Emma Stone briefly used Riley Stone as her stage name. [Image Source: HOLLYWOODREPORTER]
Emma Stone, well-known under that name today, initially performed under a different stage name due to industry rules. Born Emily Stone, she briefly adopted the stage name Riley Stone when starting her career, illustrating the challenges actors face with name registrations in Hollywood. This change occurred early in her career when she was 16 years old and trying to find a unique professional identity.
The Origins of Emma Stone’s Early Stage Name
Emma Stone explained during an October 22 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that she chose “Riley Stone” because the Screen Actors Guild only permits one person with the same registered name. She said,
“I actually adopted a stage name for six months,”
Emma revealed.
“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.’”
Although she liked the name’s sound, it quickly led to confusion on set, especially during a guest role on Malcolm in the Middle, where cast and crew kept calling “Riley,” leaving her uncertain who was being addressed. Reflecting on this, 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.’”
After deciding Riley was too confusing, she opted for Emma because it was close to her birth name, Emily. She explained,
“I then changed it to ‘Emma,’ because it’s close enough to ‘Emily.’”
Does Emma Stone Still Use Her Real Name?
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in April 2024, Emma Stone was asked if anyone in the industry still calls her Emily. She acknowledged that once relationships develop, some colleagues do use her real name. Emma shared,
Image of: Emma Stone
“When I get to know them, people that I work with do, It’s just because my name was taken [by another actress in SAG]. Then I freaked out a couple of years ago. For some reason, I was like, ‘I can’t do it anymore. Just call me Emily.’”
The interviewer then asked if she would correct a fan who called her Emily, to which she responded warmly,
“No. That would be so nice. I would like to be Emily.”
Many Celebrities Choose Stage Names for Their Careers
Emma Stone is far from alone in using a stage name rather than her birth name. Numerous famous artists have adopted alternative professional names to stand out or due to industry requirements. Notable examples include Gigi Hadid, born Jelena Noura Hadid; Lady Gaga, originally Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta; and Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty.
Other stars with different birth names include Joaquin Phoenix (Joaquín Rafael Bottom), Natalie Portman (Neta-Lee Hershlag), Miley Cyrus (Destiny Hope Cyrus), Cardi B (Belcalis Almanzar), Lana Del Rey (Elizabeth Woolridge Grant), Reese Witherspoon (Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon), and Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham). These name choices reflect the entertainment world’s unique demands and the personal branding strategies celebrities adopt.
Understanding the Importance of a Stage Name in Entertainment
The story behind Emma Stone’s stage name reveals the ongoing tension performers face between personal identity and professional necessity. The Screen Actors Guild’s rules can force actors to choose new names, sometimes causing confusion or frustration. Emma’s experience with the name Riley Stone was a brief but telling example of this struggle, showing how she navigated industry pressures while eventually reclaiming a name close to her original one. This sheds light on the complexities of building a public persona amid a competitive environment, and why many stars adopt alternate names to protect their careers.
