24 Celebrities Who I Never Realized Were Going By Their Middle Name My Whole Darn Life

    I was today years old when I learned Jason Momoa is actually a Joseph.

    Ajani Bazile-Dutes
    by Ajani Bazile-Dutes

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Meghan Markle was born Rachel Meghan Markle.

    Meghan Markle speaking on a stage
    Gotham / WireImage / Getty Images

    2. Mindy Kaling was born Vera Mindy Chokalingam.

    Mindy Kaling on the red carpet of an event
    Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

    3. Jason Sudeikis was born Daniel Jason Sudeikis.

    Jason Sudeikis on a red carpet holding an award
    Rich Fury / Getty Images

    Jason doesn't go by his first name because his father's name is also Daniel, and it would get confusing in his house when his mom would call out for Daniel.

    4. Keke Palmer was born Lauren Keyana Palmer.

    Keke Palmer posing on a red carpet
    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

    Keke goes by the nickname her family gave her, which is a shortened version of her middle name, Keyana. 

    5. Jason Momoa was born Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa.

    Jason Momoa on a red carpet
    Samir Hussein / Samir Hussein / WireImage / Getty Images

    Jason's father's first name is also Joseph. 

    6. Ryan Phillippe was born Matthew Ryan Phillippe.

    Ryan Phillippe on a red carpet
    Kelly Lee Barrett / Getty Images

    7. Kevin Jonas was born Paul Kevin Jonas II.

    Kevin Jonas on a red carpet
    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

    Kevin's father's name is Paul Kevin Jonas Sr.

    8. Tina Fey was born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey.

    Cindy Ord / Getty Images for Tribeca Festival

    Tina Fey is known by a shortened version of her middle name. She's said that only a few people know her first name is Elizabeth and still call her that, including Amy Poehler. 

    9. Rihanna was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

    Rihanna on the red carpet for an event
    Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 Presented by Amazon Prime

    10. Ashton Kutcher was born Christopher Ashton Kutcher.

    Ashton on a red carpet
    J. Merritt / Getty Images

    At the 2017 Teen Choice Awards, Ashton revealed in an acceptance speech that his first name was Chris and that he started going by his middle name when he was 19 and became an actor. 

    11. Elle and Dakota Fanning were born Mary Elle Fanning and Hannah Dakota Fanning.

    Elle and Dakota Fanning together at an event
    Kevin Winter / Getty Images

    Elle explained that she's always gone by her middle name and so had her sister and their mom. She said that, "It’s possibly a Southern thing."

    12. Reese Witherspoon was born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon.

    Reese Witherspoon walking down the street
    James Devaney / GC Images / Getty Images

    She shortened her name to make it sound more "Hollywood." Reese is her mother's maiden name. 

    13. Tom Hardy was born Edward Thomas Hardy.

    Tom Hardy posing on a red carpet
    Dave J Hogan / Dave J Hogan / Getty Images

    14. Drake was born Aubrey Drake Graham.

    Drake on a red carpet holding two awards
    Rich Fury / Getty Images for dcp

    Drake's father gave him his middle name, and Drake said he's always embraced it. He said, "Drake is me in my everyday life, Drake is who I am and Aubrey is more of a separate, sort of proper individual."

    15. Brad Pitt was born William Bradley Pitt.

    Brat Pitt on a red carpet
    Kurt Krieger - Corbis / Corbis via Getty Images

    Brad is named after his father, William Alvin Pitt. 

    16. Lucy Hale was born Karen Lucille Hale.

    Lucy Hale on a red carpet
    Dominique Charriau / Getty Images For Miu Miu

    17. Marie Osmond was born Olive Marie Osmond.

    Marie Osmond on a red carpet
    Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic / Getty Images

    Marie is named after her mother, Olive May Osmond.

    18. Jude Law was born David Jude Heyworth Law.

    Jude Law on a red carpet
    Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images

    19. Bruce Wilis was born Walter Bruce Willis.

    Bruce Willis on a red carpet
    Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images

    20. Will Ferrell was born John William Ferrell.

    Will Ferrel on the red carpet of an event
    Steven Ferdman / Getty Images

    21. Lance Bass was born James Lance Bass.

    Lance Bass on a red carpet
    Kevin Winter / Getty Images

    Lance Bass is named after his father, James Irvin Bass Jr.

    22. Norah Jones was born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar.

    Nora Jones on a red carpet
    Monica Schipper / Getty Images

    23. Faith Hill was born Audrey Faith Perry.

    Faith Hill speaking on stage at an event
    Jerritt Clark / Getty Images

    24. And Tim McGraw was born Samuel Timothy McGraw.

    Tim McGraw performing
    Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images

    What other celebs go by their middle name instead of their first name? Let us know in the comments!