Whether they've completely ditched their birth names or are using only part of them, it's time to give some long overdue attention to
these celebrities' real names
*Pitbull
There are no shortage of names for the Cuban rapper -- Mr. 305, Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull -- but it should come to no one's surprise that none come even close to his birth name. Pitbull was born Armando Christian Pérez!
So why Pitbull? CNN notes that in his biography, "Pitbull: Mr. Worldwide," the rapper says he chose the stage name because he admires and can relate to the dog breed's fighting spirit.
*Ritchie Valens
This Mexican-American music legend was born Ricardo Esteban Valenzuela.
*Michelle Rodriguez
This "Fast and Furious" star's first name is actually Mayte -- Michelle is her middle name.
*Bruno Mars
No, the singer isn't a part of the Mars family and their candy empire.
He was actually born Peter Gene Hernández. The "Uptown Funk" singer, of Puerto Rican roots, revealed in a 2013 interview with GQ that he changed his name to avoid being pigeonholed in the music industry.
He recalled the type of things record labels would tell him: "Your last name's Hernandez, maybe you should do the Latin music, this Spanish music," he told GQ. "Enrique [Iglesias] is so hot right now."
*Demi Lovato
Demi is only half of it, or at least a shortened version of Demetria Devonne Lovato. What a name!
*Marc Anthony
The Puerto Rican singer's real name is Marco Antonio Muñiz.
*Charo
The Spanish flamenco guitarist and "The Love Boat" star's name is actually María del Rosario Mercedes Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza.
*Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen's real name is Carlos Irwin Estévez.
But he wasn't the first in his family to change his name, his father Martin Sheen was born Ramón Antonio Gerard Estévez. The last name Estévez came from Martin's own father, who was a Spanish-born factory worker.
That family name was not lost, however, thanks to "Breakfast Club" star Emilio Estévez, "West Wing" star Renée Estévez and brother Ramón.
*Celia Cruz
Cuban singer Celia Cruz's real name was as legendary as her career. She was born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso de la Santísima Trinidad. ¡Azúcar!
*Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas is a household name these days, but Antonio isn't actually the actor's first name. The actor was born José Antonio Dominguez Banderas.
*Shakira
Shakira decided on a mononymous artistic name, joining legends like Madonna and Prince. But ever wonder what the "Hips Don't Lie" star's full name is?
Wonder no longer: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll.
*Ricky Martin
We all know him as Ricky but the Puerto Rican singer was actually born Enrique Jose Martín Morales IV.
*Gloria Estefan
Well, Gloria Estefan is certainly part of her name. The singer's full name is actually Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan.
*Perez Hilton
Everybody knows him as Perez Hilton, but the Cuban-American blogger and TV personality is actually named Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr.
*Don Francisco
The ultra famous Univision host's real name is Mario Luis Kreutzberger Blumenfeld. That came out of left field.
*Jenni Rivera
The Mexican music legend's real name was Dolores Janney Rivera.
*Andy García
Andy is actually short for the Cuban-born actor's real name Andrés. His full name is Andrés Arturo García Menéndez.
*Daddy Yankee
The reggaeton singer's real name is Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez.
*Becky G
She may be "Becky from the Block" to fans, but the singer was born Rebecca Marie Gomez.
*Chayanne
To the rest of the world he is Chayanne, but to his Puerto Rican loved ones he will always be Elmer Figueroa Arce.
*Prince Royce
Prince Royce's stage name may make him music royalty but his real name is Geoffrey Royce Rojas.
*Raquel Welch
Born Jo Raquel Tejada, Welch is well known for her iconic role in 1966's "One Million Years B.C."
*Juanes
It turns out the name "Juanes" is actually a combination of the singer's first names. His full name is: Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez.
*Cheech Marin
He was born Richard Anthony Marin and, according to Biography.com, the comedian's nickname was given to him by an uncle who thought the newborn looked like a chicharron, the Spanish word for a deep-fried pigskin.
*Romeo Santos
Romeo's stage name may pair perfectly with the Bachata singer's romantic and sensual music but he was born Anthony Santos.
*Soledad O'Brien
Journalist María de la Soledad Teresa O'Brien is the daughter of a Cuban mother. We kind of understand why she decided to go just by Soledad O'Brien.
*Don Omar
Although everybody knows him as Don Omar, this star's name is William Omar Landrón Rivera.
*Christina Milian
The actress and singer was actually born Christine Marie Flores.
*Geraldo Rivera
He was born Gerald Michael Rivera and, according to Gawker, the journalist reportedly changed his name in the late 60s after a news director decided the name Geraldo would appeal more to a multi-ethnic audience.
*Taboo.
The Black Eyed Peas' rapper is known as Jaime Luis Gómez off stage.
these celebrities' real names
*Pitbull
There are no shortage of names for the Cuban rapper -- Mr. 305, Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull -- but it should come to no one's surprise that none come even close to his birth name. Pitbull was born Armando Christian Pérez!
So why Pitbull? CNN notes that in his biography, "Pitbull: Mr. Worldwide," the rapper says he chose the stage name because he admires and can relate to the dog breed's fighting spirit.
*Ritchie Valens
This Mexican-American music legend was born Ricardo Esteban Valenzuela.
*Michelle Rodriguez
This "Fast and Furious" star's first name is actually Mayte -- Michelle is her middle name.
*Bruno Mars
No, the singer isn't a part of the Mars family and their candy empire.
He was actually born Peter Gene Hernández. The "Uptown Funk" singer, of Puerto Rican roots, revealed in a 2013 interview with GQ that he changed his name to avoid being pigeonholed in the music industry.
He recalled the type of things record labels would tell him: "Your last name's Hernandez, maybe you should do the Latin music, this Spanish music," he told GQ. "Enrique [Iglesias] is so hot right now."
*Demi Lovato
Demi is only half of it, or at least a shortened version of Demetria Devonne Lovato. What a name!
*Marc Anthony
The Puerto Rican singer's real name is Marco Antonio Muñiz.
*Charo
The Spanish flamenco guitarist and "The Love Boat" star's name is actually María del Rosario Mercedes Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza.
*Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen's real name is Carlos Irwin Estévez.
But he wasn't the first in his family to change his name, his father Martin Sheen was born Ramón Antonio Gerard Estévez. The last name Estévez came from Martin's own father, who was a Spanish-born factory worker.
That family name was not lost, however, thanks to "Breakfast Club" star Emilio Estévez, "West Wing" star Renée Estévez and brother Ramón.
*Celia Cruz
Cuban singer Celia Cruz's real name was as legendary as her career. She was born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso de la Santísima Trinidad. ¡Azúcar!
*Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas is a household name these days, but Antonio isn't actually the actor's first name. The actor was born José Antonio Dominguez Banderas.
*Shakira
Shakira decided on a mononymous artistic name, joining legends like Madonna and Prince. But ever wonder what the "Hips Don't Lie" star's full name is?
Wonder no longer: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll.
*Ricky Martin
We all know him as Ricky but the Puerto Rican singer was actually born Enrique Jose Martín Morales IV.
*Gloria Estefan
Well, Gloria Estefan is certainly part of her name. The singer's full name is actually Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan.
*Perez Hilton
Everybody knows him as Perez Hilton, but the Cuban-American blogger and TV personality is actually named Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr.
*Don Francisco
The ultra famous Univision host's real name is Mario Luis Kreutzberger Blumenfeld. That came out of left field.
*Jenni Rivera
The Mexican music legend's real name was Dolores Janney Rivera.
*Andy García
Andy is actually short for the Cuban-born actor's real name Andrés. His full name is Andrés Arturo García Menéndez.
*Daddy Yankee
The reggaeton singer's real name is Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez.
*Becky G
She may be "Becky from the Block" to fans, but the singer was born Rebecca Marie Gomez.
*Chayanne
To the rest of the world he is Chayanne, but to his Puerto Rican loved ones he will always be Elmer Figueroa Arce.
*Prince Royce
Prince Royce's stage name may make him music royalty but his real name is Geoffrey Royce Rojas.
*Raquel Welch
Born Jo Raquel Tejada, Welch is well known for her iconic role in 1966's "One Million Years B.C."
*Juanes
It turns out the name "Juanes" is actually a combination of the singer's first names. His full name is: Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez.
*Cheech Marin
He was born Richard Anthony Marin and, according to Biography.com, the comedian's nickname was given to him by an uncle who thought the newborn looked like a chicharron, the Spanish word for a deep-fried pigskin.
*Romeo Santos
Romeo's stage name may pair perfectly with the Bachata singer's romantic and sensual music but he was born Anthony Santos.
*Soledad O'Brien
Journalist María de la Soledad Teresa O'Brien is the daughter of a Cuban mother. We kind of understand why she decided to go just by Soledad O'Brien.
*Don Omar
Although everybody knows him as Don Omar, this star's name is William Omar Landrón Rivera.
*Christina Milian
The actress and singer was actually born Christine Marie Flores.
*Geraldo Rivera
He was born Gerald Michael Rivera and, according to Gawker, the journalist reportedly changed his name in the late 60s after a news director decided the name Geraldo would appeal more to a multi-ethnic audience.
*Taboo.
The Black Eyed Peas' rapper is known as Jaime Luis Gómez off stage.
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