From Shiloh Jolie to Nicolas Cage: Nepo Babies Who Changed Their Names

Love them or loathe them, nepotism babies are ingrained in the fabric of the entertainment industry.

Defined as children of successful celebrities who leverage their family connections for opportunities and perks, some readily acknowledge the advantages their lineage affords them, while others deny it plays a role in their success.

Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of Johnny Depp, compared the scenario to more conventional careers. “If somebody’s mom or dad is a doctor, and then the kid becomes a doctor, you’re not going to be like, ‘Well, you’re only a doctor because your parent is a doctor.’ It’s like, ‘No, I went to medical school and trained.’” Gwyneth Paltrow, daughter of actress Blythe Danner and director Bruce Paltrow, adds that while lineage offers initial access, it also requires one to work harder to prove themselves.

As the debate rages on, these are notable stars who have chosen to alter or drop their famous surnames.

Madonna and Carlos Leon’s daughter, Lourdes Leon, releases dance music under the stage name Lolahol. Despite acknowledging her unmistakable privilege, she aims to feel deserving of her achievements. “I want to feel like I deserve things and not just like I’ve been given things,” she told The Cut.

Enrique Iglesias, son of journalist Isabel Preysler and singer Julio Iglesias, initially released music under stage names like Enrique Martinez to conceal his career from his parents. Eventually, he released his first album under his real surname after signing a record deal.

Emilio Estévez, son of actor Martin Sheen, chose to retain his real surname instead of adopting his father’s stage name like his brother Charlie Sheen. Martin advised him, “Don’t make the mistake that I did. Don’t change your name,” so Emilio continued as Estévez.

Meryl Streep’s daughter, Louisa Gummer, uses her middle name Jacobson in her professional career to distinguish herself from another actor with the same name. Streep’s son, Henry Wolfe, also uses his middle name professionally, having performed with a band before launching his solo career.

Angelina Jolie, originally named Angelina Voight, decided to use her middle name for her acting career. She legally dropped “Voight” from her surname in 2002, aligning with her desire for a separate identity from her father, Jon Voight.

Shiloh Jolie, daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, followed her mother’s precedent. Following her parents’ high-profile split, Shiloh legally requested to drop “Pitt” from her surname on her 18th birthday. Her siblings also ceased using Pitt, though Shiloh was the first to formalize the change legally.

Nicolas Cage, originally Nicolas Coppola, chose to change his surname due to jokes from his co-stars about his famous uncle, The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola. He felt the need to create a distinct professional identity away from his family’s fame.

Scott Eastwood, son of Clint Eastwood, was born with the surname Reeves, from his mother Jacelyn. Initially, he used Reeves to see if he could secure roles without using his father’s surname. After minimal success and starring mostly in his father’s films, he decided to adopt the Eastwood name full-time.

These instances illustrate how these stars navigated their paths within the complex dynamics of familial fame, often seeking to establish their identities and careers independent of their renowned surnames.

Source: The Independent, The Cut