Thursday we asked you what’s in a name   Well now we want to know who’s name it is, for instance, Tom Mapother, or Cheryl Sarkisian or Margaret Hyra?  Even though you don’t recognize their names these are all very famous people, but who were they, name wise?

The Huffington Post came out with a list of celebrities and their real names, and some I wouldn't be able to figure out if you paid me, like Margaret Hyra…who the heck is that?  Answer:  Meg Ryan.  (When Meg decided to shorten her first name, she also went by the name of Peggy, which is also short for Margaret)  How about Tom Mapother?  Answer:  Tom Cruise, which of course sounds much slicker than Tom Mapother!  What about Pat Benatar?   Answer:  Patricia Mae Andrzejewski…WOW!  (Actually, her last name Benatar was her married name before she married her hubby of over 30 years, Neil; her then hubby was her high school sweetheart Dennis Benatar.  After they divorced, she was better known by her married name Benatar, and decided to keep that professional name, which, in this case, I think was a good move!  Check out the list of celebrity names below and see if you think they made a good name in coming up with a “stage” name.  Have you ever changed your name?

Lea Michele's full name is actually Lea Michele Sarfati.

Michael J. Fox's middle name doesn't start with a "J."  It's Andrew.

Audrey Hepburn's real name is Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston.

Lorde's birth name is Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O'Connor.

George Michael could've been known as Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou.

Courtney Love's real name is Love Michelle Harrison.

Stevie Wonder's real name is Stevland Hardaway Judkins, he could've hung onto Steveland, no wonder he changed the rest!

Téa Leoni is a shortened form of her real name:  Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni.

Hulk Hogan has a name that's not too "hulky" Terry Gene Bollea.

Pink's real name is Alecia Moore.

Nicki Minaj's real name is Onika Tanya Maraj, and you thought Nicki Minaj was weird!

Bruno Mars' real name is...take a deep breath...  Peter Gene Bayot Hernandez.

Faith Hill's  real name is faithfully Audrey Perry.

Cher was born with more than one name,Cheryl Sarkisian.

Portia De Rossi has a cool name, Amanda Lee Rogers.

Adele's full name is Adele Laurie Blue Adkins

Demi Moore decided to lessen her name from  Demetria Gene Guynes.

Natalie Portman's real last name is Hershlag.

Louis C.K.  is a bit of a strange name, but how would you like to live with Louis Szekely.

Elton John's real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight.

Carmen Electra changed her name from Tara Leigh Patrick.

Pat Benatar probably made the right call NOT being known as Patricia Mae Andrzejewsi.

Michael Caine's real name is Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, he does look like a Maurice.

Meg Ryan's birth name is Margaret Hyra.

Miley Cyrus' real first name is Destiny...who knew her destiny would include some thongs and a wrecking ball!

Dakota Fanning's real name is a simple one,  Hannah.

Steven Tyler's real last name is Tallarico.

Chuck Norris changed his name from  Carlos Norris...although I think the name Carlos is a cool name.

Tina Fey's full name is Elizabeth Stamatina Fey.

Joaquin Phoenix's last name is actually Bottom.

Tina Turner had the Anna Mae Bullock, before Ike "slapped" the name Tina on her.

Vin Diesel decided to toughen up his name from Mark Vincent

Jamie Foxx's real name is Eric Marlon Bishop.

Tom Cruise decided to pick a "crusin'" last name instead of his real one, Mapother.

Ben Kingsley was once known as  Krishna Pandit Bhanji.

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