"My wife is awesome." Justin Bieber sure knows how to get us talking. 24 hours after marrying him, Hailey Baldwin changed her name to Hailey Bieber. It was enough for Vogue to write an entire article on it.
Think of a celeb power couple who are married. Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith just rolls off your tongue. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, though? You're the one sitting there listing two very separate names.
Back in the real world, you'll be familiar with the drill. That friend of yours from high school gets married (and you totally sit there waiting for her to update her Facebook). First, come the wedding pics. Then the zillion likes, emojis and solid outpour of comments. Eventually, though, she'll make the biggest statement ever– changing her last name.
Hollywood is trickier. When you've been in the industry for years, your name is your identity. Take Jennifer Aniston. The name alone has an #Icon status. It didn't become Jennifer Pitt (nor did it become Jennifer Theroux).
2018 threw us more celeb marriages than we could handle. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas tied the knot. Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth did it just in time for the New Year. While Priyanka has taken the plunge and added "Jonas" to her last name, not all couples have been so brave.
Names, names, names. Yes, it matters. Here are 18 celebs who changed their names after getting married, plus two who stuck to their old last name.
20 Hailey Baldwin Is Now Hailey Bieber: "My Wife Is Awesome"
When The Biebs gets married, it's a big deal. On November 15th, 2018, Justin Bieber updated his IG with a sentence that changed everything. "My wife is awesome" made his marriage to Hailey Baldwin official, as Vogue reports, but there was more.
"Enter, Hailey Rhode Bieber," was Vogue's take. Hailey Baldwin waited just 24 hours to change her last name from Baldwin to Bieber. To be fair, Justin's IG message to her back in July was probably too good to resist.
"My heart is COMPLETELY and FULLY YOURS and I will ALWAYS put you first! You are the love of my life Hailey Baldwin and I wouldn't want to spend it with anybody else." Well, that's settled.
19 That's Jessica Timberlake To You
Promise, we didn't set out with plans to throw you a steady stream of #Swoon-worthy guys (and get you super-depressed that they're all taken). Justin Timberlake married Jessica Biel back in 2012. She wore a powder-pink, $100,000 wedding gown, as Cosmo reports.
“It’s weird because it feels like almost nothing has changed. But yet something that you really can’t describe — or something that isn’t really tangible — has changed,"
The Huffington Post quotes Jessica saying. The actress whose last name was her identity is now Mrs.Timberlake. Years later, this couple is throwing us #MarriageGoals as if they were newlyweds.
18 Although It Didn't Work Out For Angelina Jolie-Pitt...
Yeah, nobody saw that one coming. 2005 was the year that Angelina Jolie made enough of an impact on Brad Pitt's life for him to divorce Jennifer Aniston.
While 2017 saw 12 years of Brangelina collapse, Ange nevertheless finds herself on this list on account of her name. Angelina Jolie took over a year to change her name to Angelina Jolie-Pitt. #Hesitant?
As The Daily Mail reports, Ange and Brad tied the knot in 2014, but it wasn't until over a year later that Angelina officially changed her last name. While the kids come with names like Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, Angelina dropped the "Pitt" name in 2018, MSN reports.
17 Priyanka Chopra Jonas: "Because I'm A Little Traditional"
We're still getting over the wedding pics. Pretty much out-doing every recent celeb marriage we've seen, Priyanka Chopra's 2018 marriage to Nick Jonas came with the biggest #Goals ever. Priyanka has changed her name to Priyanka Chopra-Jonas.
“I always wanted to add his name to mine because I feel, like, you know, we’re becoming family, and I’m a little traditional and old school like that... But I don’t take away my identity. He gets added to who I am."
Speaking on The Tonight Show, Priyanka added: "I didn’t realize it was that much of a big deal until I did it." It was enough to land her a Vogue article, although we wish they'd included more pics.
16 We Wouldn't Have KKW Beauty Without Kim Kardashian-West
We might still call her Kim Kardashian, but you're looking at Kim Kardashian-West. Come to think of it, this move was extra brave for Kim– with two failed marriages behind her, she must have known Kanye was 100% "the one."
Being Kim, she announced the name change in the biggest #Kim way there is– posting passport pics to IG with #Mrs. West and #NameChange, as Elle reports.
KKW Beauty is a brand that Kim likely hopes will last forever. You don't stick a "W" in the brand's name unless you're sure it'll be staying for good. With their fourth baby on the way, KimYe are solid as they come.
15 "I Made Her Change Both Names, So She's Now Justin Theroux"
Jennifer Aniston just made front-page news for Brad Pitt "crashing" her 50th birthday party, Times Of India reports. While this marriage was done and dusted in 2005, people are still talking about it. Jennifer married Justin Theroux as her second husband (but she didn't take his name). As Glamour reports Justin saying,
"I made her change both names, so she’s now Justin Theroux." (Clearly a joke.) Justin then said, "I think 'Aniston' is going to stick with her if she likes it or not."
Justin did recognize the importance of Jen's name. He even admitted: "I don't think it would be great if she did [change it]."
14 It's Been Victoria Beckham For Nearly 20 Years
Victoria Beckham's name is now so famous, not many people even know her maiden name. Victoria Adams became Mrs. Beckham back when being a "footballer's wife" was a big deal. Victoria Beckham's Forbes-listed $450 million kind of proves she made it, though.
"That one there, that's the girl I'm going to marry." Nearly 20 years later, David and Victoria Beckham are one of the strongest power couples in Hollywood.
As E! reports, those were David's words to his team-mate. Meanwhile, Victoria admitted: "I'm quite shy. I just waved from the other side of the bar." Well, it looks like it worked.
13 Portia De Rossi Became Portia DeGeneres
Everyone loves Ellen DeGeneres. We love that epic dancing, we love how she can embarrass anyone and we 100% adore her for breaking down barriers and finally marrying the love of her life. Portia de Rossi has been Ellen's wife since 2008.
While Portia de Rossi legally became Portia DeGeneres, this isn't the first time Portia has changed her name. Born Amanda Less Rogers, this actress wanted a "more exotic, European-sounding name," Elle reports.
In 2013, E! News reported Ellen saying on her show, "The only thing we ever argue about is who loves who more, it really is true." They aren't the most talked-about couple, but we just remembered how much we love them.
12 But Jenna Dewan-Tatum Is Back To Jenna Dewan
In 2019, Jenna Dewan finally opened up about her painful divorce from Channing Tatum. With nine years of marriage, everyone thought these two were #set. Jenna Dewan-Tatum is now Jenna Dewan.
"I let myself cry. I let myself grieve. This is one of those situations where I will see the light. The dawn is coming."
Cosmo quotes Jenna's honest words. She told the mag, "I'm obviously super aware that people know me, they know Channing, they know us together. We'd been a beloved couple for a long time." While she is now Jenna Dewan, we'll miss the Tatum part.
11 Remember When Katy Perry Was Katy Brand?
It's like the whole world forgot. You probably did. Katy Perry might be making headlines for rekindling her romance with Orlando Bloom, but let's not forget that she was once a married woman. In 2011, Katy separated from Russell Brand after 14 months of marriage.
'I do actually!' Katy told The Ellen Show that she was already being called Mrs. Brand.
In 2010, Katy made Billboard's headline for "being in the process" of changing her last name to Brand. #Didn'tLast. "Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage. I'll always adore her and I know we'll remain friends" was the official statement, Glamour reports.
10 Would The Jenner Empire Exist If Kris Hadn't Changed Her Name?
No, it isn't all about the 25-year-olds. Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin might be battling for the front page with Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and Nick, but this is one 63-year-old who is never on the back page. Kris Jenner was married to Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce).
Kris has been married twice. Weirdly, while her first marriage was to Robert Kardashian, Kris has managed to make a name for herself as a "Kardashian OG" without the Kardashian name.
If Kylie Jenner popped into your head, remember that Kylie's fame only really came as a result of the Kardashians. Kylie was a child when she first appeared on the show.
9 Beyonce Knowles Is Mrs. Carter: Literally, "Crazy In Love"
In 2016, The Independent reported that Beyonce "prefers" to be addressed as Mrs. Carter. The original "Independent Woman" married the love of her life in 2008, and she hasn't looked back. Bey and Jay-Z's Forbes net worth is mind-boggling.
Beyonce and Jay-Z are worth $1.16 billion. Nobody really goes to Apple Music for "The Carters," but they exist.
Mrs. Carter definitely has Beyonce's sass to it. Everything Is Love is the studio album released by The Carters. We might all be tuning into Lemonade for Beyonce and Jay-Z's old-school "99 Problems," but remember, this power of a woman did change her last name.
8 Demi Kutcher Is Back To Demi Moore, But It Wasn't A "Top Priority"
Demi Moore is pretty busy now. It's called topping "ageless celebrity" lists. At the age of 52, this Hollywood actress manages to pull off not looking a day over 35, although "laughter and smiling" are her secrets, The Indian Express reports.
Demi Moore came by another name once, though. Demi Guynes Moore was this lady's name before a Hollywood career seemed to find "Moore" alone was best. Demi then went and married Ashton Kutcher, and changing her name made major headlines.
In 2012, The Mirror reported Demi axing her @mrskutcher Twitter handle. "Changing my Twitter name isn't a top priority right now. Sorry it bothers so many of u. Should I not tweet until I do? Does it really matter?"
7 Chrissy Teigen Doesn't Understand The "Reasoning" Behind It
We've now reached the point where the Kardashians post IG messages about being excited at an invite from Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. This couple throws us goals from every angle, but not everything about them is traditional. As Bravo TV reports, Chrissy put a Twitter user in her place who questioned her for not changing her name after marriage. She had the best response:
“My husband didn’t even take his last name?”
That would be referring to the fact that John Legend's real name is John Roger Stephens. Chrissy Teigen is a best-selling author, model and world-famous mom. Taking her husband's name, though? Not a chance.
6 Halle Berry Has A Certain Ring (And She Kept It)
In 2017, Halle Berry got candid about having three divorces to her name. This Oscar-winning actress seems to have had more luck with her career than her love life, but at least she kept her name.
“[As] women, we go into marriage thinking it’s going to last forever and that this is our prince on a shiny horse. That’s what fairy tales taught me as a kid... and I’m kind of anti-fairy tales today,” The Huffington Post quotes Halle saying.
Berry is pretty ordinary as names go, but something about Halle Berry has a ring to it. Well, not in the "Bing" way that Chandler from Friends disliked. We're kind of glad she kept it.
5 Remember When Friends Started Crediting Her As Courteney Cox-Arquette?
Admit it– you watch the opening credits. Friends is just one of those shows. Everyone sits and waits for the "clap" moment (and you totally join in). Jennifer Aniston's name comes first in the show's opening credits, but they are in alphabetical order.
Courteney Cox has a pretty good ring to it. Nevertheless, to celebrate her marriage to David Arquette, the show's producers added "Arquette" to the end of everyone's names in 1999. "The One After Vegas" was the episode, in case you're wondering.
Sadly, Courteney's marriage didn't last. The couple parted ways in 2013. Courteney lucked out, though. Having Jennifer Aniston as your real-life BFF? All kinds of goals.
4 Snooki Ditched Polizzi For LaValle
Nobody thought that Snooki would ever become a major celebrity. To be fair, the orange, perma-tan and questionable outfits back on Jersey Shore weren't quite what we see from Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi today.
Now a mom of two with her third on the way, Snooki is a household name who is more into running her own household. “Mrs. Nicole LaValle” announced herself to the world via social media in 2014. Wet Paint reports that "WIFE" bios were added to both her Twitter and IG accounts.
Snooki's husband is Jionni LaValle. To be fair, there wasn't a huge change. The last name was still Italian-sounding, as are the Giovanni and Lorenzo names Snooki chose for her kids.
3 Miley Cyrus (Now Hemsworth): "No, Of Course I’m Taking Your Name"
It's brand new. On February 11th, 2019, Vogue Australia reported that Miley Cyrus had decided to take her new husband's last name. Miley and Liam Hemsworth tied the knot just before the New Year, and we're still getting over the pics.
"I didn’t ask her to take my name, and then she was like, ‘No, of course I'm taking your name.’ I’m like, ‘[Gasp] that’s awesome!’”
As W magazine reports, Liam added, "She will still be, obviously, known as Miley Cyrus, but she took my name, which is great. I think that was honestly one of the best things about it."
2 Worked Out Fine For Jada Pinkett-Smith
Will Smith is literally I Am Legend. This Hollywood heavyweight might be 50, but the cheeky, boyish vibes from The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air are still there. Will is married to Jada Pinkett-Smith. Their two kids, Willow and Jaden, are now celebs in their own right.
"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," Stylist quotes Jada saying.
For Jada, it's "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." Okay, a bit much to swallow, but she chose well.
1 When You Marry George Clooney, You Change Your Name
If you're 19, George Clooney will totally be one of those celebs your parents love. Then again, you can be 25 and watching ER or Friends, and you'll be seeing this guy on Netflix in 2019. George married Amal in 2015.
George joked that Amal "probably thought I was old." Well, he is 17 years older than her.
This couple is now known as George and Amal Clooney. About meeting his gorgeous wife, George told Harper's Bazaar, "I thought she was beautiful, and I thought she was funny and obviously smart." Aww.
You're either one or the other. One of those girls who will 100% change her name, or one who'll keep the original. It's just a matter of deciding which celeb to follow, right?
Sources: Vogue, Cosmopolitan, The Daily Mail, Elle, Times Of India, Glamour, E! News, Billboard, The Independent, Indian Express, Mirror, The Huffington Post, Bravo TV, Wet Paint, W magazine, Stylist, Harper’s Bazaar
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