Why Celebs Ditch Their Birth Names: Frances, Chappell Roan, Emma Stone and More
Riley Carter here. Okay, but like… why do so many famous people choose new names for the spotlight?
Name changes are a tiny rebellion and a branding move rolled into one. Frances Anderson, previously known to TV audiences as Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, is the latest example of an actor reintroducing themself with a new musical identity. The 18-year-old, who rose to fame as Lily Tucker-Pritchett on Modern Family, now releases music as Frances Anderson. She told E! News that Frances is her middle name and a family namesake, and that the shorter, cleaner moniker helps carve out a distinct space for her music career ahead of her August 8 EP Drown.
This is far from a novelty in Hollywood. Artists and actors have long swapped birth names for stage names to protect privacy, avoid confusion, or sharpen a public persona. Pop breakout Chappell Roan, born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, explained to the Associated Press in October 2023 that using a stage name helps draw a line between personal life and performance. For Chappell, the persona is part of the show; once makeup is off, the separation gives her a needed break.
Sometimes the shift is personal and symbolic rather than purely strategic. Sterling K. Brown told The Kelly Clarkson Show in April 2025 that he used his middle name Kelby during childhood to avoid family name overlap, but after his father passed away he reclaimed Sterling to honor him. Small changes can carry big emotional weight in an industry that prizes image.
Family branding also plays a role. The Lawrence brothers originally carried the family name Mignogna; Joey, Andrew, and Matthew adopted Lawrence professionally after an early talent agent criticized their surname. It’s a move that streamlined their credits and made their family act easier to promote.
Other stars have leaned into pop-cultural references when crafting their public names. Kat Dennings, born Katherine Victoria Litwack, chose her stage name at age nine because she thought her birth name looked odd on a poster. She told Kylie Kelce on the Not Gonna Lie With Kylie Kelce podcast that inspiration came from fictional characters and a desire for a simpler, punchier name long before her breakout roles.
The motivations vary but the outcomes are consistent: a name can become a tool, a shield, or a signal. Reese Witherspoon, whose full name is Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon, uses Reese professionally and still finds moments of comic confusion, like telling Vanity Fair about awkward Laura-on-Laura moments with co-star Laura Dern.
Stage names can also be logistical. Shorter names are easier to fit on marquees and digital headlines, while distinct names reduce search engine collisions and help artists own their identity online. For younger performers transitioning into different media, a new name can mark a creative evolution and help fans understand that what they’re seeing is a refreshed chapter rather than the same-old persona.
Ultimately, whether it’s to honor a family member, protect private life, or just look better on a poster, the decision to change a name is a deliberate career move. Frances Anderson’s pivot from child actor to musician is a textbook example: same legal roots, new public direction, and a clearer brand for an incoming audience.
What to watch next: Will Frances Anderson’s EP Drown define her as a musician separate from her TV past, and which young star will next reinvent their public name for a creative rebirth? Stay tuned.
Okay cool, so like, yeah, that happened.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, Associated Press, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Vanity Fair, Not Gonna Lie With Kylie Kelce Podcast
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
