CELEBRITIES WHO DON'T USE THEIR REAL NAMES

Reese Witherspoon, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Rihanna -- it's as if these celebrities were destined to make it big in Hollywood from the moment their parents signed their birth certificate. But as it turns out, some of the most acclaimed household names weren't born with the golden ticket to stardom. Instead, they paved their own ways, often adopting a stage name to help open doors. Here are the most well-known celebs who actually go by pseudonyms, plus the stories behind when and why they chose to forgo their birth names.

Alicia Keys (Alicia Augello-Cook)
The Weeknd (Abel Makkonen Tesfaye)
Meghan Markle (Rachel Meghan Markle)
Irina Shayk (Irina Shaykhlislamov)
Brad Pitt (William Bradley Pitt)
Gigi Hadid (Jelena Noura Hadid)
Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta)
Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty)
Miley Cyrus (Destiny Hope Cyrus)
Cardi B (Belcalis Almanzar)
Reese Witherspoon (Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon)
Emma Stone (Emily Jean Stone)
Natalie Portman (Neta-Lee Hershlag)
Kit Harington (Christopher Catesby Harington)
Lana Del Rey (Elizabeth Woolridge Grant)
Olivia Wilde (Olivia Cockburn)
Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham)
Portia de Rossi (Amanda Lee Rogers)
Ashton Kutcher (Christopher Ashton Kutcher)
Erykah Badu (Erica Abi Wright)
Halsey (Ashley Frangipane)
Spike Lee (Shelton Lee)
Courtney Love (Courtney Michelle Harrison)
Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Johnson)
Joaquin Phoenix (Joaquin Rafael Bottom)
Demi Moore (Deme Gene Guynes)
Bruno Mars (Peter Gene Hernandez)
Nicki Minaj (Onika Tanya Maraj)
Calvin Harris (Adam Richard Wiles)