In the celebrity world, it’s not uncommon for stars to change their names when they have major success.
From names passed down through the generations to rocking an entirely self-chosen name, often a person’s name can get people talking as much as what they do.
And it’s not just their first and last names, as several famous faces are the owners of some rather unusual and quirky middle names.
A famous singer has the very grand middle name of Cloud de Bounevialle.
Another is the proud owner of the nickname Hercules, while a huge hit parade is rocking the middle name Pirate. But can you guess whose names these are?
From colors to relatives and even a designation identical to their first name, UKTN takes a look at the surprising middle names of celebrities…
Dido
That’s quite a mouthful: Dido’s full name is actually Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O’Malley Armstrong
The White Flag singer, 51, already has an unusual nickname, but Dido is really just a nickname.
Dido’s full name is actually Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O’Malley Armstrong.
The star has shared how she considers this to be her real name, named after the Queen of Carthage in Virgil’s Aeneid, and has gone by Dido since childhood after being bullied for her name.
Dido, daughter of Clare – a poet of French descent – and Irish publisher William O’Malley Armstrong previously said her name was one of the most “annoying” things her parents ever did to her, admitting she was “ashamed” of growing up.
In a 2001 interview with The Guardian, she said of her name: ‘It’s actually quite confusing and irritating to be called one and baptized the other. It’s one of the most annoying things my parents did to me.
‘It still irritates me. Florian is a German male name. That’s just mean. To give your child a lot of strange names. They were all so embarrassing.’
Despite going by Dido these days, the star shared how she also hated this when she was younger, noting that it was “cruel” to call her that and that when she was younger she even pretended to be called Claire .
Elton John
Change: Like Dido, Elton, 75, has a very different name from what he was born with, his real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight – however, it is said that the singer didn’t feel it was star quality
Like Dido, Elton, 75, has a very different name from the one he was born with, his real name being Reginald Kenneth Dwight – however, it is said that the singer didn’t feel he had star quality.
He also said the name contained “unfortunate memories,” saying in a 1987 interview, “When I became Elton John, it was like a new lease of life. I didn’t like being Reg Dwight. It had too many unhappy memories.’
He legally changed his name to Elton John in 1972, a tribute to two members of the blues band Bluesology: saxophonist Elton Dean and singer Long John Baldry.
Meanwhile, his middle name was not named after the mythical hero, as many may think, but after a horse from the British sitcom Steptoe and Son.
Billy Eilish
Cool: While Billie Eilish is a cool name in its own right, the 21-year-old Ocean Eyes hitmaker’s full name is actually Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell
While Billie Eilish is a cool name in its own right, the 21-year-old Ocean Eyes hitmaker’s full name is actually Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell.
The star uses her middle name as her last name, while her other two names are Pirate and Baird – with Baird being her mother’s last name.
Pirate, meanwhile, was the nickname her older brother Finneas gave her when she was still in her mother’s womb, with Billie later saying the nickname was “pretty weird.”
In a 2017 UKTN interview, Billie spoke about her name, explaining, “Pretty weird, right? Pirate was going to be my middle name, but then my uncle had a problem with it because pirates are bad. Then Baird is my mother’s name.’
Kate Hudson
Heartbreaking history: The glamorous Hollywood star, 43, has a middle name many would ever expect: Garry
The glamorous Hollywood star, 43, has a middle name many would ever expect – Garry.
While many may raise eyebrows at the name, there’s actually a heartbreaking story behind it.
Kate’s mother – the actress Goldie Hawn – decided to name her girl in honor of her beloved late uncle Garry, who died shortly before Kate’s birth.
James Corden
Not what you’d expect: TV star James Corden has the rather surprising middle name, Kimberley
TV star James Corden has the rather surprising middle name, Kimberley.
However, it’s not uncommon in his own family, as the comedian previously revealed on The Late Late Show in 2019, that his family has a tradition of passing on the middle name to sons born into the family.
He said of the name, “Every man in my family has it – it’s a tradition.” For ages I pretended it was Karl, but my sister went out with one of my friends and told him, then he told the whole school. It wasn’t great.’
Macaulay Culkin
Genius: Believe it or not, Macaulay’s real name is Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin
Believe it or not, Macaulay’s real name is Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin.
His middle name was actually Carson, but Macaulay was not a fan of it, tweeting in 2018, “My middle name is a silly thing. Larry? Orange? Honestly, I can’t even remember.’
That same year, the Home Alone actor, 42, conducted a fan poll to legally change his middle name, with the star revealing he would choose from the top five names, namely: ‘Publicity Stunt, TheMcRibIsBack, Kieran, Shark Week and Macaulay Culkin.”
On Christmas Day, he tweeted his new legal name, writing, “Merry Christmas to me, from all of you!” My new middle name has been chosen. You have voted and the winner is known. In 2019 my new legal name will be: Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin. It has a nice sound (if you like my name).’
Adele
Mix it up: While Adele is such a megastar that only one name will suffice, her full nickname is, in fact, Adele Laurie Blue Adkins
While Adele is such a megastar that just one name will suffice, her full name is, in fact, Adele Laurie Blue Adkins.
The Grammy-winning singer previously told British Vogue in 2012 that Blue was almost her first name.
Richard Gere
Like James Corden, Hollywood heartthrob Richard Gere was given a middle name traditionally used by the opposite sex, named Tiffany.
The Pretty Woman star does not use his middle name in his professional career, when the nickname is actually his mother’s maiden name.
Other: Like James Corden, Hollywood heartthrob Richard Gere was given a middle name traditionally used by the opposite sex, named Tiffany
