Could You imagine someone introducing Nicki Minaj on stage not as Nicki, but as Onika Tanya Maraj? It would honestly seem so weird.

Minaj is one of the many celebrities who uses a stage name in Hollywood and it’s not a bad thing. Many celebs do have a stage name because their real name is too long, their real name doesn’t fit their profession, or they simply don’t like it. To be quite honest if you were to compare a list of real names verses stage names, it would be hard to match them.

Stars can often make major or minor changes to their name by either changing the spelling or pronunciation of their original name. Former member of One Direction, Zayn has minor changes to his real name such as spelling or punctuation. He was born as Zain Javadd Malik and it wasn’t until he joined the renowned group he dropped the “I” in Zain for a “Y” becoming Zayn. He also left behind his middle name, but kept his pakistani last name, Malik. After dropping One Direction, Malik dropped his last name as well and continued his solo career to be known as just Zayn.

Grammy award winner and certified rapper Drake didn’t really start in the bottom of his career. Born and raised in the  “nicer” part of Toronto Canada 15 year old Drake started his career in acting in the canadian version of Degrassi. Although, the shows intro didn’t say “Starring Drake”, but “starring Aubrey Graham”. It wasn’t until after Graham began his hand in music he decided to change his stage name to be known as Drake.

Lady Gaga obviously isn’t her birth name and it’s actually Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. Her stage name was given after brief partnership with talent scout Rob Fusari in 2006.

Uptown funk singer, Bruno Mars isn’t really Bruno Mars. He’s actually Peter Gene Hernandez. Mars admits to changing his birth name to a stage name because he didn’t want to be tied or known as only a Latin/Spanish artist because of his hispanic name.

Power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt both have simple stage names. Jolie is known as Angelina Jolie Voight and Pittis known as William Bradley Pitt. Jolie just dropped her last name Voight and Pitt dropped his first name William and made his last name Bradley shorter.

American beauty, Marilyn Monroe wasn’t born with such an elegant name. Monroe’s birth name is Norma Jeane Baker. On February 23rd, 1956, she was given permission from the state of New York to legally change her name.

British pop icon Adele also uses a stage name. Her real name is Adele Laurie Blue Adkins. Introducing Adele Laurie Blue Adkins wouldn’t be as dramatic as introducing Adele on stage.