Top 10 Ridiculous Celebrity Name Changes

Top 10 Ridiculous Celebrity Name Changes

What’s in a name? For these celebs, it’s all about personal branding. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Ridiculous Celebrity Name Changes.

For this list, we’re focusing on pop culture figures that decided to re-invent themselves with revised personal monikers.

#10: Yasiin Bey

Mos Def
Born Dante Terrell Smith, this Brooklyn native emerged in the ‘90s East Coast hip-hop scene with a street-smart moniker, Mos Def. But 13 years after releasing his iconic collaboration with Talib Kweli, declaratively entitled “Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star,” he officially retired his rap name and “openly” adopted the name “Yasiin Bey.” The MC had reportedly been using Yasiin for years with family, but made it public because he’d apparently gone as far as he could with “Mos Def.” Though “Yasiin” may better represent his Muslim faith, long-time fans will most definitely always refer to him as Mos Def.

#9: Big Baby Jesus

Ol’ Dirty Bastard
As a member of the iconic hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, this rapper shed his birth name, Russell Jones, for a more... descriptive stage name. But then ODB went solo in 1995, and his popular moniker needed an upgrade; well, at least... that seems to have been the logic. The gritty MC unveiled his NEW name, Big Baby Jesus, to Vibe Magazine’s late night talk show in 1998, further explaining to MTV that he’d “always been Jesus”. Sadly, Big Baby Jesus passed away six years later at age 35 and remains better known by his original Wu-Tang nickname; a moniker not quite as ridiculous at Big Baby Jesus. Then again, he’d also gone by Dirt McGirt, so… you know, whichever you prefer.

#8: Snoop Lion

Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg is a bonafide pop culture icon. He’s been in the game so long, in fact, that he seemingly outgrew the moniker Snoop Dogg. In 2012, the man born Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. experienced a Jamaican epiphany and embraced a new way of thinking, as well as a more committed Rastafarian lifestyle. A priest reportedly gave Snoop his “Lion” nickname, which he quickly incorporated into his personal brand. In 2013, the rechristened Snoop Lion dropped the appropriately titled album “Reincarnated”, along with a documentary of the same name. These days however, the name seems more like an alter ego than anything else, as Snoop Doggy Dogg remains Snoop Dogg.

#7: Engelbert Humperdinck

Arnold George ‘Gerry’ Dorsey
In pop culture, some monikers are brand-specific and accessible. In the mid-60s, however, an English musician defied the norm by looking to a German composer for inspiration. That’s how Arnold George Dorsey aka Gerry Dorsey became… Engelbert Humperdinck. The name isn’t quite “sexy” per se, but it jump-started the singer’s career, as he reached #1 on the UK charts in 1967 - stealing the spot from a little group known as “The Beatles.” Mr. Humperdinck remains a relevant name decades later, so he musta done something right.

#6: Cat Stevens & Yusuf Islam

Steven Demetre Georgiou
This singer-songwriter also pulled an Engelbert Humperdinck in the mid-‘60s and strayed from his birth name - Steven Demetre Georgiou - in favor of something with a little more pizzazz. That’s when Cat Stevens emerged on the London music scene, with his new name offering greater commercial appeal, especially for a man with such talent. Of course, Cat later converted to Islam in 1977, changing his name to Yusuf Islam early the next year and moving on from the industry as a whole for many decades. In fact, it wasn’t until 2006 that he began releasing material under this new name. But many still view him as Cat Stevens; the man with the rich, evocative voice and the easy to remember stage name.

#5: Vin Diesel

Mark Sinclair
These days, “Vin Diesel” feels like a perfect name for one of cinema’s great action stars. It suits the brawny nature of the man born Mark Sinclair. In the ‘80s, though, he was just a teenaged nightclub bouncer that needed a cool name. And so, he combined his stepfather’s last name, Vincent, with a nickname earned for his energy. Believe it or not, it would still be some time before he started earning consistent Hollywood gigs, despite an uncredited cameo in the 1990 Robert DeNiro film “Awakenings.” Eight years later, however, the Vin Diesel brand took off with “Saving Private Ryan,” proving that talent can rise above a ridiculous nickname.

#4: Chad Ochocinco

Chad Johnson
Technically, when Chad Johnson changed his name to a Spanish translation of the number on his jersey, it should’ve been “Ochenta y Cinco”, but apparently “ochocinco” or “eightfive”... was close enough for him. Incorrect though the translation may have been, Johnson committed, legally changing his name in 2008. The next year, he announced another intended name change, this time to the Japanese translation “Hachi Go,” but ultimately never followed through. Though the name change made him somewhat of a pop culture icon, he decided to revert back to his original name when he made the move to the Miami Dolphins in 2012, retiring the silly moniker in the process.

#3: P. Diddy / Diddy

Puff Daddy [aka Sean Combs]
In 1993, a young entrepreneur named Sean Combs established Bad Boy Entertainment and signed a young lyricist known as The Notorious B.I.G. Four years later, Biggie’s career was tragically cut short in Los Angeles, while “Puff Daddy” became a popular figure within pop culture. By 2001, however, Puffy changed his name AGAIN, going with the more stylistic “P.Diddy.” As the man with many names has explained, the changes are more about a personal vibe than anything else. In fact, Puff Daddy sometimes prefers “Diddy” when he’s feeling a certain type of way.

#2: “Love Symbol”

Prince
This late icon stunned audiences with his remarkable talent and performance bravado. That’s what made Prince so special, as he could talk the talk AND walk the walk. In 1993, however, the man born Prince Rogers Nelson made a bizarre statement by changing his name to a symbol… a literal symbol. While the name change seemed pretentious, it was actually a business move to irritate Warner Brothers, as Prince had come into conflict with his label. So, when “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince” fulfilled his contractual obligations, he went back to his original stage name for the rest of his career, leaving the moniker drama behind.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- Lilakoi Moon
Lisa Bonet

- Peedi Peedi
Pedro Zayas [aka Peedi Crakk]

#1: Metta World Peace

Ron Artest
Early in his NBA career, this star made headlines for his immaculate defense. Ron Artest also made the news for his role in 2004’s “Malice at the Palace,” a fierce fight in which he actually brawled with fans. But as Ron got older and managed to sustain a successful basketball career, he became more at peace with himself and… apparently, the world around him. That’s what prompted a legal name change to “Metta World Peace” in 2011, a move the athlete hoped would inspire others. Strange as the decision may’ve seemed, Metta World Peace has managed to stay out of trouble, and continues to embrace his ambitious yet undeniably ridiculous name change.