flawless” remix.

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
04
Stevie Wonder

Real name: Stevland Hardaway Morris

His last name isn’t really “Wonder,” but we still think he’s wonderful!

05
Jamie Foxx

Real name: Eric Marlon Bishop

Not even close (there’s not even a “J” in his real name).

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06
Issa Rae

Real name: Joissa Diop

Pick up her book, “Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl,” to see the hilarious story behind her pen name.

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07
Drake

Real name: Aubrey Graham

You may have caught his real name in the credits on Degrassi.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
08
Timbaland

Real name: Timothy Zachery Mosley

His real name wasn’t bad but he needed a unique name to match his one-of-a-kind beats.

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09
Snoop Dogg

Real name: Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.

Snoop has changed his name from Calvin to Dogg to Lion. What’s next?

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10
Kelly Rowland

Real name: Kelendria Trene Rowland

She’ll always be Kelly to us!

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11
Missy Elliot
Real name: Melissa Arnette Elliot We knew her middle name couldn’t really be “Misdemeanor”…
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12
Erykah Badu

Real name: Erica Abi Wright

First name Erica, Last name… is not Badu.

DC/PictureGroup
13
Alicia Keys

Real name: Alicia Augello Cook

A piano-playing songstress who’s real last name is “Keys” is just too good to be true.

Yu Tsai
14
Swizz Beatz

Real name: Kasseem Dean

Both Swizz and his wife Alicia Keys go by aliases. Is there no one we can trust?!

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15
Spike Lee

Real name: Shelton Jackson Lee

Shelton…Spike… eh, close enough.

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards
16
Rihanna

Real Name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty

The Bad Gal’s government name just doesn’t have the same ring. 

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images and JP Yim/Getty Images
17
Whoopi Goldberg
Real name: Caryn Elaine Johnson The name change is understandable. “Whoopi” just sounds more fun.
18
Andre 3000
Real name: André Lauren Benjamin We’re sure you could’ve guessed that his last name wasn’t really 3,000. But if you didn’t know, we won’t tell anyone.
19
John Legend

Real name: John Stephens

But his voice and piano skills are definitely legendary.

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
20
Genuwine

Real name: Elgin Baylor Lumpkin

No, seriously. That’s his real name.

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21
Tina Turner

Real Name: Anna Mae Bullock

As heard in the semi-autographical film What’s Love Got to Do With It? 

The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
22
Will Smith

Real Name: Willard Carroll Smith, Jr. 

Did you think his first name was William, too?

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23
Ludacris

Real Name: Christopher Brian Bridges

We like the clever word play Luda!

Steve Granitz/WireImage
24
The Weeknd

Real Name: Abęl Tesfaye

The Weeknd has a nice ring to it, even though it’s missing a vowel. 

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25
J. Cole

Real Name: Jermaine Lamarr Cole

The Grammy-nominated rapper didn’t get very creative with his stage name but it’s ok because he’s skills are dope anyway. 

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch
26
Kendrick Lamar

Real Name: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth

We have to admitl, dropping his last name for the stage was a good move. 

Getty Images
27
Dej Loaf

Real Name: Deja Trimble

Dej Trimble has a nice ring to it though! 

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28
Frank Ocean

Real Name: Christopher Breaux

Frank Ocean/Chris Breaux, we’d buy music from both, honestly. 

29
T-Pain

Real Name: Faheem Rasheed Naim

T-Pain holds it down with some hits. 

30
Sade

Real Name: Helen Folasade Adu

The Nigerian singer uses an abbreviation of her middle name on stage. 

Gus Stewart/Redferns
31
Jason Derulo

Real Name: Jason Desrouleaux

The real singer’s last name is a mouthfull!

Theo Wargo/Getty Images
32
Yasiin Bey

Real Name: Dante Smith

The artist formally known as Mos Def. 

Mark Horton/WireImage
33
Big Boi
Real name: Antwan Andr Patton The Outkast rapper’s stage name is far from his birth name but still pretty cool.
34
A$AP Rocky

Real Name: Rakim Mayers

Fun fact, Rocky’s real first name is attributed to rapper Rakim (who’s real name is William Michael Griffin Jr.). The rapper’s mother was a big fan of Eric B and Rakim back in the day. 

George Pimentel/WireImage
35
Queen Latifah

Real Name: Dana Elaine Owens

How dope would it be if this Oscar-nominated, Grammy, Golden Globe, Emmy and SAG winning star’s reall name was actually Queen?!

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
36
D’Angelo

In a 2015 interview with Tavis Smiley, the singer talked about his album, Black Messiah, black culture, black men, and black women. 

Rick Kern/Getty Images
37
Method Man

Real Name: Clifford Smith

Funny enough, we can’t see this Wu-Tang member with a name like Clifford. 

Brad Barket/Getty Images
38
Flo Rida

Real Name: Tramar Dillard

Because chances of your real name being the same as the state you’re from are slim to none. 

Amanda Edwards/WireImage
39
Will.i.am

Real Name: William James Adams, Jr.

Even though the Black Eyed Peas singer basically goes by his first name, the creativity is there and we love it. 

Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
40
Foxy Brown

Real Name: Inga Marchand 

We wonder if the rapper’s stage name is a nod to the iconic movie character?

41
Questlove

Real Name: Ahmir-Khalib Thompson

The Roots drummer has a cool stage name, we dig it. 

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret
42
Donna Summer
Real Name: Ladonna Gaines While it would be great to have the last name of a wonderful season, sadly this disco diva does not.
Michael Putland/Getty Images
43
Q-Tip

Real Name: Kamaal Ibn John Fareed

The DJ and Tribe Called Quest rapper was born Jonathan Davis but changed his legal name after converting to Islam. The more you know. 

D-Nice/ Instagram

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