what’s in a name for these celebs it’s all about personal branding welcome to
all about personal branding welcome to
all about personal branding welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
down our picks for the top ten
down our picks for the top ten ridiculous celebrity name changes before
ridiculous celebrity name changes before
ridiculous celebrity name changes before we begin we publish new videos every day
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content for this list we’re focusing on
content for this list we’re focusing on pop culture figures that decided to
pop culture figures that decided to
pop culture figures that decided to reinvent themselves with revised
reinvent themselves with revised
reinvent themselves with revised personal monikers number 10 Yasiin Bey
personal monikers number 10 Yasiin Bey
personal monikers number 10 Yasiin Bey mos def born dontay Terrell Smith this
mos def born dontay Terrell Smith this
mos def born dontay Terrell Smith this Brooklyn native emerged in the 90s East
Brooklyn native emerged in the 90s East
Brooklyn native emerged in the 90s East Coast hip-hop scene with a street-smart
Coast hip-hop scene with a street-smart
Coast hip-hop scene with a street-smart moniker mos def but 13 years after
moniker mos def but 13 years after
moniker mos def but 13 years after releasing his iconic collaboration with
releasing his iconic collaboration with
releasing his iconic collaboration with tulip Kweli declaratively entitled Mos
tulip Kweli declaratively entitled Mos
tulip Kweli declaratively entitled Mos Def and Talib Kweli our black star he
Def and Talib Kweli our black star he
Def and Talib Kweli our black star he officially retired his rap name and
officially retired his rap name and
officially retired his rap name and openly adopted the name Yasiin Bey the
openly adopted the name Yasiin Bey the
openly adopted the name Yasiin Bey the emcee had reportedly been using Yasin
emcee had reportedly been using Yasin
emcee had reportedly been using Yasin for years with family but made it public
for years with family but made it public
for years with family but made it public because he’d apparently gone as far as
because he’d apparently gone as far as
because he’d apparently gone as far as he could with mos def
he could with mos def
he could with mos def oh yeah scene may better represent his
oh yeah scene may better represent his
oh yeah scene may better represent his Muslim faith longtime fans will most
Muslim faith longtime fans will most
Muslim faith longtime fans will most definitely always refer to him as mos
definitely always refer to him as mos
definitely always refer to him as mos def the thing that I’m most focused on
def the thing that I’m most focused on
def the thing that I’m most focused on is that people take their time to listen
is that people take their time to listen
is that people take their time to listen to what I have to say number nine big
to what I have to say number nine big
to what I have to say number nine big baby Jesus ol Dirty Bastard
as a member of the iconic hip-hop group
as a member of the iconic hip-hop group wu-tang clan this rapper shed his birth
wu-tang clan this rapper shed his birth
wu-tang clan this rapper shed his birth name Russell Jones for a more
name Russell Jones for a more
name Russell Jones for a more descriptive stage name but then ODB went
descriptive stage name but then ODB went
descriptive stage name but then ODB went solo in 1995 and his popular moniker
solo in 1995 and his popular moniker
solo in 1995 and his popular moniker needed an upgrade now at least that
needed an upgrade now at least that
needed an upgrade now at least that seems to have been the logic the gritty
seems to have been the logic the gritty
seems to have been the logic the gritty emcee unveiled his new name big baby
emcee unveiled his new name big baby
emcee unveiled his new name big baby Jesus to vibe magazines late-night talk
Jesus to vibe magazines late-night talk
Jesus to vibe magazines late-night talk show in 1998 further explaining to MTV
show in 1998 further explaining to MTV
show in 1998 further explaining to MTV that he’d quote always been Jesus
that he’d quote always been Jesus
that he’d quote always been Jesus sadly big baby Jesus passed away six
sadly big baby Jesus passed away six
sadly big baby Jesus passed away six years later at age 35 and remains better
years later at age 35 and remains better
years later at age 35 and remains better known by his original wu-tang nickname a
known by his original wu-tang nickname a
known by his original wu-tang nickname a moniker not quite as ridiculous as big
moniker not quite as ridiculous as big
moniker not quite as ridiculous as big baby Jesus then again he’d also gone by
baby Jesus then again he’d also gone by
baby Jesus then again he’d also gone by dirt McGirt so you know whichever you
dirt McGirt so you know whichever you
dirt McGirt so you know whichever you prefer
prefer
prefer [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number eight snoop lion Snoop Dogg snoop
number eight snoop lion Snoop Dogg snoop
number eight snoop lion Snoop Dogg snoop Dogg is a bonafide pop culture icon he’s
Dogg is a bonafide pop culture icon he’s
Dogg is a bonafide pop culture icon he’s been in the game so long in fact he
been in the game so long in fact he
been in the game so long in fact he seemingly outgrew the moniker Snoop Dogg
seemingly outgrew the moniker Snoop Dogg
seemingly outgrew the moniker Snoop Dogg in 2012 the man born Cortazar Calvin
in 2012 the man born Cortazar Calvin
in 2012 the man born Cortazar Calvin Brodus jr. experienced a Jamaican
Brodus jr. experienced a Jamaican
Brodus jr. experienced a Jamaican epiphany and embraced a new way of
epiphany and embraced a new way of
epiphany and embraced a new way of thinking as well as a more committed
thinking as well as a more committed
thinking as well as a more committed Rastafarian lifestyle a priest
Rastafarian lifestyle a priest
Rastafarian lifestyle a priest reportedly gave snoop his lion nickname
reportedly gave snoop his lion nickname
reportedly gave snoop his lion nickname which he quickly incorporated into his
which he quickly incorporated into his
which he quickly incorporated into his personal brand I felt like I’ve always
personal brand I felt like I’ve always
personal brand I felt like I’ve always been rushed to fly right I just didn’t
been rushed to fly right I just didn’t
been rushed to fly right I just didn’t have my third eye open but it’s wide
have my third eye open but it’s wide
have my third eye open but it’s wide open right now
open right now
open right now in 2013 the rechristened snoop lion
in 2013 the rechristened snoop lion
in 2013 the rechristened snoop lion dropped the appropriately titled album
dropped the appropriately titled album
dropped the appropriately titled album reincarnated along with a documentary of
reincarnated along with a documentary of
reincarnated along with a documentary of the same name these days however the
the same name these days however the
the same name these days however the name seems more like an alter ego than
name seems more like an alter ego than
name seems more like an alter ego than anything else as Snoop Doggy Dogg
anything else as Snoop Doggy Dogg
anything else as Snoop Doggy Dogg remains Snoop Dogg see my game is
remains Snoop Dogg see my game is
remains Snoop Dogg see my game is outrageous I got took ribbon exchanging
outrageous I got took ribbon exchanging
outrageous I got took ribbon exchanging love faces but it what no meat for the
love faces but it what no meat for the
love faces but it what no meat for the the worst of all cuz I want her to have
the worst of all cuz I want her to have
the worst of all cuz I want her to have an address number seven angle Burt
an address number seven angle Burt
an address number seven angle Burt Humperdinck
Humperdinck
Humperdinck Arnold George Gerry Dorsey so I sing you
Arnold George Gerry Dorsey so I sing you
Arnold George Gerry Dorsey so I sing you to sleep
to sleep
to sleep [Music]
in pop culture some monikers are brand
in pop culture some monikers are brand specific and accessible in the mid 60’s
specific and accessible in the mid 60’s
specific and accessible in the mid 60’s however an English musician defied the
however an English musician defied the
however an English musician defied the norm by looking to a German composer for
norm by looking to a German composer for
norm by looking to a German composer for inspiration
inspiration
inspiration that’s how Arnold George Dorsey also
that’s how Arnold George Dorsey also
that’s how Arnold George Dorsey also known as Gerry Dorsey became Engelbert
known as Gerry Dorsey became Engelbert
known as Gerry Dorsey became Engelbert Humperdinck no I I do I check in under
Humperdinck no I I do I check in under
Humperdinck no I I do I check in under all mojo
all mojo
all mojo thats my name my real name I don’t have
thats my name my real name I don’t have
thats my name my real name I don’t have ahnold’s muscles but I have other things
ahnold’s muscles but I have other things
ahnold’s muscles but I have other things the name isn’t quite sexy per se but it
the name isn’t quite sexy per se but it
the name isn’t quite sexy per se but it jump-started the singer’s career as he
jump-started the singer’s career as he
jump-started the singer’s career as he reached number one on the UK charts in
reached number one on the UK charts in
reached number one on the UK charts in 1967 stealing the spot from a little
1967 stealing the spot from a little
1967 stealing the spot from a little group known as The Beatles mr.
group known as The Beatles mr.
group known as The Beatles mr. Humperdink remains a relevant name
Humperdink remains a relevant name
Humperdink remains a relevant name decades later so he must have done
decades later so he must have done
decades later so he must have done something right
number six Cat Stevens and use of Islam
number six Cat Stevens and use of Islam Steven Dmitri Giorgio that’s so much you
Steven Dmitri Giorgio that’s so much you
Steven Dmitri Giorgio that’s so much you have to know find a girl settle down
have to know find a girl settle down
have to know find a girl settle down this singer-songwriter also pulled an
this singer-songwriter also pulled an
this singer-songwriter also pulled an angle Burt Humperdinck in the mid-60s
angle Burt Humperdinck in the mid-60s
angle Burt Humperdinck in the mid-60s and straight from his birth name Steven
and straight from his birth name Steven
and straight from his birth name Steven Dmitri Giorgio in favor of something
Dmitri Giorgio in favor of something
Dmitri Giorgio in favor of something with a little more pizzazz
with a little more pizzazz
with a little more pizzazz that’s when Cat Stevens emerged on the
that’s when Cat Stevens emerged on the
that’s when Cat Stevens emerged on the London music scene with his new name
London music scene with his new name
London music scene with his new name offering greater commercial appeal
offering greater commercial appeal
offering greater commercial appeal especially for a man with such talent of
especially for a man with such talent of
especially for a man with such talent of course cat later converted to Islam in
course cat later converted to Islam in
course cat later converted to Islam in 1977 changing his name to Yusuf Islam
1977 changing his name to Yusuf Islam
1977 changing his name to Yusuf Islam early the next year and moving on from
early the next year and moving on from
early the next year and moving on from the industry as a whole for many decades
the industry as a whole for many decades
the industry as a whole for many decades for a while I was I was trying to get as
for a while I was I was trying to get as
for a while I was I was trying to get as far away from from my past as possible
far away from from my past as possible
far away from from my past as possible in fact it wasn’t until 2006 that he
in fact it wasn’t until 2006 that he
in fact it wasn’t until 2006 that he began releasing material under this new
began releasing material under this new
began releasing material under this new name but many still view him as Cat
name but many still view him as Cat
name but many still view him as Cat Stevens the man with the rich evocative
Stevens the man with the rich evocative
Stevens the man with the rich evocative voice and the easy to remember stage
voice and the easy to remember stage
voice and the easy to remember stage name
name
name [Music]
number five Vin Diesel mark Sinclair
number five Vin Diesel mark Sinclair it’s how it keeps it off the grid these
it’s how it keeps it off the grid these
it’s how it keeps it off the grid these days Vin Diesel feels like a perfect
days Vin Diesel feels like a perfect
days Vin Diesel feels like a perfect name for one of cinema’s great action
name for one of cinema’s great action
name for one of cinema’s great action stars it suits the brawny nature of the
stars it suits the brawny nature of the
stars it suits the brawny nature of the man born mark Sinclair in the 80s though
man born mark Sinclair in the 80s though
man born mark Sinclair in the 80s though he was just a teenage nightclub bouncer
he was just a teenage nightclub bouncer
he was just a teenage nightclub bouncer that needed a cool name and so he
that needed a cool name and so he
that needed a cool name and so he combined his stepfathers last name
combined his stepfathers last name
combined his stepfathers last name Vincent with a nickname earned for his
Vincent with a nickname earned for his
Vincent with a nickname earned for his energy believe it or not it would still
energy believe it or not it would still
energy believe it or not it would still be some time before he started earning
be some time before he started earning
be some time before he started earning consistent Hollywood gigs despite an
consistent Hollywood gigs despite an
consistent Hollywood gigs despite an uncredited cameo in the 1990 Robert
uncredited cameo in the 1990 Robert
uncredited cameo in the 1990 Robert DeNiro film awakenings eight years later
DeNiro film awakenings eight years later
DeNiro film awakenings eight years later however the Vin Diesel brand took off
however the Vin Diesel brand took off
however the Vin Diesel brand took off with Saving Private Ryan proving the
with Saving Private Ryan proving the
with Saving Private Ryan proving the talent can rise above a ridiculous
talent can rise above a ridiculous
talent can rise above a ridiculous nickname you’re good but not that good
nickname you’re good but not that good
nickname you’re good but not that good number four Chad Ochocinco Chad Johnson
number four Chad Ochocinco Chad Johnson
number four Chad Ochocinco Chad Johnson and so which is why I keep trying to
and so which is why I keep trying to
and so which is why I keep trying to explain how my transition really wasn’t
explain how my transition really wasn’t
explain how my transition really wasn’t that difficult because I wasn’t living
that difficult because I wasn’t living
that difficult because I wasn’t living crazy when I was making it technically
crazy when I was making it technically
crazy when I was making it technically when Chad Johnson changed his name to a
when Chad Johnson changed his name to a
when Chad Johnson changed his name to a Spanish translation of the number on his
Spanish translation of the number on his
Spanish translation of the number on his jersey it should have been oh gentle
jersey it should have been oh gentle
jersey it should have been oh gentle Cinco
Cinco
Cinco but apparently Oh Joe Cinco or 85 was
but apparently Oh Joe Cinco or 85 was
but apparently Oh Joe Cinco or 85 was close enough for him
close enough for him
close enough for him incorrect though the translation may
incorrect though the translation may
incorrect though the translation may have been Johnson committed legally
have been Johnson committed legally
have been Johnson committed legally changing his name in 2008 the next year
changing his name in 2008 the next year
changing his name in 2008 the next year he announced another intended name
he announced another intended name
he announced another intended name change this time to the Japanese
change this time to the Japanese
change this time to the Japanese translation hochy go but ultimately
translation hochy go but ultimately
translation hochy go but ultimately never followed through though the name
never followed through though the name
never followed through though the name change made him somewhat of a pop
change made him somewhat of a pop
change made him somewhat of a pop culture icon he decided to revert back
culture icon he decided to revert back
culture icon he decided to revert back to his original name when he made the
to his original name when he made the
to his original name when he made the move to the Miami Dolphins in 2012
move to the Miami Dolphins in 2012
move to the Miami Dolphins in 2012 retiring the silly moniker in the
retiring the silly moniker in the
retiring the silly moniker in the process number three P Diddy diddy Puff
process number three P Diddy diddy Puff
process number three P Diddy diddy Puff Daddy
Daddy
Daddy also known as Sean Combs in 1993 a young
also known as Sean Combs in 1993 a young
also known as Sean Combs in 1993 a young entrepreneur named Sean Combs
entrepreneur named Sean Combs
entrepreneur named Sean Combs established bad boy entertainment and
established bad boy entertainment and
established bad boy entertainment and signed a young lyricist known as the
signed a young lyricist known as the
signed a young lyricist known as the notorious b.i.g
notorious b.i.g
notorious b.i.g oh four years later the East career was
oh four years later the East career was
oh four years later the East career was tragically cut short in Los Angeles
tragically cut short in Los Angeles
tragically cut short in Los Angeles while Puff Daddy became a popular figure
while Puff Daddy became a popular figure
while Puff Daddy became a popular figure within pop culture
within pop culture
within pop culture by 2001 however puffy changed his name
by 2001 however puffy changed his name
by 2001 however puffy changed his name again going with the more stylistic
again going with the more stylistic
again going with the more stylistic p-diddy
[Music]
[Music] as the man with many names has explained
as the man with many names has explained
as the man with many names has explained the changes are more about a personal
the changes are more about a personal
the changes are more about a personal vibe than anything else
vibe than anything else
vibe than anything else in fact Puff Daddy sometimes prefers
in fact Puff Daddy sometimes prefers
in fact Puff Daddy sometimes prefers Diddy when he’s feeling a certain type
Diddy when he’s feeling a certain type
Diddy when he’s feeling a certain type of way so I wake up if I wake up and I’m
of way so I wake up if I wake up and I’m
of way so I wake up if I wake up and I’m feeling like Puff Daddy that’s what I am
feeling like Puff Daddy that’s what I am
feeling like Puff Daddy that’s what I am what are you feeling like today right
what are you feeling like today right
what are you feeling like today right now I mean most of the time I feel like
now I mean most of the time I feel like
now I mean most of the time I feel like I’m number two love symbol Prince I had
I’m number two love symbol Prince I had
I’m number two love symbol Prince I had searched deep within my heart and spirit
searched deep within my heart and spirit
searched deep within my heart and spirit and I wanted to make a change and move
and I wanted to make a change and move
and I wanted to make a change and move to a new plateau in my life this late
to a new plateau in my life this late
to a new plateau in my life this late icon stunned audiences with his
icon stunned audiences with his
icon stunned audiences with his remarkable talent and performance
remarkable talent and performance
remarkable talent and performance bravado that’s what made Prince so
bravado that’s what made Prince so
bravado that’s what made Prince so special as he could talk the talk and
special as he could talk the talk and
special as he could talk the talk and walk the walk in 1993 however the man
walk the walk in 1993 however the man
walk the walk in 1993 however the man born Prince Rogers Nelson made a bizarre
born Prince Rogers Nelson made a bizarre
born Prince Rogers Nelson made a bizarre statement by changing his name to a
statement by changing his name to a
statement by changing his name to a symbol a literal symbol while the name
symbol a literal symbol while the name
symbol a literal symbol while the name change seemed pretentious it was
change seemed pretentious it was
change seemed pretentious it was actually a business move to irritate
actually a business move to irritate
actually a business move to irritate Warner Brothers as Prince had come into
Warner Brothers as Prince had come into
Warner Brothers as Prince had come into conflict with his label so when the
conflict with his label so when the
conflict with his label so when the artist formerly known as Prince
artist formerly known as Prince
artist formerly known as Prince fulfilled his contractual obligations he
fulfilled his contractual obligations he
fulfilled his contractual obligations he went back to his original stage name for
went back to his original stage name for
went back to his original stage name for the rest of his career
the rest of his career
the rest of his career leaving the moniker drama behind
before we unveil our number one pick
before we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable mentions number
here are some honorable mentions number
here are some honorable mentions number 1 Metta World Peace Ron Artest early in
1 Metta World Peace Ron Artest early in
1 Metta World Peace Ron Artest early in his NBA career this star made headlines
his NBA career this star made headlines
his NBA career this star made headlines for his immaculate defense Ron Artest
for his immaculate defense Ron Artest
for his immaculate defense Ron Artest also made the news for his role in
also made the news for his role in
also made the news for his role in 2004’s malice at the palace a fierce
2004’s malice at the palace a fierce
2004’s malice at the palace a fierce fight in which he actually brawled with
fight in which he actually brawled with
fight in which he actually brawled with fans
[Applause]
[Applause] but as Ron got older and managed to
but as Ron got older and managed to
but as Ron got older and managed to sustain a successful basketball career
sustain a successful basketball career
sustain a successful basketball career he became more at peace with himself and
he became more at peace with himself and
he became more at peace with himself and apparently the world around him that’s
apparently the world around him that’s
apparently the world around him that’s what prompted a legal name change to
what prompted a legal name change to
what prompted a legal name change to Metta World Peace in 2011 a move the
Metta World Peace in 2011 a move the
Metta World Peace in 2011 a move the athlete hoped would inspire others
strange as the decision may have seemed
strange as the decision may have seemed Metta World Peace has managed to stay
Metta World Peace has managed to stay
Metta World Peace has managed to stay out of trouble and continues to embrace
out of trouble and continues to embrace
out of trouble and continues to embrace his ambitious yet undeniably ridiculous
his ambitious yet undeniably ridiculous
his ambitious yet undeniably ridiculous name change do you agree with our picks
name change do you agree with our picks
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every day
every day [Music]
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