List of stage names


This list of stage names lists names used by those in the entertainment industry, alphabetically by their stage name's surname followed by their birth name. Individuals who dropped their last name and substituted their middle name as their last name are listed. Those with a one-word stage name are listed in a separate article.
In many cases, performers have legally changed their name to their stage name.
Note: Many cultures have their own naming customs and systems, some rather intricate. Minor changes or alterations, including reversing Eastern-style formats, do not in and of themselves qualify as stage names and should not normally be included. For example, Björk is not a stage name, it is part of her full Icelandic name, Björk Guðmundsdóttir. Her second name is a patronymic instead of a family name, following Icelandic naming conventions.
People are not listed here if they fall into one or more of the following categories:
  • Those who have more than one family name, provided at least one is represented in the professional name. This is especially common with people from Spanish or Portuguese-speaking countries and in the Philippines.
  • Those who changed their name to perform a character or alter ego, including drag performers and professional wrestlers.
  • Those who changed their name to undertake an alias, rather than a name with which the subject will publicly identify.
  • Those who changed their surname due primarily to marriage, even if the marriage has since ended.
  • Those who changed their surname due to adoption or legal name change prior to entering the entertainment industry.
  • Those known by nicknames both privately and professionally.
  • Those who may be popularly, though not professionally, known by a nickname.
  • Those who changed their name due to realized change in sexual/gender identity, or other recognized gender-related reasons.
  • Those who changed their names for religious reasons.
  • Those who adopted a matriname:
  • * List of people who adopted matrilineal surnames
  • Those who changed their name due to other or unknown reasons unrelated to show business of any kind.
Note: Elton John is listed here because he used the name professionally before he legally adopted it in 1972.

List

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The/Tha

Stage nameBirth nameLifeNotabilityNotes
Cedric the EntertainerCedric Kyles1964–American comedian and actor
Chance the RapperChancelor Bennett1993–American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer
Charlamagne tha GodLenard McKelvey1978–American radio host, television personality and comedian
Del the Funky HomosapienTeren Jones1972–American rapperSometimes stylized as Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Eric the ActorEric Lynch1975–2014American actorOnce known as Eric the Midget
Gene Gene the Dancing MachineEugene Patton1932–2015American dancer and stagehand
Hank the Angry Drunken DwarfHenry Nasiff Jr.1962–2001American entertainer
Herrmann the GreatAlexander Herrmann1844–1896French magician
Jed the FishEdwin Gould III1955–2025American disc jockey
Jimmy the RobotJames Briggs1978–American musician
Larry the Cable GuyDaniel Whitney1963–American comedian and actor
Morganna, the Kissing BanditMorganna Roberts1947–American entertainer
Mr.B The Gentleman RhymerJim BurkeUnknownBritish parodist
muMs the SchemerCraig Grant1968–2021American poet and actor
Murray the KMurray Kaufman1922–1982American impresario and disc jockey
Nash the SlashJames Plewman1948–2014Canadian musician
Ovy on the DrumsDaniel Echavarría Oviedo1991–Colombian record producer and songwriter
Sleek The ElitePaul Nakad1975–Australian actor and rapper
R.A. the Rugged ManRichard Andrew Thorburn1974–American rapper and producer
The Amazing JohnathanJohn Szeles1958–2022American comedian and magician
The Amazing KreskinGeorge Kresge Jr.1935–2024American mentalist
The Big BopperJiles Richardson Jr.1930–1959American musician and disc jockey
The Child of LovMartijn Teerlinck1987–2013Belgian-Dutch poet and musicianAlso known as Cole Williams
The D.O.C.Tracy Curry1968–American rapper, songwriter and record producer Also known as Doc, Doc-T, The Diggy Diggy Doc and Trey
The EdgeDavid Evans1961–English-Irish musician
The GameJayceon Taylor1979–American rapper
The JackaDominic Newton1977–2015American rapper
the Kid LAROICharlton Howard2003–Australian rapper and singer
The Mascara SnakeVictor Hayden1948–2018American artist and musician
The Mo City DonJoseph McVey IV1977–American rapperAlso known as Z-Ro
The Notorious B.I.G.Christopher Wallace1972–1997American rapper
The RevJames Sullivan1981–2009American musician Stage name short for The Reverend Tholomew Plague
The Reverend Horton HeatJames Heath1959–American musician
The Singing NunJeanne-Paule Deckers1933–1985Belgian singer-songwriter
The Unknown ComicMurray Langston1944–Canadian comedian
Trae tha TruthFrazier Thompson1980–American rapper
Trugoy the DoveDavid Jolicoeur1968–2023American rapper Also known as Plug and TwoDave
Tyler, the CreatorTyler Okonma1991–American rapper and record producer

Other

Includes stage names that contain numbers or other non-alphabetic characters.
Stage nameBirth nameLifeNotabilityNotes
Anderson.PaakBrandon Anderson1986–American rapper, singer and songwriter
André 3000André Benjamin1975–American rapper, singer and songwriter
Apache 207Volkan Yaman1997–German rapper
apl.de.apAllan Pineda Lindo1974–Filipino-American rapper, singer and producer
Chali 2naCharles Stewart1971–American rapper
John 5John Lowery1970–American guitarist
Jussi 69Jussi Vuori1972–Finnish musician
Jyrki 69Jyrki Linnankivi1968–Finnish musician
Miss Eighty 6Sarai Howard1981–American rapper
Pavel 183Pavel Pukhov1983–2013Russian street artist
Royce da 5'9"Ryan Montgomery1977–American rapperAlso known as Nickel Nine, Nickle, Royce 5'9" and R-Dog
S.CoupsChoi Seung-cheol1995–South Korean rapper, singer and songwriter
Tech N9neAaron Yates1971–American rapper
Thomas G:sonThomas Gustafsson1968–Swedish composer and musician
TOMM¥ €A$HTomas Tammemets1991–Estonian rapper, singer, dancer and visual artist
Ty Dolla $ignTyrone Griffin Jr.1982–American rapper, singer and songwriter
Wednesday 13Joseph Poole1976–American singer and musicianAlso known as Joe Nothing and Audrey 3
2 ChainzTauheed Epps1977–American rapperAlso known as Tity Boi and Drenchgod
21 SavageShéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph1992–British-American rapper
50 CentCurtis Jackson III1975–American rapper and actor
75 CentsLadislav Demeterffy1933–2010Croatian singer
9th WonderPatrick Douthit1975–American rapper and record producer