Elle Fanning’s real name has become a topic of curiosity among fans, as it turns out that the Hollywood star’s official name is not the one she uses on screen. Both Elle and her sister Dakota Fanning have built their successful acting careers using their middle names, a choice rooted in family tradition and practical reasons.
The True Names Behind Dakota and Elle Fanning
Despite international recognition as Dakota and Elle, the Fanning sisters were given different names at birth. Dakota Fanning’s full name is Hannah Dakota Fanning, and Elle was born as Mary Elle Fanning. This naming preference is not unique to the two actresses; their mother also chooses to go by her own middle name instead of her first.
The choice to adopt their middle names happened naturally, starting from their childhood and lasting well before their rise to stardom in productions like “All Her Fault” and “The Neon Demon.” The girls simply never used their first names, even at home.
“My mom goes by her middle name, and my sister goes by her middle name. Her first name is Hannah,”
Elle, then 27, explained in a 2016 interview.
“It’s possibly a Southern thing, I don’t know. But since my mom goes by her middle name, we go by our middle names too.”
– Elle Fanning, Actress
This family convention led to confusion during their early years, especially for Elle. School roll calls would call out “Mary,” only for the classmates to look around in confusion. Elle would have to clarify her identity, making those moments memorable.
“It was awkward in school when they were calling roll call,”
she recalled,
“because they’d go, ‘Mary? Mary?’ Kids would be like, ‘There’s no Mary here.’ I’d awkwardly raise my hand, like, ‘Uh, it’s me.’”
– Elle Fanning, Actress
Dakota had a similar story, with her father choosing her middle name. In a 2004 People interview, Dakota confirmed her full first name and shared,
“So it is Hannah Dakota Fanning. But I have always been called Dakota.”
– Dakota Fanning, Actress
Sibling Dynamic On and Off the Screen
Despite confusion surrounding their names, both Hannah and Mary—known to the world as Dakota and Elle—have become notable actresses. Their latest collaboration, “The Nightingale,” marks the first film where they will portray sisters on screen, reflecting their real-life bond. The movie is an adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s acclaimed novel and is set during the harrowing era of Nazi-occupied France in World War II, with a release date set for February 12, 2027.
Preparing to work closely on set, the siblings made commitments to maintain professionalism during their time filming. Elle recounted,
“[Dakota] promised me that she’s not gonna boss me around,”
and added,
“I’m like, ‘You have to treat me like a fellow actor.’”
– Elle Fanning, Actress
Dakota also asked her sister to respect her boundaries, requesting Elle not to “annoy me too much” during the shoot. The mutual pledges show both their familial closeness and determination to take their working relationship seriously for their joint project.
The process of making “The Nightingale” has taken years of effort and anticipation. Elle, who will also act as a producer for the first time with her sister, remarked on this journey:
“It’s taken a couple years in the making, but we are finally really doing it this time.”
– Elle Fanning, Actress
Other Celebrities Whose Real Names Might Surprise You
The Fanning sisters aren’t the only stars with names that differ from the ones they use in the spotlight. Many well-known artists, actors, and musicians have adopted professional names for myriad reasons, including family tradition, stage appeal, or personal significance. Here’s a closer look at some of them and the stories behind their chosen names.
Post Malone: Austin Richard Post
Post Malone integrated his surname into his stage persona, but those close to the rapper, born Austin Richard Post, still address him by his given name. The public got a glimpse of this personal detail during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, when Taylor Swift, noting their partnership for the award-winning collaboration “Fortnight,” referred to him as “Austin.”
Frances Anderson: Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons played Lilly on “Modern Family,” but updated her professional name to Frances Anderson as she entered the music scene. The actress explained,
“Frances is actually part of my legal name—it’s my middle name, and it’s after my mom’s old family friend,”
and went on to add,
“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 & Musician
Lawrence Siblings: Andrew, Matthew, and Joey Mignogna
Andrew, Matthew, and Joey Lawrence were originally Mignogna by birth. Joey, whose middle name is Lawrence, first adopted “Lawrence” as a stage name after industry agents commented on their surname, setting a precedent his brothers would later follow.
Kat Dennings: Katherine Victoria Litwack
Kat Dennings, well known from “2 Broke Girls,” made the choice to take a stage name at nine, years before her on-screen debut. She was inspired by Kat, the character played by Christina Ricci in “Casper,” and by the surname of Janine Denni, a French family friend. The actress shared on a 2025 podcast that she believed her real name, Katherine Victoria Litwack, might be too long to feature on promotional materials.
Cher’s Unexpected Birth Name: Cheryl Sarkisian
Cher is a pop icon whose name has evolved over the years. She only learned in the late 1970s, upon requesting her birth certificate to change her legal name to Cher, that her birth registration listed her as Cheryl. She later recounted her mother Georgia Holt’s reaction,
“I was only a teenager, and I was in a lot of pain. Give me a break.”
– Georgia Holt, Mother of Cher
Shaboozey: Collins Obinna Chibueze
Shaboozey, an outlaw country artist, derived his nickname and musical alias from a high school clerk’s misspelling of his actual surname while in Virginia. He eventually embraced and stylized “Shaboozey” as part of his identity.
Katy Perry: Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
Katy Perry was originally known as Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, even releasing a Christian album under that name in 2001. She later chose “Perry,” based on her mother’s maiden name, for her pop career to create a memorable stage presence for her fans.
Cardi B: Belcalis Almanzar
Cardi B, born Belcalis Almanzar, developed her stage moniker after family and friends called her sister “Hennessy,” referencing a popular brand. She originally used “Bacardi,” but ultimately shortened it to Cardi B, a name now associated with her energetic hip-hop persona.
Meghan Markle: Rachel Meghan Markle
Before gaining her royal title as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle was known briefly by her full name, Rachel Meghan Markle.
Shania Twain: Eilleen Regina Edwards
Shania Twain revealed the path to her musical alias on Apple Music’s “Home Now Radio.” She said,
“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
Chappell Roan: Kayleigh Rose Amstutz
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz crafted the drag-inspired persona Chappell Roan, allowing her to set clear boundaries between personal life and her public artist image as she released songs like “Good Luck, Babe!”
Gigi Hadid: Jelena Noura Hadid
Gigi Hadid was given the nickname “Gigi” in school to avoid confusion with another student, Helena. The model’s mother had called her Gigi at home, so Gigi suggested the teacher use that name, which became her public and professional identity.
Vin Diesel: Mark Vincent
Before his career took off, action star Vin Diesel was known as Mark Vincent. He adopted the tougher-sounding alias to match the intensity of his on-screen image.
Miley Cyrus: Destiny Hope Cyrus
Miley Cyrus’ signature smile as a child earned her the nickname “Smiley,” which was eventually shortened to Miley and became her stage and legal name.
Bruno Mars: Peter Gene Hernandez
The Grammy-winning singer’s father gave him the nickname “Bruno” early in his life, saying he looked like a Bruno, and “Mars” was added to give a unique, standout name for show business. He was born as Peter Gene Hernandez.
Lady Gaga: Stefani Germanotta
Grammy and Oscar-winning artist Lady Gaga’s real name is Stefani Germanotta. She developed her now-famous stage persona as her music career evolved and gained international attention.
Jason Sudeikis: Daniel Sudeikis
Jason Sudeikis, known for “Ted Lasso” and other roles, was given the name Daniel after his father. To avoid confusion, his mother began calling him Jason instead of Daniel, and the name stuck throughout his professional journey.
Emma Stone: Emily Stone
Emma Stone changed her professional name after discovering another member in the Screen Actors Guild had registered under her birth name, Emily Stone.
Reese Witherspoon: Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
The actress’s middle name is actually Jeanne; “Reese” is her mother’s maiden name, which she chose as her screen name to honor her mother.
Lana Del Rey: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
Lana Del Rey’s glamorous onstage persona contrasts her real name, Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, reflecting her artistic transformation through music.
Frank Ocean: Christopher Edwin Breaux
Frank Ocean, who changed his name legally in 2014, sought a more memorable identity as his music career blossomed from Christopher Edwin Breaux.
Tina Fey: Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
The “30 Rock” creator and comedian is officially named Elizabeth Stamatina Fey. She gave a nod to her real name by naming her sitcom character Liz Lemon.
Snoop Dogg: Calvin Broadus
Snoop Dogg, a pioneering figure in West Coast rap, was born Calvin Broadus. His prolific career has spanned decades and multiple stage personas, each deeply associated with his musical evolution.
Lorde: Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor
Lorde selected her unique stage name because of her fascination with aristocracy, adding an ‘e’ for a more feminine touch to “Lord.” Her given name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor.
Ricky Martin: Enrique Morales
Before achieving international music fame, Ricky Martin was known as Enrique Morales. He later changed to the catchier name that has accompanied his success.
Iggy Azalea: Amethyst Kelly
The Australian rapper was born Amethyst Kelly, adopting Iggy Azalea as a striking and memorable stage name for her career in rap and hip-hop.
The Ongoing Fascination with Celebrity Names
The tendency for actors, musicians, and public personalities to adopt new names often signals personal transformation, family traditions, or strategic branding decisions. What remains consistent is the way these choices shape public perception, professional identity, and even the careers of these artists.
For Elle Fanning and her sister Dakota, using their middle names is just one part of their family narrative. The story behind the Elle Fanning real name, an echo of inherited tradition and personal preference, resonates with many whose own names carry secret histories. As more celebrities share their naming stories, fans continue to discover the layered and sometimes surprising reality behind the names they thought they knew.
