Actress Emma Stone, known for her acclaimed performances, almost launched her career under a different stage name due to Screen Actors Guild regulations. During a 2023 interview with Stephen Colbert, Stone revealed her initial choice of “Riley Stone” before settling on her current professional identity.
Emma Stone’s Early Stage Name Decision
Emma Stone, born Emily Stone, discovered early on that her birth name was already in use by another actor, a conflict enforced by the Screen Actors Guild to prevent duplicate names in the industry. Seeking a unique persona, she briefly adopted a new stage name while she was still a teenager.
She explained,
“I actually adopted a stage name for six months, because the Screen Actors Guild, it’s like a business bureau, you can only have one person with that name. I was 16, and I decided I wanted to be ‘Riley,’ so I was ‘Riley Stone.’”
—Emma Stone, Actress
The two-time Academy Award winner expressed that she found “Riley” to be a beautiful name, but a memorable experience on the set of Malcolm in the Middle forced her to reconsider.
Recalling the incident, she said,
“I had a guest part on Malcolm in the Middle, and they kept going, ‘Riley,’ ‘Riley,’ and I had no idea who they were talking to. Truly. So I was like, ‘I cannot be Riley.’ It came out of nowhere. I was just like, ‘Cool name. I’ll just be Riley.’”
—Emma Stone, Actress
Ultimately, Stone felt disconnected from the name and decided to adjust it slightly to something closer to her original identity.
She explained,
“So I then changed it to ‘Emma,’ because it’s close enough to ‘Emily.’”
—Emma Stone, Actress
Her decision was reflected in her credited appearances: after being listed as Riley Stone in a guest role on the TV series Medium, Stone was credited as Emma Stone in a 2005 episode of Malcolm in the Middle. This marked the beginning of the name that would become synonymous with her career.
Emma’s Comfort with Various Nicknames
Despite rejecting “Riley,” Emma Stone remains open to nicknames in general, emphasizing flexibility with how people address her.
During a 2024 interview on the Today show, she commented,
“I’ve been saying Emily my whole life. You can call me whatever you want. You can make up a name!”
—Emma Stone, Actress
Nevertheless, Stone expressed a lingering preference for her birth name, expressing a wish to revert to it eventually.
“I would like to be Emily,”
she shared with The Hollywood Reporter, “That would be so nice.” —Emma Stone, Actress
Famous Performers and Their Stage Name Origins
Emma Stone’s journey through naming challenges is far from unique in the entertainment industry. Many well-known artists have adopted stage names for a variety of personal and professional reasons.
Musicians and Performers Who Modified Their Names
Post Malone, born Austin Richard Post, integrated his surname into his stage identity but prefers that close acquaintances use his given name. At the 2024 MTV VMAs, Taylor Swift notably called him “Austin” during their acceptance speech for Best Collaboration.
Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons, best known from Modern Family as Lilly, shortened her professional name to Frances Anderson as part of her music career. She explained,
“Frances is actually part of my legal name—it’s my middle name, and it’s after my mom’s old family friend. I thought, one, it was a bit shorter than ‘Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.’ I do have a long, hyphenated last name.”
—Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons, Actress and Musician
Another example is Sterling Kelby Brown, who went by his middle name Kelby during childhood to establish his own identity separate from his father and grandfather, both sharing the name Sterling Brown. Sterling ultimately reclaimed his first name in tribute to his late father, saying,
“Because he passed away when I was 10, by the time I turned 16 and I hadn’t heard his name for five, five-and-a-half years, I was like, ‘I kinda just want to hear that name again.’ So I asked people to call me Sterling.”
—Sterling Kelby Brown, Actor
Actors Who Changed Their Names for Career Reasons
Many actors have altered their names to stand out or to honor personal connections. Kat Dennings adopted her stage name at nine years old, inspired by the character Kat from Casper and by the surname of her mother’s friend Janine Denni, related to author Lloyd Alexander. Dennings expressed that she did not want her birth name on theater posters, echoing a deliberate reinvention.
Similarly, the Lawrence brothers—Andrew, Matthew, and Joey—adjusted their last name professionally following an agent’s criticism of their original surname. Notably, Joey Lawrence used his middle name as his public surname initially.
Cheryl Sarkisian’s transformation into Cher is another iconic example. Cher believed her legal first name to be Cherilyn until she obtained her birth certificate in the late 1970s. Her mother Georgia Holt, who gave birth to her as a teenager, defended the initial error by saying,
“I was only a teenager, and I was in a lot of pain. Give me a break.”
—Georgia Holt, Mother of Cher
Stage Names Born from Personal Stories and Mistakes
Some stage names have origins in unexpected moments or errors. Collins Obinna Chibueze, an outlaw country star, acquired the nickname “Shaboozey” after a misspelling of his surname during his high school years in Virginia, which later became his artist alias.
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson selected the stage name Katy Perry inspired by her mother’s maiden name, feeling it resonated more with pop audiences than her given name, especially after releasing an early Christian album under her birth name.
Cardi B’s moniker was inspired by family references to alcoholic beverages, adopting “Bacardi” after her sister was called “Hennessy,” later shortening it to Cardi B.
Before marrying Prince Harry, Rachel Meghan Markle was briefly known simply as Rachel, a detail lesser known before her royal title elevated her profile globally.
Shania Twain, born Eilleen Regina Edwards and adopted by a family with the surname Twain, chose her stage name to create a distinct performance identity separate from being named after both of her grandmothers. She noted,
“In short, I was born, Eilleen Regina Edwards, and then I was adopted and I became Eilleen Regina Twain. Then I became a professional singer and I needed a stage name that sounded a little less like my grandmother’s name, because I’m named after my grandmother, both my grandmothers, Eilleen and Regina. I think, in my mind, I was just not really wanting to be called my grandmother’s name onstage, so I decided to change it to Shania Twain. I met somebody with the name Shania, thought it was beautiful, and Shania Twain was born.”
—Shania Twain, Singer
Innovative Persona Choices in the Entertainment World
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, known internationally as Chappell Roan, uses her stage name to separate her personal life from her artistic persona, describing it as a “drag project” to set boundaries in the industry.
Model Gigi Hadid’s nickname originated in school when a teacher misheard her given name Jelena Noura Hadid, and since her mother already called her Gigi at home as a term of affection, the new name stuck officially.
The action star Vin Diesel was born Mark Vincent and adopted the explosive stage name for his career, creating a memorable and distinct identity in Hollywood.
Miley Cyrus evolved from Destiny Hope Cyrus after her childhood nickname “Smiley” was truncated to Miley, a much catchier and marketable moniker for the pop star.
Bruno Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez, received his nickname because of his father’s perception that he looked more like a “Bruno” than a Peter, a name that has since become internationally recognized.
Comedians and Artists Reinventing Themselves
Before fame, comedian Elizabeth Stamatina Fey was known by her birth name but paid homage to it by naming her iconic 30 Rock character Liz Lemon. Jason Sudeikis was actually named Daniel but was called by his middle name Jason to prevent confusion within the family.
Legendary Musicians and Their Alter Egos
Rapper Calvin Broadus initially performed under his given name before adopting the iconic West Coast stage name Snoop Dogg. Elizabeth Woolridge Grant became Lana Del Rey, crafting a feminine, aristocratic persona suited to her music style. Frank Ocean changed his legal name from Christopher Edwin Breaux in 2014, marking a personal and artistic transformation.
Artists’ Intentions Behind Choosing Stage Names
DJ Adam Richard Wiles chose the name Calvin Harris to match the soulful vibe of his first single and to have a racially ambiguous moniker. Jennifer Anastassakis simplified her name to Jennifer Aniston, making it more accessible and recognizable.
Reese Witherspoon’s given name is Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon, but she chose to use her mother’s maiden name, Reese, to stand out in Hollywood.
Significance of Stage Names in Entertainment Careers
From Emma Stone’s early experiment with “Riley Stone” to other actors and musicians who have changed or adapted their names, choosing a stage name often reflects deeper identity negotiations, professional strategy, or personal tribute. These decisions influence how artists are branded, remembered, and perceived by the public.
Emma Stone’s ultimate choice highlights the importance of a name that feels authentic yet compliant with industry rules, while other stars’ name changes reveal stories of family, heritage, or personal reinvention. As the entertainment landscape evolves, names remain a key part of crafting celebrity identities that resonate with audiences worldwide.
