A stage name, also called a screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, comedians, music performers, clowns, and professional wrestlers. A pseudonym is a fictitious alternative to a person's legal name (see Alias) The performing arts are those forms of Art which differ from the Plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own Body, Face and presence See also Entertainment (disambiguation and The Entertainer (disambiguation Entertainment is an activity designed to give people An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience primarily by making them laugh A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by their Grotesque appearance colored wigs stylistic makeup, outlandish Costumes unusually Professional wrestling, or pro wrestling, is a non-competitive professional Sport, where all matches are scripted by the promotion's booking staff

Motivation to use a stage name

Performers often take a stage name because their real name is considered unattractive, dull, unintentionally amusing or difficult to pronounce or spell, or because it has been used by another notable individual or projects the wrong image. Sometimes a performer adopts a name that is unusual or outlandish to attract attention. Other performers such as pornography performers use a stage name to retain their anonymity. Pornography or porn is the explicit depiction of Sexual subject matter with the sole intention of sexually exciting the viewer The equivalent concept among writers is called a nom de plume or pen name, while the term ring name is used in wrestling. A writer is anyone who creates a written work although the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally as well as those who have written in many different forms A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a Pseudonym adopted by an Author or their publishers to conceal their identity A ring name is a Stage name used by a professional wrestler, or in some cases a Martial artist or boxer.

Family connection

Some individuals who are related to a celebrity take a different last name so that they are not perceived to have received undue benefit from their family connection. Examples of these include Nicolas Cage (real name Nicholas Coppola, nephew of Francis Ford Coppola) and Mike McGear (brother of Paul McCartney). Nicolas Cage (born Nicholas Kim Coppola; January 7, 1964) is an Academy Award -winning American actor Francis Ford "Frank" Coppola (born April 7, 1939) is a five-time Academy Award -winning American Film director, Mike McCartney (born Peter Michael McCartney 7 January 1944 Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 is an English rock Singer, Bass guitarist songwriter Composer, Conversely, individuals who wish to receive benefit from their family connections may take that loved one's first or last name. For example, Lon Chaney Sr.’s son Creighton spent a number of years appearing in minor roles before renaming himself Lon Chaney Jr.. Lon Chaney ( April 1 1883 &ndash August 26 1930) nicknamed " The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American Lon Chaney Jr ( February 10, 1906 – July 12, 1973) was an American Character actor, known mainly for his roles Emilio Estévez chose not to take his father Martin Sheen’s professional name and uses his birth name. Emilio Estévez (born May 12, 1962) is a Golden Globe - and Screen Actors Guild (SAG Award -nominated American Actor Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez on August 3, 1940) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American Actor who earned

Guild and association rules

Diane Keaton was born Diane Hill, and Woody Allen was born Allen Stewart Konigsberg

Guilds and associations that represent actors, such as the Screen Actors Guild in the United States and British Actors' Equity Association in the United Kingdom, stipulate that no two members may have identical working names. Diane Keaton (born Diane Hall on January 5 1946 is an Oscar -winning American film Actress, director and producer Woody Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; December 1 1935 is an American Film director, Writer, Actor, Comedian, and The Screen Actors Guild ( SAG) is an American labor union representing over 120000 Film and television principal performers and background The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Equity (formerly British Actors' Equity Association) is the Actors Trade union in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located An actor whose name has already been taken must choose a new name. Notable examples include Nathan Lane, whose birth name, Joseph Lane, was already in use, Stewart Granger, whose birth name was James Stewart, and Michael Keaton, born Michael Douglas. Joseph “Nathan” Lane (born February 3, 1956) is a two-time Tony and Emmy Award-winning American actor of the stage and screen Stewart Granger ( May 6, 1913 &ndash August 16, 1993) born James Lablache Stewart, was an English film Actor Michael John Douglas (born September 9 1951 better known by the stage name Michael Keaton, is an American Actor, known for his early comedic roles in The latter chose the last name Keaton simply because he was an admirer of actress Diane Keaton, who in turn had changed her name from Diane Hall. Diane Keaton (born Diane Hall on January 5 1946 is an Oscar -winning American film Actress, director and producer Michael Andrew Fox became Michael J. Fox because a Michael Fox was already a member of the Screen Actors' Guild. Michael J Fox (born Michael Andrew Fox; June 9 1961 is a Canadian / American The Screen Actors Guild ( SAG) is an American labor union representing over 120000 Film and television principal performers and background

An actor may change his name if he shares it with a namesake in another field. Albert Brooks, originally Albert Einstein, changed his name so as not to be confused with the renowned physicist. Albert Brooks (born July 22 1947 is an Academy Award -nominated American Actor, Writer, Comedian and director. Albert Einstein ( German: ˈalbɐt ˈaɪ̯nʃtaɪ̯n; English: ˈælbɝt ˈaɪnstaɪn (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955 was a German -born theoretical

Ethnicity

In the past, a stage name was often used when a performer's real name was considered to denote a specific ethnicity that faced potential discrimination. One of the most famous examples of this type of name change involved Freddie Mercury of Queen, who was born Farrokh Bulsara to Parsi parents; his name change was partly intended to conceal his heritage. Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991 was a Zanzibar -born British Musician, best known as the lead Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist Historically, Jews in Hollywood were encouraged to anglicize their names to avoid possible discrimination. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Anglicisation or anglicization (see -ise vs -ize) is a process of conversion of verbal or written elements of any other language into a more comprehensible English This still happens to a degree (Jon Stewart, Brad Garrett, and Natalie Portman for instance), but the growing acceptance of ethnic performers in the performing arts has made this occurrence less frequent. Jon Stewart (born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz; November 28 1962 is an American Comedian, Satirist, Actor, Writer, and Brad Garrett (born April 14, 1960) is an Emmy Award winning American television/ voice Actor and Stand-up comedian. Natalie Portman (נטלי פורטמן born Natalie Hershlag June 9 1981 is an Israeli American Actress. Ramon Estévez changed his name to Martin Sheen, because he expected a better reception for an Irish name than a Hispanic name; his sons made divergent choices: Carlos Irwin Estévez is now Charlie Sheen, while Emilio Estévez left his name unchanged. Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez on August 3, 1940) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American Actor who earned Carlos Irwin Estévez (born September 3 1965 better known as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor Emilio Estévez (born May 12, 1962) is a Golden Globe - and Screen Actors Guild (SAG Award -nominated American Actor

Ease of use

Another consideration in choosing a stage name is ease of use. The Actors' Equity Association (AEA) advises performers to select a name that is easy for others to pronounce, spell, and remember. Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> The Actors' Equity Association (AEA commonly referred to as Actors' Equity Some performers while paying great attention to their skills and abilities give little thought to the difference that a well-thought-out name can make to their career. Often it is only after the realization that a poorly chosen name results in an undesired impression that a person or group decides on a different name.

Actor Michael Caine was born Maurice Micklewhite and chose the name Michael because he preferred the sound of it to the less glamorous-sounding "Maurice". Sir Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr, CBE (born 14 March 1933 better known by his screen name Michael Caine, is an Oscar - and BAFTA He chose the name Caine reputedly because at the precise instant he needed to decide upon his new stage name, he saw a cinema marquee for the then-current movie The Caine Mutiny and thought that it would make a good last name in conjunction with Michael. The Caine Mutiny is a Drama film set during World War II, directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Humphrey Bogart, Jose Ferrer ("Had I looked the other direction," he would later quip, "I'd be known as Michael The One Hundred and One Dalmatians. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (often abbreviated as 101 Dalmatians) is the seventeenth Animated feature in the Disney animated features canon. ")

Relevance to image

Commonly in the music world, and especially those of heavy metal, industrial and hip hop, musicians will rechristen themselves with names more menacing than their birth names. Industrial music is a loose term for a number of different styles of Experimental music, especially but not necessarily Electronic music. Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Examples include Slash, Sting, Varg Vikernes, Nivek Ogre, Dimebag Darrell, Trey Azagthoth, Vintersorg and Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein as well as every member of Avenged Sevenfold (M. Shadows, The Rev, Synyster Gates, Zacky Vengeance, and Johnny Christ). Saul Hudson (born 23 July 1965 more widely known by his stage name Slash, is an English - African American Guitarist best known as the former Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951) better known by his Stage name Sting, is a three time Academy Award Varg Vikernes (varg 'vikeɳes born Kristian Vikernes on February 11 1973 near Bergen, Norway) is a Black metal musician convicted murderer Nivek Ogre (real name Kevin Graham Ogilvie) born December 5, 1962 is the vocalist best known for his work in the industrial band Skinny Trey Azagthoth (born George Emmanuel III March 26 1965) is an American musician best known as founder and guitarist of the Florida Vintersorg (pronounced 'sɔrj; "Winter Sorrow" in English is a Swedish folk / viking Black metal band from Skellefteå Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein (born Paul Caiafa on September 15, 1964 in Lodi New Jersey) is an American Guitarist Avenged Sevenfold is an American Hard rock band formed in 1999 in Huntington Beach California. Matthew Charles Sanders, better known by his stage name M Shadows (born July 31, 1981) in Huntington Beach California) is the Vocalist The Rev (born James 'Jimmy' Owen Sullivan on February 10 1981 in Huntington Beach, California),short for The Reverend Tholomew Plague Synyster Gates (born Brian Elwin Haner Jr on July 7, 1981) in Huntington Beach, California) also known as Syn, Zacky Vengeance (born Zachary James Baker on December 11 1981 is the rhythm guitarist and back up vocalist for the band Avenged Sevenfold. Being that those genres pride themselves on a larger-than-life quality, larger-than-life names are desirable. Madonna, Prince, and P!nk are pop music examples, though both Madonna and Prince were given those names at birth. Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16 1958 known as Madonna, is an American Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American musician Alecia Beth Moore (born September 8 1979 known professionally as P!nk is a two-time Grammy -winning American Singer-songwriter who gained prominence Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure

Actor John Wayne's real name was Marion Morrison. John Wayne ( May 26, 1907 &ndash June 11, 1979) was an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award -winning American He adopted the stage name because the name Marion was not masculine enough for the cowboy characters he portrayed.

Musical use

Some types of music are more associated with stage names than others. For example hip hop musicians almost always use stage names, whereas "classical" composers and performers virtually never do. Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Some Algerian raï musicians use Cheb (for men) or Chaba (Chebba) for women. Both Arabic words mean "young" (e. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language g. as in Cheb Khaled, or "Young Khaled"). Khaled Hadj Brahim (born 29 February 1960) better known as Khaled (خالد حاج ابراهيم is a Raï singer-songwriter and Some performers take a series of different stage names. The British pop singer successful in the 1970s as Alvin Stardust previously went by the stage name of Shane Fenton in the 1960s. Alvin Stardust (born Bernard William Jewry, 27 September 1942, Muswell Hill, North London) is an English Pop Alvin Stardust (born Bernard William Jewry, 27 September 1942, Muswell Hill, North London) is an English Pop He had been born Bernard William Jewry. Some performers will use different names in different settings. Charles Thompson, singer/songwriter for the alternative band the Pixies, was known in that band as Black Francis. Pixies are an American Alternative rock band formed in Boston Massachusetts in 1986 He was called Frank Black as a solo performer, and Black Francis again in a reunited Pixies.

Many performers refer to their stage name as their "professional name. " In some cases performers subsequently adopt their stage name as their legal name. For instance, the former Robert Allen Zimmerman's legal name has been Robert Dylan (Bob Dylan) since he changed it at the Supreme Court building in New York City in August 1962. Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major The City of New York Elton John was born Reginald Dwight but changed his name by deed poll and subsequently took that name as his real name. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer For the legal document of the same name see Deed poll. Deed Poll is a German -made Film, 2004 When he was knighted, he became Sir Elton John rather than Sir Reginald Dwight. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. Sometimes a person who has adopted his professional name as a legal name will change it back to his birth name later on, as Elvis Costello (born Declan McManus) did in 1986. Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus 25 August 1954 is an English Musician and Singer-songwriter, with Irish ancestry Names so adopted are technically no longer "stage names," though are often perceived as such by the public.

See also

• List of stage names
• Moniker