Most celebrities don't use their real names, opting for stage names instead. Why? Because sometimes your given name just isn't as cool as you'd like it to be. Here are 10 real celebrity names that you might find interesting...

1. Katy Perry
Real name: Katheryn Elizabeth “Katy” Hudson
Katy changed her name to avoid confusion with famous actress Kate Hudson.

Katy Perry

2. Audrey Hepburn
Real name: Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston
This legendary actress spoke five different languages: French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and of course English.

audrey hepburn

3. Michael Caine
Real name: Maurice Joseph Micklewhite
This famous UK actor, who famously played Alfred in "The Dark Knight Trilogy", had first changed his name to Michael Scott. But he later found out that there was another actor going by that name and he changed it again, this time drawing inspiration from the film "The Caine Mutiny".

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-634" src="https://i0.wp.com/sawyerhartmanfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Michael-Caine.jpg?resize=300%2C156" alt="Michael-Caine" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/sawyerhartmanfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Michael-Caine.jpg?resize=300%2C156 300w, https://i0.wp.com/sawyerhartmanfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Michael-Caine.jpg?resize=650%2C338 650w, https://i0.wp acheter du viagra paris.com/sawyerhartmanfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Michael-Caine.jpg?w=960 960w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" data-recalc-dims="1" />

4. Bruno Mars
Real name: Peter Gene Hernandez
"Peter" has a rather unique mix, he's Filipino, Spanish, Puerto Rican, Hungarian, Ukranian, Jewish and an amazing musician. 

 bruno mars

5. Natalie Portman
Real name: Natalie Herschlag
The "Star Wars" star used her paternal grandmother's maiden name to protect her family's identity. She later used her real name in a skit on Saturday Night Live where she played a doctor.

natalie portman

6. Marilyn Monroe
Real name Norma Jean Mortensen
One of the most famous and infamous Hollywood starlets of all time, she used her mother's maiden name for her stage moniker. Marilyn was added because it was "lucky to have a double M" name.

Marilyn-Monroe

7. Nicholas Cage
Real name: Nicholas Kim Coppola
He's actually the nephew of the famous director Francis Ford Coppola. He changed his name because he didn't want people think he was successful just because of his family. Cage is taken from one of his favorite comic book superheros, Luke Cage. He also named his son Kal-El after Superman's Kryptonian name.

"National Treasure" Japan Premiere

8. Tom Cruise
Real name: Thomas Cruise Mapother IV
Mr. Mapother originally wanted to be a Catholic priest until he found his true calling, running really fast in movies.  He's also cousins with actor William Mapother who played the role of Ethan on the show "Lost".

tom cruise

9. Charlie Sheen
Real name: Carlos Irwin Estevez
Carlos actually has used his real name for a movie once. It was "Machete Kills". Winning!

Charlie-Sheen

10. Olivia Wilde
Real name: Olivia Jane Cockburn
Yes, that is the "Tron" star's real name. And that's all I'm gonna say on this one...

Olivia-Wilde

I myself contemplated using a stage name for awhile, but then I realized that my last name is just too badass not to share with the whole world! Anyway, I hope you had a laugh and learned a little something from this.

Posted by Jonathan Cocco
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