In Hollywood, family connections can open many doors — but not every celebrity wants to walk through them.
Some children of famous stars have chosen to drop their well-known last names and start fresh, hoping to build their own careers without being called “nepo babies.”

While having a famous parent can help you land opportunities, these stars wanted to prove their talent on their own. From actors like Angelina Jolie to musicians like Norah Jones, here are 14 celebrities who changed their names to step out of their parents’ shadows.

The term “nepo baby” refers to someone who gets career opportunities thanks to their family’s fame. In Hollywood, last names like Depp, Hawk, and Kravitz instantly grab attention — sometimes making it easier for young stars to get noticed.

However, some celebrity kids didn’t want their family names to define them. They chose new names, hoping to be judged for their skills, not their parents’ fame.

Barack and Michelle Obama’s daughter, Malia Obama, decided to use her first and middle name, Malia Ann, for her work in film.

She introduced her new name at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival for her short film The Heart.

Michelle Obama later shared on a podcast, “Malia took off her last name. We told her, ‘They’ll still know who you are, sweetie,’ but we get it. She wants to find her own identity.”

Born Angelina Voight, she dropped her father Jon Voight’s last name early in her career.

By using her middle name, Jolie, she built one of the most successful acting careers in Hollywood and became known for her humanitarian work — not her father’s fame.

Her decision helped her stand out as her own person, especially since she had a strained relationship with her dad in her early years.

Originally Nicolas Coppola, he’s the nephew of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather).

When he began acting, people constantly made jokes linking him to Apocalypse Now, another Coppola film.

Tired of the teasing, he changed his last name to Cage, inspired by comic book hero Luke Cage. “I didn’t need that pressure,” he told Wired. “So I became Nicolas Cage — and the rest is history.”

The son of Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson, Micheál was born Micheál Neeson.

After his mother passed away in 2009, he decided to honor her memory by taking her last name.

Liam Neeson said it was a touching tribute: “I think it was a lovely gesture, and it freed him from my shadow. He’s honoring his mom, and we’re all proud.”

Actress and director Olivia Wilde was born Olivia Jane Cockburn, the daughter of journalists Andrew and Leslie Cockburn.

She wanted her own identity outside the media world. Her mom suggested she pick something Irish, so she chose Wilde after writer Oscar Wilde.

It gave her a name that reflected creativity — and separated her from her family’s journalism fame.

Singer-songwriter Norah Jones was born Geethali Shankar, the daughter of world-famous musician Ravi Shankar.

At 16, she changed her name to Norah Jones, taking her mother’s last name.

Her soft jazz voice and Grammy-winning hits helped her build a career entirely her own — one that never needed her father’s fame to shine.

Before becoming famous on Beverly Hills, 90210, Tori Spelling auditioned for the show under the name Tori Mitchell.

She wanted to avoid being linked to her dad, legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling — who happened to be producing the show!

Tori admitted years later that she used a fake name to get the part fairly, though she eventually embraced her family name again.

Musician Henry Wolfe is the son of Meryl Streep and sculptor Don Gummer.

When launching his career, he chose to go by Henry Wolfe, dropping his last name completely.

His music career is separate from his mom’s Hollywood fame, and the name helps him keep it that way.

Another of Meryl Streep’s children, Louisa Gummer, decided to go by Louisa Jacobson professionally.

Aside from separating herself from her famous mother, she also had to make the change because another actress was already registered under her birth name with the Screen Actors Guild.

Louisa now stars in HBO’s The Gilded Age, earning her own spotlight.

The daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, Suri recently began using the name Suri Noelle, taking Holmes’ middle name.

According to reports, she made the change to start fresh as she entered college and to avoid unwanted attention from her famous dad’s side of the media.

The name reflects her close bond with her mom, Katie Holmes.

Unlike many others, Emilio Estevez didn’t change his name — but he kept his birth name instead of adopting a stage name like his dad, Martin Sheen (born Ramón Estévez).

Martin Sheen once admitted he regretted changing his name to fit Hollywood’s expectations.

Emilio said his father told him, “If I could do it over, I never would have changed my name.” So Emilio proudly kept his Hispanic surname.

Singer Elle King was born Tanner Elle Schneider, the daughter of comedian and actor Rob Schneider.

She decided to use her middle name and her mother’s last name, King, to carve her own path.

“I worked hard for everything I have,” she said. “I took my mom’s name because I wanted to be myself. My music speaks for who I am.”

The son of legendary singer Julio Iglesias, Enrique wanted to keep his musical dreams secret from his parents.

He started writing songs under fake names until he got a record deal. Eventually, he released music under his real name — and became one of the biggest Latin pop stars ever.

He has said that his last name helped in some ways but also made things harder: “It gets attention, but it can also discredit you.”

When starting his career, Scott Eastwood, son of actor-director Clint Eastwood, used his mother’s last name, Reeves.

He wanted to prove he could earn roles without help from his dad’s reputation.

“Everyone told me to use Eastwood, but I said no,” he told Interview Magazine. “If you want to represent me, represent Scott Reeves.”

Later, after establishing himself, he embraced his father’s name — but only after proving his own worth.

Changing a last name doesn’t erase privilege, but it shows a desire for independence.

These celebrities didn’t want fame handed to them; they wanted to build it. For some, it was about honoring a parent. For others, it was about escaping assumptions.

In the end, a name might open doors — but real success still comes from talent, hard work, and perseverance.

From Angelina Jolie to Malia Ann, these stars took control of their stories. By changing their names, they reminded the world that even in Hollywood, identity is something you can choose for yourself.

It’s proof that sometimes, to find your true self, you have to start by rewriting your name.