Some celebrity names come from a court filing. Others were invented in a dressing room, borrowed from a song, or grabbed to avoid a mix-up at the union office. Then there are the ones that start as one and quietly turn into the other.
The topic is also in the news this week. A California judge just made one high-profile name change official, and another is still waiting on a hearing. Take this quiz and see how well you can tell a legal filing from a stage name.
Pick your answers first, then check the key at the bottom.
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Lady Gaga: Stefani Germanotta became Lady Gaga. Where did the “Gaga” come from?
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A childhood nickname from her grandmother
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A Queen song title
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A court petition she filed at 18
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A fan contest
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Ye: When Kanye West became “Ye,” how did it become official?
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It stayed a stage name only
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He announced it on a talk show and nothing was filed
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He went through the courts and a judge approved it
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His record label changed it
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Katy Perry: Katheryn Hudson performs as Katy Perry. Why “Perry”?
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It was the name of her first pet
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It’s her mother’s maiden name, which also helped avoid confusion with another famous Hudson
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A producer picked it at random
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It was her grandmother’s stage name
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Elton John: Born Reginald Dwight, Elton John’s name is a mash-up of two bandmates’ names. Legal filing, stage name, or both?
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Stage name only, he never made it legal
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Legal filing only, he never used another name on stage
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Both: it began as a stage name and he later made it legal
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Neither, it’s just a nickname
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Zahara Jolie: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter Zahara petitioned to drop “Pitt” from her surname. Is this a legal filing or a stage name, and what happened this week?
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A stage name for her acting career, and she debuted it on Monday
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A legal filing, and the judge rejected it
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A social media rebrand with no court involved
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A legal filing, and a judge approved it on Monday, September 28
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Bonus Round, the Paperwork: Before a California judge can approve an adult’s name change, what has to happen?
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The petitioner must publish notice in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks
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The petitioner must get written permission from their parents
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The petitioner must post a notice on social media for one week
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Nothing, judges approve them the same day
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