#6: The Transformation of Names in Hollywood

Hollywood has long been a place where stars are born—but often under new names. Many iconic actors weren’t known by the names they were given at birth. Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, and Rita Hayworth were originally Norma Jeane Mortenson, Frances Ethel Gumm, and Margarita Carmen Cansino, transformed by studios to sound more glamorous.

In a bizarre twist, MGM even held a contest to rename Lucille LeSueur, resulting in Joan Crawford—a name she reportedly hated. This wasn’t just branding; it was a reminder that in old Hollywood, studios didn’t just shape careers—they reinvented identities to fit their vision of stardom.