29 Celebrities Who Changed Their Name After Marriage...and 9 Who Didn't!
The celebrities who double-barrelled, changed their names privately and those who didn't change at all... We've done all the research so you don't have to!
We love a celebrity wedding here at Hitched HQ. In fact, we recently took a look back at the most memorable celebrity weddings from the last 25 years - throwback alert! Naturally, we're fascinated about all things celebrity - so why wouldn't we obsess over their marriages too?
Every time a celebrity ties the knot, we're riddled with questions. What iconic celebrity wedding dress did they wear? What celebrity wedding venue did they get married at? Were there any celebrity bridesmaids? Which celebrity wedding guests made the cut?
As well as the on-the-day details, we're always curious to know what celebrities change their name after marriage. With so many of them known for their stage name or family name, it's understandable that many of our favourite famous faces find the decision to change their name pretty difficult.
- Celebrities Who Changed Their Name Publicly After Marriage
- Celebrities Who Changed Their Name Privately After Marriage
- Celebrities Who Didn't Change Their Name After Marriage
We've rounded up a list of all the celebrities who changed their name publicly after marriage, the celebs who changed their names privately after tying the knot, and the famous faces who told tradition where to go and kept their name after they got married.
From hyphenated surnames and multiple changes, to celebrity men who took their partner's name and celebs who have never changed their name (despite multiple marriages) - we've researched all the name-changing gossip so you don't have to.
Celebrities Who Changed Their Name Publicly After Marriage
1. Cheryl
Born Cheryl Tweedy, the Girls Aloud star and X-Factor judge changed her name for the first time when she married footballer Ashley Cole in 2006. After their divorce in 2010, she reverted back to her maiden name ‘Tweedy’ before changing it again in 2014 when she married for the second time, taking then-husband Jean-Bernard’s name Fernandez-Versini.
After their split in 2016, Cheryl changed her name back to Cheryl Tweedy, but preferred to be referred to as just ‘Cheryl’ in her professional career.
READ MORE: The Celebrity Weddings To Look Out for in 2022
2. Hailey Bieber
Hayley Baldwin changed her name to Hailey Bieber after marrying popstar Justin Bieber in 2019. Before changing her name officially, she told Bustle that she asked her dad for permission, admitting “I remember when I was going to change it, I asked my dad if he was going to be upset and he was like, ‘No! I don’t care. We love you. It’s all good. Everyone still knows you’re a Baldwin!’ and it’s true!”
3. Victoria Beckham
Born Victoria Adams, Posh Spice legally changed her name to Victoria Beckham when she and David Beckham famously said their vows in a lavish celebration in 1999. Dubbed ‘Posh and Becks’ to many, the pair have been married for over 20 years and share four children together; Brooklyn, Cruz, Romeo and Harper.
READ MORE: Explore David & Victoria Beckham's Relationship Timeline
4. Brooklyn Peltz Beckham & Nicola Peltz Beckham
Son of Victoria and David Beckham, Brooklyn married actress Nicola Peltz in an elaborate ceremony costing a rumoured £3million. Veering away from tradition, the pair decided to take each other’s names, becoming Mr and Mrs Peltz Beckham. However, there was some controversy around Victoria’s congratulatory post on social media where she referred to them as Mr and Mrs Beckham - awks...
5. Kim Kardashian
After her two previous marriages, Damon Thomas from 2000-2004 and Kris Humphries from 2011-2013, we thought Kim Kardashian would *never* edit that famous last name. But when she tied the knot with Kanye West, the world famous influencer changed her name to Kim Kardashian West - the same surname given to the couple’s four children, North, Chicago, Saint and Psalm.
The pair later filed for divorce in 2021 and eventually Kim decided to revert her previous name which was legally restored by the end of that year.
6. Kourtney Kardashian Barker
There was a lot of speculation about what Kourtney Kardashian would do with regards to her name after marrying ‘the love of her life’ in three different ceremonies between April and May 2022.
Finally putting fans out of their misery, Kourtney posted the words ‘Kourtney Kardashian Barker’ followed by a heart emoji on her Instagram page on May 23rd 2022, confirming the name change. The three children she shares with ex Scott Disick - Mason, Penelope and Reign - all share their dad’s surname.
READ MORE: See Kourtney Kardashian's Italian Wedding Here
7. Michelle Obama
Born Michelle LaVaughn Robinson in 1964, the United State’s first African-American First Lady became Michelle Obama when she married the country’s 44th president in October 1992. The pair are one of the state’s most iconic couples and share daughters, Sasha and Malia Obama.
8. Beyoncé & Jay-Z
Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z (born Shawn Carter) made the decision to hyphenate their surnames after marrying in 2010. It’s reported that the decision was made because Beyoncé has no brothers and wanted to keep her maiden name in the family, but fear not Bey - no one is forgetting that name any time soon! The pop power couple share daughter Blue Ivy and twins Sir and Rumi.
READ MORE: The Craziest Celebrity Wedding Gift Lists
9. Jada Pinkett-Smith
Jada Pinkett married Will Smith in 1997. Whilst she has taken her husband’s name as an addition to her own, she’s been very open on social media about her concerns of losing her identity as an independent woman.
Sharing on Facebook, Pinkett-Smith wrote: “The dilemma you face whether to change our last name to your husband's is a timely one. I have always believed that an empowered woman is one that can stand on her own two feet and has the strength to trust her personal code of womanhood and not necessarily the code that a collective creates as the standard to which an independent woman must adhere to, to actually be identified as…independent.”
Continuing, she explained: “Each woman carries a different code so that she may never be replicated and is assured her individuality and freedom. As long as your decision reflects your personal code towards building the woman you want to be in this world…congrats…job well done.”
10. Amal Clooney
After her wedding to actor George Clooney, Amal Alamuddin made the decision to take her new husband’s name in lieu of her own. Surprising to some, Amal decided to change her name to Clooney both personally and professionally, with the news of her name change on her law firm’s website making headlines at the time in 2014.
After a short honeymoon following their Venice ceremony, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney was soon back to work with her first case as a Clooney, advising Greece how they can win back Greek marble sculptures from the British Museum - no biggie...
11. Giovanna Fletcher
Giovanna Fletcher, sister of TOWIE star Mario Falcone, married Tom from McFly in a stunning London ceremony in 2012. She changed her name from Giovanna Falcone to Giovanna Fletcher following the wedding - which, thanks to *that* infamous celebrity wedding speech is one we will never, ever forget.
12. Cara Delahoyde-Massey
After winning season 2 of Love Island in 2016, Cara Delahoyde and Nathan Massey embarked on a whirlwind romance. The pair welcomed their son, Freddie-George, in 2017 after a short relationship hiatus. The couple, who are the only Love Island winners to have tied the knot (so far…) married in a lavish ceremony surrounded by friends and family at celebrity wedding venue Preston Court in July 2019.
Following the wedding, Cara changed her name to Cara Delahoyde-Massey while Nathan goes by Nathan Massey. On the pair’s YouTube channel which documents their family life, they dub themselves the ‘Dela-Mass Family’.
READ MORE: Cara and Nathan Share the Secret to Their Lasting Marriage
13. Rochelle Humes
Former member of The Saturdays, Rochelle Humes (previously Wiseman) married JLS star Marvin Humes in 2012. Rochelle legally and publicly changed her name to Humes and has worked using this name ever since.
The pair recently celebrated their 10 year anniversary where celebrations included Rochelle doing a hen party round two in Paris with her closest girlfriends, and the couple renewing their vows in a ceremony with friends, family and their three children, Alaia-Mai, Valentina Raine and Blake Hampton.
READ MORE: How to Book Rochelle & Marvin's Celebrity Wedding Planner
14. Courteney Cox
When Friends star Courtney Cox married David Arquette in 1999, she changed her name to Courteney Cox-Arquette. To help celebrate her marriage, the production team at Friends HQ added the name ‘Arquette’ to each of the cast members during the opening credits of ‘The One After Vegas’.
The pair divorced in 2013 and following their split, the actress reverted back to her maiden name, Courteney Cox.
READ MORE: 'Friends' Themed Wedding Ideas for Super Fans
15. Vanessa Lachey
Love is Blind presenters Nick and Vanessa are somewhat of an American TV power couple. When the pair married in 2011, Vanessa Minnillo became Vanessa Lachey - although she’s been open about the fact that Nick was laid back about the whole name thing.
Speaking to Access Hollywood Live, she said: “We talked about it and he was so sweet. He said, ‘You know, if you don’t really want it, I understand.’ But I said, ‘Would it mean a lot to you if I took it? Because I’m old fashioned and I want to.’”
READ MORE: 75 of the Most Iconic Celebrity Wedding Dresses
16. Kris Jenner
Known for raising one of the most famous families in the world, Kris Jenner is no novice when it comes to changing names. Born Kris Mary Houghton, she changed her name in 1978 when she married celebrity lawyer Robert Kardashian.
After having four children together (Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Robert Jr), the couple separated. Just one month after the divorce, in March 1991, Kris went on to marry Caitlyn Jenner (known then as Bruce Jenner). Kris and Caitlyn were married for 22 years and share two children, Kendall and Kylie.
Although the couple famously split in 2013, Kris has decided to keep the Jenner name and not revert back to either of her previous names (Kardashian and Houghton) despite being in a relationship with boyfriend Corey Gamble since 2014. This is said to be out of respect to her two daughters Kendall and Kylie who share the Jenner surname.
READ MORE: Celebrities You Didn't Know Were Related Through Marriage
17. Olivia Bowen
A year and a half after marrying fellow Love Island star Alex Bowen, Olivia Buckland joked on Instagram that she was ‘saying goodbye to Buckland forever’ and changing her name to Bowen. The pair wed at celebrity wedding venue Gosfield Hall, Essex, in September 2018.
READ MORE: The Best Love Island Hen Party Ideas
18. Larsa Pippen
Known for being Kim Kardashian’s (ex) best friend - Larsa Pippen married famous basketball player Scottie Pippin in July 1997 and the pair share four children together; Scotty Jr, Preston, Justin and Sophia. The couple were married for almost 20 years before they both filed for divorce in 2016.
The divorce was called off momentarily, however Larsa reportedly filed again in November 2018. After a long wait, the pair finalised their divorce in December 2021 but Larsa (formerly Larsa Younan) has kept her marital name despite fans calling for her to revert to her Lebanese-Syrian roots.
19. Emma Willis
Formerly Emma Louise Griffiths, TV presenter Emma Willis changed her name both legally and professionally when she married Busted star Matt Willis in 2008. Dubbed as one of showbiz’s strongest couples, the pair are parents to three children; Isabella, Ace and Trixie.
READ MORE: 29 Celebrity Couples You Totally Forgot Were Engaged
Celebrities Who Changed Their Name Privately After Marriage
20. Jennifer Lopez
After famously marrying Ben Affleck earlier this year, J-Lo changed her name to Jennifer Affleck legally - but has decided to keep her maiden name for professional and public purposes. Revealing the change in her 'On the J.Lo' newsletter, the star penned: “With love, Mrs Jennifer Lynn Affleck.”
However, this isn’t the first mention of J-Lo changing her name. In a resurfaced clip interview from 20 years ago, when the pair dated for the first time, she said her name after marriage would be “Jennifer Lopez, but [her] name will be Jennifer Affleck, obviously.”
21. Jennifer Garner
Unbeknownst to many, J-Lo isn’t the only Jennifer Affleck from the block…
It’s reported that Jennifer Garner also changed her name to Jennifer Affleck during her marriage to the actor. The pair married in 2005 and didn’t split until 2018. There must be something about the name Jennifer that Affleck just can’t get enough of.
22. Michelle Keegan
Michelle Keegan married Mark Wright in May 2015 wearing a breath-taking Galia Lahav dress. Whilst she’s always kept her professional name, when speaking on a podcast with Mark’s sister Jess Wright, she admitted that legally she is Michelle Wright, but professionally she is Keegan.
READ MORE: The Most Memorable Celebrity Weddings in the UK
23. Sophie Turner
Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner reportedly changed her legal name to Sophie Jonas after marrying Joe Jonas in 2019. The pair wed in the South of France in 2019 in a secret star-studded ceremony - but the actress goes by Sophie Turner both publicly and professionally.
24. Ross Matthews & Dr. Wellingthon Garcia
The hilarious Ross Matthews (if you know, you know) wed his partner Dr Wellingthon Garcia in a stunning beach wedding in May 2022.
Whilst Matthews’ now-husband goes by Dr. Wellington Garcia-Matthews on his social media accounts, Ross continues to refer to himself as Ross Matthews on social media - it’s unknown whether or not he has changed his name legally. Aside from name changing - the couple had Drew Barrymore as their flower girl! Legit the coolest thing we’ve ever heard of…
READ MORE: Celebrity Wedding Guests You Didn't Know About
25. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus legally changed her name to Miley Hemsworth during her marriage to Liam Hemsworth from 2018 to 2020. After the pair split, she reverted back to her stage name Cyrus - although this never changed professionally during the marriage.
Though, this wasn’t Miley's first dabble in name changing - she legally changed her name from Destiny Hope to Miley Ray in 2008, the name she was already going by in her professional line of work.
26. Kyle Richards
Sister of Kathy Hilton and auntie of Paris and Nikki - Kyle Richards and her husband Mauricio Umansky are the ultimate couple goals. We’ve watched the pair’s marriage thrive on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills but they were already a pretty strong duo prior to filming, having recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary which is quite the accolade in Hollywood.
They share daughters Sophia, Alexia and Portia Umansky, as well as Farrah Aldjufrie, Kyle’s daughter from her previous marriage. Whilst Kyle is known as Kyle Richards professionally and publicly, she has confirmed to fans that her legal name is Kyle Richards Umansky.
27. Fergie
Fergie, born Stacy Ann Ferguson, changed her name in 2009 when she married Josh Duhamel. She legally changed her name to Fergie Duhamel until 2019 when she filed for divorce. Whilst she always went by Fergie professionally, she still petitioned to change her legal name back to Stacy Ann Ferguson after the divorce.
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28. Priyanka Chopra
After marrying one third of The Jonas Brothers trio, Nick Jonas, in 2018, Quantico actress Priyanka Chopra legally changed her name to Priyanka Chopra Jonas. In an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, she said: “I always wanted to add his last name to mine because I feel like we’re becoming family…I don’t take away my identity, he gets added to who I am.”
Though professionally known as Priyanka Chopra, she added ‘Jonas’ to her Instagram bio before causing a fan uproar when she removed it.
29. Portia de Rossi
After marrying TV host Ellen DeGeneres in 2008, Portia de Rossi legally changed her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres two years after the pair said ‘I do’. In a statement released to the public, she announced: “I am thrilled to legally adopt my wife’s name. I will continue to use Portia de Rossi for professional purposes.”
Similar to fellow actress Miley Cyrus, Portia changed her name for the first time at the age of 15. Born Amanda Lee Rogers, she decided to change her name because she thought it sounded more ‘exotic’, but later it was reported that this was a result of her struggle with her sexuality.
…and 9 Celebrities That Didn’t Change Their Name After Marriage
1. Blake Lively
It is a fact that Blake Lively has never changed her name as a result of marriage, but she has in fact changed her name. Born Blake Brown, the Gossip Girl star changed her birth name to her mother’s surname. Shortly after, her two siblings followed suit and the three of them went by the name Lively.
When Blake married funny man Ryan Reynolds in 2012 she decided to keep her stage name. The pair now have three children together and are well known for their hilarious jabs at one another.
READ MORE: You Don't Need to Lose Weight for Your Wedding: Influencer Alex Light on Pre-Wedding Pressure
2. Katie Price
Despite a number of weddings and engagements, Katie Price has never legally changed her name as a result of a relationship - though she did come close during her engagement to then-fiancé Carl Woods. In 2021 the former model claimed she would change her name to Katie Woods after the pair were married. Sadly they separated before the nuptials took place.
3. RuPaul Charles
Drag royalty RuPaul Charles announced that he had married his long-term boyfriend, Georges LeBar in March 2017. The pair wed in a secret ceremony on the exact day they had met 23 years prior on the dancefloor at renowned NYC club, Chelsea.
When asked about marriage in previous years, Ru has been quoted saying he doesn’t want to conform to anything - but joked that tax breaks and financial reasons meant they took the leap into marriage. A famed non-conformist, RuPaul has kept his name since the wedding and so has his partner.
READ MORE: The Most Iconic Celebrity Engagement Rings
4. Drew Barrymore
Hollywood royalty Drew Barrymore has always kept her name both legally and professionally. Despite being married twice, she has never taken the decision to change her name - and we totally don’t blame her.
5. Sarah Jessica Parker
Sex in the City star Sarah Jessica Parker married Matthew Broderick in 1997, but took the decision to keep her maiden name. Why wouldn’t she? ‘Sarah Jessica Broderick’ doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as well, and she’d have to change her brand to SJB instead - good shout, we say…
READ MORE: 17 Important Love Lessons We Learnt From Sex and the City
6. Michelle Visage
RuPaul’s right hand woman and Drag Race judge Michelle Visage has been married to husband David Case for over 20 years. Visage was 26 years old when she first met her screenwriter husband and the pair later married in 1997. They share two children, Lillie and Lola Case who both go by their dad’s surname. Michelle, however, has always kept her maiden name both legally and professionally.
8. Mariah Carey
Famed singer Mariah Carey also decided to keep her maiden name throughout both of her marriages to Tommy Mottola and Nick Cannon. After everything she has built, we love that Mariah stuck to her guns and continued to carry the Carey flag throughout her relationships - you go MC!
READ MORE: 25 Times Celebrity Brides Didn't Wear White...
9. Diana Ross
Star and legend Diana Ross has been married twice, once in 1971 to Robert Ellis Silberstein, and again in 1985 to Arne Naess. Throughout both marriages, Diana Ross decided to keep her maiden name both publicly and legally.
She has five children, all of whom have carried the Ross name some way or another. Her children are; Tracee Ellis Ross, Evan Ross, Rhonda Ross Kendrick, Chudney Ross and Ross Naess.
Are you thinking of changing your name? To help you make the decision, here's our complete guide to changing your name. Whether you do or don't, it's good to be fully informed.
