'Tis the season... for giving and getting things you (and your giftees) might not really need. With sustainability becoming a paramount concern for many and the drawbacks of overconsumption entering our collective consciousness, the idea of gifting thoughtful, handmade, and possibly even zero-waste gifts is becoming ever more appealing. The only problem? We're not all as handy as we might like to be. Don't worry though — you don't need to be an expert maker to craft these DIY Christmas gifts! From beginner to advanced, there's a homemade Christmas gift idea for giver and giftee alike.
Brit + Co
If you know your way around a kitchen, don't sleep on the opportunity to give your loved ones an edible gift. You know it'll get used (AKA eaten), and it's essentially a zero-waste gift-giving strategy.
We love making pretty desserts that work well as gifts, like this matcha yogurt bark, this peppermint bark, these super easy Christmas cookie recipes, and these edible gift ideas. Package them up with these creative gift wrapping techniques, or forego paper altogether and wrap them with a cute kitchen towel for a zero-waste approach.
If you're a complete beginner to DIY and handmade Christmas gifts, it might be smart to start out with a kit. A DIY kit allows you to fashion a thoughtful gift that shows your recipient just how much time and effort you put into giving them something special.
This DIY permanent jewelry kit is perfect for someone who wants to give their bestie a one-of-a-kind present this year. You can also DIY Christmas-scented candles, grow your loved one's birth month flower, or construct a super-cute tiny house to be displayed as kitschy decor.
We love a good DIY. Our favorite presents are handmade Christmas gifts, and we've shared a ton of homemade gift ideas in our time.
A cute winter terrarium is perfect for the quirky decor lover in your life, while nothing brings the hygge vibes more than a hand-knit blanket. Give your favorite houseplant lover some gorgeous flora in one of these DIY cement planters, or embroider a pillow that'll add a cute touch of color to your bestie's home!
Brit + Co
Speaking of your bestie's home, we've got plenty of ideas for DIY Christmas gifts you can give in the home decor category.
Spruce up a simple IKEA desk to give your work wife a WFH chair that's cute and from the heart. Make magazine wall art in your giftee's favorite colors to add a homemade, kitschy touch to their space. This Anthro-inspired DIY chandelier is another great option for artsy decor lovers.
A friend who loves hostessing will appreciate this pineapple cutting board, and someone who's into the beauty of organization will swoon over this DIY wall organizer.
Brit + Co
Many of us adore jewelry, so why not give someone in your life a cute and colorful accessory this holiday season? These acrylic earrings are super colorful and adorable, while this DIY choker is '90s inspired and totally on-trend. We also love this geode statement necklace and this cute necklace made out of old tee shirts. Talk about sustainable style!
Love these DIY Christmas gift ideas? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for gift guides, recipes, and other holiday inspo!
Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.
There are no shortage of both old holiday films and new Christmas movies. We've got everything from Holiday Movies By Myers-Briggs toThe Best Holiday Movies To Stream andThe Best Hallmark Christmas Movies, plus our annual rewatches of The Holiday and A California Christmas! Hallmark's Countdown To Christmas started October 18 and TBH, it's already putting us in the holiday mood.
Lifetime/A&E
Bowyn is the hottest popstar in the world, but struggles to find "The One" after heartbreak. But when she meets pro football player Drew after a concert, it looks like she might be in for one heck of a love story. Not only is this Christmas movie totally inspired by Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce, but it features plenty of Swiftie Easter eggs too!
Bob Mahoney/Netflix
I hope Lindsay Lohan makes new Christmas movies forever because she always knocks it out of the park. This movie, which follows two exes who get stuck at the same family Christmas when they realize their partners are actually siblings, is laugh-out-loud hilarious and it won't take long for you to wonder which "secret" the title is actually referring to 👀.
Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix
When Ashley returns to her small hometown from the city, and learns her family's business is in danger of closing, she decides to save it — with a steamy all-male dance revue of course.
Hallmark Media
Christmas on Cherry Lane was a runaway hit last year — and I was totally unprepared for it to make me cry. This year we're getting three sequels, each one rooted in one of the three families we met last year. In addition to Deck the Halls, you can also watch Season's Greetings from Cherry Lane and Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane!
Petr Maur/Netflix
Literally everyone is talking about this brand new Christmas movie, which is an updated take on Frosty the Snowman. Lacey Chabert brings a snowman to life...and then falls for him. Classic.
Rob Baker Ashton/Netflix
This might have been one of our fall movie recommendations last year, but it's giving major Christmas vibes (and not just because the entire thing has a red and green color palette!). Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) and Oliver (Ben Hardy) fall in love on their flight from the States to London, but when they lose each other at customs, they have to rely on fate to reconnect them.
AFFIRM Films, Inc.
This musical approach to the classic Christmas story features classic Christmas tunes and contemporary pop songs to create a Bethlehem you've never seen before. The film stars names like Fiona Palomo as Mary, Milo Manheim as Joseph, Joel Smallbone as Antipater, Antonio Banderas as Herod, and Lecrae as the angel Gabriel.
Focus Features
Paul (Paul Giamatti) has gotten the worst job on campus: staying with the students who have nowhere to go over Christmas break. The boys dislike him as much as he dislikes them, but when he's left with Angus (Dominic Sessa) and campus cook Mary (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), Paul realizes he's not the only going through a hard time — and there might be more Christmas cheer than any of them expected. Brit + Co Entertainment Editor Chloe Williams says this is her favorite movie of 2023!
Scott Everett White/Netflix
Superstar Brandy is back and better than ever as Jackie, who uses her holiday newsletter to make her BFF Charlotte (Heather Graham) think her life is better than it really is. But when Charlotte shows up, Jackie has to do everything she can to keep up the façade — easier said than done.
Disney+/IMDb
After a traumatic childhood, Eddie (Ludacris) is done with Christmas. But when his estranged wife Allison (Teyonah Parris) asks him to bring their daughter Charlotte (Madison Skye Validum) to work on Christmas Eve, Eddie and Charlotte run into a Nick (Lil Rel Howery), a mysterious man who might just help Eddie believe in Christmas again.
Paulina Stevens/Exmas Film Inc.
Exes Graham (Robbie Amell) and Ali (Leighton Meester) are both missing Graham's family this year, so, naturally, they decide to spend the holidays with the people they love. The only problem? They didn't realize each other was coming. Now it's up to the family to figure out who gets to stay until Christmas morning. Watch our interview with Robbie and Leighton for some extra laughs!
Hallmark
Hallmark queen (and Mean Girl!) Lacey Chabert is back in this Christmas movie. Lindsay and her estranged brother Brad (Scott Wolf) reunite with their mom in Scotland, but the Christmas family reunion unearths a huge family secret. Party of Five fans are going to love this reunion!
Great American Family Channel
Emma (Jen Lilley) is novice dancer who gets paired up with professional Leo (Matthew Morrison) for a Parisian dance competition. What's more romantic than a waltz in the city of love?
Prime Video
Even though Trip is one of Santa's helpers, he can't seem to do anything correctly...except build strange weapons that are definitely don't need to go under anyone's tree. When he helps shy Elia stand up to a group of bullies, the two realize they might be able to help each other work out their problems.
Hallmark
One Tree Hill's Bethany Joy Lenz plays Lucy, a screenwriter who books the first adaptation of the classic (fictional) movie His Merry Wife! since 1947. Lucy's sent to Biltmore Estate for research, and ends up getting sent back in time to 1947. Now, as she gets closer to film star Jack (Kristoffer Polaha), Lucy has to do everything in her power to keep the future from changing.
Elizabeth Morris/Netflix
The Wyatt family (played by Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers, and Brady Noon) get a wilder holiday than they bargained for when they accidentally switch bodies during a rare planetary alignment. Now, the family has to find their way back to normal, and try and salvage their relationships in the process.
Claudette Barius/Prime Video
Chris (Eddie Murphy) gets in over his head after making a deal with elf Pepper (Jillian Bell) to win the neighborhood Christmas decorating contest. Now, Pepper's brought the 12 Days of Christmas to life and Chris, his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and their kids have to break the spell before Christmas is ruined.
The Story Collective/Amazon Studios
James' (Asa Butterfield) dad has invited all of the Taylors to spend Christmas with their family at an Austrian ski resort (casual) so they can meet his new girlfriend Hayley (Cora Kirk). But when the bookings get mixed up, they end up at each other's cabins — with opposite Tripadvisor ratings — instead of their own.
A+E Networks/Lifetime
A week before Christmas, real estate closer Lexie (Jana Kramer) gets sent to the one place she never wanted to return to: her hometown. Now Lexie has to convince Coby (Adam Senn) to leave his family's land, and make peace with the family she left behind ten years ago.
Petr Maru/A+E Networks/Lifetime
Culinary school instructor Alicia (Tia Mowry) decides she's finally going to prioritize her dreams, and competes in the annual Kringle Cook-Off. But when she learns a family secret that could help her become a respected chef, she gets the help of Kringle protégé, Logan (Luke Humphrey). Now it's up to Alicia to win the cook-off and become the head chef she knows she can be.
Which new Christmas movie are you excited to watch this year? Let us know in the comments and check out Every Holiday Movie You Can Stream On Netflix Starting Today!
This post has been updated.
It's the most wonderful time of year for presents, festive recipes, and *all* the Christmas party ideas. Now is the time to start your holiday decor pinboards, stockpile entertaining essentials, and dream up your party menu. Instead of throwing the same old gathering you've been hosting for ages, mix things up with a holiday shindig that's totally epic this year. Check out these 35 DIYs, decor ideas, and creative themes that'll have your guests RSVPing Yes!
Etsy
Host a Candy Cane Lane party with this sweet and colorful backdrop. (via Etsy)
Shutterstock
String dried oranges with twine for garlands, attach them to gifts, or use them as natural ornaments on your tree.
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
Serve up the most festive charcuterie board with gingerbread, pomegranate, chocolate, rosemary, and candy canes!
DBackdrop
Create a Christmas Tree Arch for your photo backdrop with real or artificial garland.
My Mind's Eye
Buy or DIY these adorable cups for your holiday party. (via My Mind's Eye)
Bring a little dance floor vibe to your holiday door with this disco wreath. (via Brit + Co)
If you’re looking for a colorful, swoon-worthy backdrop for your dessert table, you can’t go wrong with a wall covered in honeycomb shapes. How pretty are those jewel tones with pops of gold? (via Sugar & Cloth)
Instead of Santa or reindeer, turn your tree into an homage to everything awesome about the ’90s, including Koosh balls (‘member those?). (via Aww Sam)
This tribute to our fave legal blonde is now our new favorite holiday decoration. Invite some friends over, and make one together! (via Brit + Co)
Foil-wrapped chocolates will make these pretty trees the main attraction. Line them up along the mantel or use them as an inexpensive table centerpiece at your holiday dinner. (via Brit + Co)
DIY queens will love the idea of putting their own spin on ornaments. Stock up on plain glass balls at the dollar store and let your friends have a blast coming up with holiday puns. They can then take their handiwork home at the end of the night as a fun party favor. (via Brit + Co)
Peace, love, and peppermint! These candy cane gift boxes are a breeze to put together. Fill ’em with chocolate truffles dunked in pink chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy canes. (via Brit + Co)
A disco ball tree beats vacuuming up pine needles any day. It’s bold, it’s glam, and it’s actually pretty easy to put together. (via Studio DIY)
Amazon
Fill these glass ball ornaments with pine stems, snow, gift bows, even sprinkles for your festive decor!
Marble backdrop with tiny packages full of goodies? Now you’re well on your way to counting down to Santa’s arrival in style. (via Brit + Co)
Don’t forget the hot chocolate! You need all the fixings, though: marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles, and even a little caramel drizzle. (via PMQ for two)
Let these beauties bounce across the floor, bunch them together for a photo shoot, or hang them on your porch. (via Studio DIY)
Decorate your tree with gold stars, red ribbon, and soft sage leaves for an extra pop of texture. Then follow this DIY to recreate the soft pastel ombre ornaments. So pretty. (via A Kailo Chic Life)
Channel warm holiday vibes with this crafty ornament. (via Club Crafted)
It doesn’t get much more festive than a bar cart full of presents and gold barware. Layered garlands and mini bottle brush trees create punchy decor accents for any holiday get-together.(via Sugar & Cloth)
Give that punch bowl set you found at the thrift store a new lease on life with metallic paints. (via Design Improvised)
Don’t pass up a chance to put a fresh spin on this party staple. Just add gumdrops, candy wheels, and sugar dust! (via Studio DIY)
String these on the tree, hang them across the mantel, or use them as a photo booth prop. These light bulb garlands can do it all. The best part is that you can totally customize the colors! (via Studio DIY)
Round up a group of friends for a spur-of-the-moment holiday wrap party. Make sure to get plenty of tape at the store, then warm up your printer and go crazy with this tropical-themed gift wrap. (via Studio DIY)
Simple, colorful, and DIY — all of our favorite things! This easy balloon backdrop will transform any blank wall — and the tree! — into a breathtaking party scene. (via A Kailo Chic Life)
Deck out your bar cart for the holidays with some swag and swap out your wine glasses for something gilded to show off your signature Christmas cocktail. (via Brit + Co)
Shutterstock
It’s not a party until the confetti shows up. Pop the bubbly, then pop these DIY confetti cannons to kick off your bash in style. (via Brit + Co)
THEME IDEAS
If you’re going with good old-fashioned snail mail this season, nothing beats a handwritten holiday card. Throw a party dedicated to hand-lettered addresses and actual stamp-licking. Check out the Brit + Co x Moonpig Holiday Collection too! (via Brit + Co)
Skip the grand festivities in favor of a cozy night in with the people you love. Order in pizza, break out the Trader Joe's wine, and get ready to share some hilariously weird and wacky gifts. (via Brit + Co)
ASTR the Label
Give everyone a reason to wear their cute holiday sweaters without needing to shop for something they'll never wear again. (via Brit + Co)
Photo by Marko Klaric
Grab your besties for a night of warm cocoa, gift wrapping, and holiday festivities at your house. Stock up on pretty wrapping paper and cool DIY gift toppers for a fun gift wrapping extravaganza.
Turn your tree lighting into the main event. Invite your pals over for coffee and cocktails, then get your decorating on by DIYing a few baubles. You can even ask everyone to bring one DIY ornament with a prize for the most creative! (via Brit + Co)
Follow us on Pinterest and subscribe to our email newsletter for more Christmas party ideas.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.
I can totally understand falling for a costar. One scene gazing into each other's eyes, and (as the kids say), I'd be asking, "What are we?" Zendaya & Tom Holland and Ashley Park & Paul Forman both met on the sets of their most famous projects (Spider-Man and Emily in Paris, in case you were wondering), and this year's biggest movie event also features a brand new celebrity couple: Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater.
The co-stars made headlines when they ended their respective marriages and started dating each other, and Ethan Slater finally spoke out on the response to their relationship. Here's what he had to say, and the latest news on this couple.
Jerod Harris/Getty Images for CinemaCon
After Ariana and Ethan were both cast in Jon M. Chu's Wicked, the movie began filming in early December. Ariana Grande was cast as Glinda, while Ethan Slater got the role of Boq, one of Glinda's Shiz University classmates.
Ariana and Ethan reportedly could get enough of each other at Michelle Yeoh's Oscars party. A source told The Daily Mail later that summer that "They were seen making out at a pub in Hampstead, and they were all over each other at Michelle Yeoh's Oscar party."
Aliah Anderson/Getty Images
News of Ariana's split from her then-husband Dalton Gomez broke on July 17, while TMZ also reported Ethan filed for divorce from his wife at the time, Lilly Jay, on July 26. (Ariana and Dalton ended up filing for divorce in September).
After People reported Ariana and Ethan were now in a relationship of their own, Lilly told Page Six that “[Ariana’s] the story, really. Not a girl’s girl. My family is just collateral damage.” However, other sources claim Lilly and Ethan had been separated for a couple months before his relationship with Ariana started.
Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater reportedly fell head over heels so quickly, their friends were telling them to pump the breaks. “Ariana’s been told it’s too soon to go public with him and to take things slower,” said an Us Weekly insider at the time. “She’s very aware of how she’s perceived by her fans, and she’s trying to be mature. [But] if it were up to her, she’d be seen with him tomorrow.”
Elsa/Getty Images
Sources told People at the beginning of September that the costars and couple are trying to figure out how to balance their relationship with their celebrity.
“While this entire situation has been blown out of proportion, it’s much different than what has been portrayed in public,” a friend of the couple says. “They are just trying to navigate their new relationship in private."
Another reemphasizes that Ariana and Ethan only started dating after they were separated from their spouses, while a third adds, “They are doing their best to balance the fact that they are in the public eye with the desire to be respectful to all parties involved.”
Surrounded by their friends and family, the Wicked movie stars headed for a day at the happiest place on earth. "They went with a big group of friends as well her mom and brother," a source told People. The source also said they're "really happy and really good for each other. All of her friends love him."
Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Ariana Grande showed up to support her boyfriend for Spamalot's opening night at Broadway's St. James Theater.
To celebrate the holidays, Ariana and Ethan headed out to a nice Italian dinner, reportedly with Ari's dad Ed Butera. "They love to support each other in their work," a source told People. "When she’s done with work, Ariana loves going to the theater when she can."
Considering she's a musical girlie, and has been on Broadway herself, I totally believe Ariana heads to the theatre whenever she gets a chance!
“I’ve never felt more at the mercy of and in acceptance of what life was screaming to teach me,” Ariana Grande said in an Instagram story. “I have never felt more pride or joy or love while simultaneously feeling so deeply misunderstood by people who don’t know me, who piece whispers together and make what they want out of me and their assumptions of my life.”
A source also told People that the popstar is “serious with Ethan. She loves being with him."
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
In a line heard 'round the world, Ariana Grande's "Yes, And?" (the lead single from her Eternal Sunshine album) begs the question, "Why do you care so much whose d—k I ride?" The song doesn't mention Ethan by name, but there's a lot of room to infer.Although, when the album releases in March, Ariana also talks about a new "interaction" on “Intro (End of the World)," and wonders "if he’s judgin’ me like I am right now."
In a Vanity Fair cover story, Ariana opened up about the reaction to her relationship with Ethan Slater, revealing that “the most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of [the story]."
“There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him,” she says. “No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about. There is no one on this earth with a better heart...I’m 31 years old and I’m not a perfect person, but I am definitely deeply good, and I’m proud of who I’m becoming. I will never let disreputable evil tabloids ruin my life or my perception of what is real and good.”
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Lucille Lortel Theatre
Almost two years after meeting Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater finally opened up about their relationship in a new interview with GQ. “Obviously, it was a really super big year and I think there was something that was really difficult about things in your private life being commented on and looked at by the public," he says. "There were a lot of big changes in private lives that were really happening, so it’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you love. So just to address that part of it, that feels really hard."
But the clouds also came with silver linings. “Of course, it was an amazing year and a really beautiful thing, and I’m just really excited," he continues. "I’m just really, really proud of Ari and the work she’s done on this. She’s poured herself into it. I’m really proud that I got to be there for that part of it, and I’m really excited to be there for this next step of it when the world gets to see the amazing thing that she did.”
These two took their relationship to the next level in the modern dating age — they put it on the grid. Well, not exactly. In Instagram posts celebrating the Australian premiere of Wicked, Ariana and Ethan both shared a picture of themselves. Is it blurry? Sure. Are their faces in it? No. But does this still count as an Instagram hard launch? Absolutely.
And after taking photos for the new Wicked movie in Sydney, Australia, Ethan and Ariana were more than happy, walking with their arms around each other and big smiles on their faces! And during the LA premiere of the film, Ariana was seen fixing Ethan Slater's bow tie.
“He’s always that adorable and he’s so amazing in this film. He’s such an amazing person,” she said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I’m so happy people are getting to know him. My heart is very happy.”
Universal/Brit + Co/YouTube
In an exclusive interview with Brit + Co, Ethan Slater couldn't stop hyping up Ari's humor. And if you saw her hosting SNL, then you definitely understand. "I cannot wait for like the roll out of everything that Bowen said that isn't in the movie, or Ari, honestly, said that isn't in the movie. Just take after take," he says. "The moments where somebody broke, it was always great. There's one that's seared into my memory of, in Doctor Dillamond's classroom, I don't remember what Ari said but she got Cynthia [Erivo] and it's just the two of them across the way and they're staring at each other and she got her so good. There's something really wonderful about breaking. It's delightful."
He also praised Ariana and Cynthia for how they welcomed the rest of the cast their first days on set. "[They] would hug everyone who came in," he continues. "This huge movie is something that we've been waiting for for 20 years on a big scale with the biggest stars in the world, it could have felt really intimidating and it felt really familial immediately."
After Wicked press wrapped, Ari and Ethan were spotted in New York City picking out their Christmas tree. “Arianna Grande and her boyfriend, Ethan, [were] buying a Christmas Tree from Yianni Karadimas’ Christmas tree stand on 62nd [and] Broadway,” a source tells Page Six. Festive!!
"They are celebrating the success of Wicked and keeping things low-key as they enjoy the holiday season together," another source adds.
I am dying to know what Ariana's Christmas decor looks like. Is it all pink in honor of Glinda? Is it a classic red, green, and gold color combo? Whatever she picks, I know it looks stunning.
Check back here for the latest news on this Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater's relationship! Read up on Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce while you're at it ;).
This post has been updated.
It’s pretty common for celebrities to go by a stage name or a different moniker entirely when they’re trying to break into showbiz. Take musicians for example. Before the world knew her as Rihanna, everyone in her life simply knew as Robyn Rihanna Fenty. And the same goes for actors as well. Did you know that The Office alum Mindy Kaling was born Vera Mindy Chokalingam?(Yeah, I was today years old when I learned that.) Even certain members of the British royal family have chosen not to go by their first name, given their high profile status. What if I told you Kate Middleton’s full name is Catherine Elizabeth Middleton? I know right, shocker!
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Back when Easy A alum Emma Stone was trying to break into the industry as an actress, she chose to go by a different name because there was already a person with the same moniker in the SAG.
So, in a 2017 interview with W Magazine, the Poor Things star shared that she wanted to go by Emily J. Stone, but decided against it. “So to ask a 16-year-old to pick a new name is really an interesting process, because I was like, ‘I’m going to be Riley’... And so my name was Riley Stone for about six months,” she told the publication at the time. “I changed it to Emma because you know it’s closer to Emily, but most people call me ‘M,’ that know me well.” Honestly, I think you could've pulled off the J, Emma.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Turns out, the Bad Romance singer wasn’t gaga for her real name when she decided to break into Hollywood. Before entering the music industry, Germanotta chose her stage name “Lady Gaga” after she was apparently inspired by the 1984 Queen single “Radio Gaga.” Huh, who would’ve thought?
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Years before the world knew him as “The Weeknd,” Tesfaye chose his professional name when he left home at a young age. During a Reddit Ask Me Anything segment, the singer revealed, "I left home when I was about 17 dropped out of high school and convinced [my friend] Lamar to do the same.”
He continued, “We grabbed our mattresses from our parents threw it in our friends sh—ty van and left one weekend and never came back home. It was gonna be the title of HOB [House of Balloons]. I hated my name at the time though so I tried it as a stage name. It sounded cool. I took out the “e” because there was already a Canadian band named the weekend (copyright issues).”
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
In case you didn’t know, the proud mom went by “Gigi” early on in her childhood. (FYI: Gigi was also her mom’s childhood nickname too.) But in a 2015 interview with Vogue, Hadid shared that everyone started calling her “Gigi” once she started grad school.
“In first or second grade, there was a girl named Helena and it got confusing with the teacher who had to call out our names, and so the teacher asked my mom, ‘If I needed to call Jelena a nickname, what would it be?’ And my mom was like, ‘I call her Gigi sometimes,’ and the name stuck,” the supermodel explained at the time.
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images
Before she became the Duchess of Sussex, Markle simply went by her first name: Rachel. But now, she goes by her middle name professionally. Markle is rarely addressed by her first name in public. However, an exception was made in 2018 when The Sun reported that the late Queen Elizabeth II blessed Markle’s marriage with now husband Prince Harry and addressed the duchess by her full name.
Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images
Apparently, Brad Pitt is another celebrity who likes going by his middle name. But, according to Page Six, the longtime actor actually prefers introducing himself by his first name when he’s flirting with women.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
We're throwing it back with this celebrity name! Fun fact: Mortenson took the name Dougherty after her first marriage. But how did she come up with the name we're all so familiar with? Per Time, the beloved actress chose to say goodbye to her last name after a 20th Century Fox studio executive thought that there would be too many mispronunciations with her last name. So, she decided to drop her last name in exchange for her mom’s maiden name: Monroe. In addition, the exec gave her the name “Marilyn” because she reminded him of a 1920s Broadway star named Marilyn Miller.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Speaking of Jeane's, did you know Reese Witherspoon's name is actually Laura Jeanne? Yup, according to Vogue, the Legally Blonde star took on her mom’s maiden name early on in her career and the moniker Reese Witherspoon was born. It's also why she only calls Big Little Lies costar Laura Dern "Dern."
Arturo Holmes/Getty Images
Originally, Portman was given a traditional Hebrew name before immigrating to the United States in 1984, where her family changed their surname to Portman. Then, the actress’s first name, Neta-Lee (which was her maternal grandmother’s maiden name) later became Natalie.
Catherine Powell/Getty Images for MTV
Though everyone knows her as Cardi B, her diehard fans can attest to the fact she was given a different name at birth. Born Belcalis Almanzar, her stage name is actually short for Bacardi (you know, like the rum). While appearing on an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the rapper shared the origin of her pseudonym.
“My sister's name is Hennessy,” the rapper told Fallon. “So everyone used to call me Bacardi, and I started calling myself Bacardi, which eventually was shortened to Cardi B.”
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While promoting her new show Interior Chinatown, Chloe Bennet sat down with Brit + Co and shared why she felt the need to go by a different name than what she was given at birth, which is Chloe Wong. “Early on in my career, my mixed race seemed to be so much more of a thing than I ever understood it as growing up,” the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D alum explained. “I come from a very diverse household and my dad is Chinese. I think I felt more Chinese than what the world perceived me as and that was a weird concept for me.”
The 32-year-old actress went on to share how she changed her surname to Bennet (aka her father’s name) on her resume and she started booking more roles. “I am still not Chloe Bennet. I am Chloe Wong,” she says in the interview.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images for AFI
Many of us are taught how to pronounce our given name from a very young age. But for Kit Harington, the Game of Thrones star wasn’t told his first name until he was 11 years old. In a 2014 interview with Glamour, the British actor explained how his parents refrained from telling his real name because “they could see that I wanted to be Kit, but Christopher was a bit of a tradition.”
He continued, "My brother’s name is Jack, but his real name is John. Kit is traditionally an offshoot of Christopher, it’s just not used that often. My middle name is Catesby.”
Joe Maher/Getty Images
Did you know Eric Marlon Bishop chose his stage name “Jamie Foxx” when he first started doing stand up? Back in 2015, Foxx sat down with David Letterman and explained how he tried aiming for a “unisex name” when it came time for him to choose a professional alias.
“I noticed that like 1,000 guys showed up and only three girls, but the three girls would always get a spot,” the singer and actor revealed when recounting the time he signed up for a slot in the standup lineup. “So I went to the list and wrote down a unisex name…Jamie Foxx.” And it looks like the name just stuck.
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Until the age of 25, Lizzy (aka Elizabeth) Grant reinvented herself and took on a new name when she tried breaking into the music biz—and that’s how Lana Del Rey came to be. According to The Guardian, she not only changed her name, but her entire persona and image. #Iconic
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Before he caught a grenade for us, the Finesse singer was called Bruno by his family because, when he was a baby, he resembled the professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino. But when it came to his last name, the Hawaiian-born musician thought it would be best to drop it and adopt the Mars surname. “Your last name’s Hernandez, maybe you should do this Latin music, this Spanish music...Enrique's so hot right now,” he jokes in a 2013 interview with GQ.
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Lucy Hale has a secret…her full name is Karen Lucille Hale. As it turns out, the Pretty Little Liarsalum decided to ditch her first name and go by the nickname of her middle name: Lucy.
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Long before she starred in The Substance, the longtime actress (born Demetria Guynes) tied the knot with rock star Freddy Moore at the age of 17 and took his last name. Though the marriage ended after four-and-a-half years, she’s been known as Demi Moore ever since.
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Tonight’s the night that…you’re going to learn how John Legend got his stage name! In a 2008 interview with MTV News (via People), the EGOT winner shared the story behind how he came up with his professional name. “John Legend is a nickname that some friends started calling me, and it kind of grew into my stage name,” he said at the time. “‘Legend’ is something that I never would have chosen for myself originally. It grew to the point where more people in my circle would know me by that name than by my real name.”
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Don’t worry, Destiny Hope Cyrus can buy herself flowers! As it turns out, the Grammy-award winner’s stage name dates back to her childhood, when her family would call her “Smiley,” which ultimately turned into “Miley.” And the rest is history.
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Turns out, Halsey’s stage name is not anagram of her first name, Ashley. Back in 2015, the singer sat down with VEVO and revealed that she was inspired by Halsey Street in Brooklyn, where she would spend weekends making music with her friend.
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Apparently "Meg Ryan Fall" isn't a totally accurate moniker because Meg's real name is Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra! Meg is a common nickname for Margaret, but she got Ryan from her maternal grandmother's maiden name.
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Originally born Nikolina in Bulgaria, our favorite Vampire Diaries star (and recent fiancée!) adopted "Nina" for her stage name because she reportedly figured it would be easier for fans to remember.
Which celebrity surprised you the most on this list? Are there any celebrities that we might’ve missed? Let us know on Instagram and read up on the latest celebrity news on Brit + Co!
