Editing Stage name (section)

== Relevance to image ==
[[Ching Lau Lauro]] (1806?–1840) used a Chinese stage name to represent his stage image as a [[contortion]]ist in Chinese costume. Believed to be a Cornishman, he was probably the first European magician to dress in Chinese costume on stage.<ref>During, Simon (2004). ''Modern Enchantments: The Cultural Power of Secular Magic''. London: Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|9780674013711}}. Retrieved December 12, 2013.</ref>

Commonly in the music world, especially those of [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[punk rock]], [[industrial music|industrial]], and [[hip hop music|hip hop]], musicians will rename themselves with names more menacing or striking than their birth names. Every member of the punk band [[Ramones]] took the pseudonymous "Ramone" surname as part of their collective stage persona. Members of New Zealand art-rock band [[Split Enz]] all took their middle names as stage names, so as to keep their private image separate from their public personae.

Other performers may assume stage names as a means of distancing themselves from publicly known childhood names that could be considered professionally embarrassing, outlandish, or otherwise inappropriate. Film director [[Duncan Jones]] (son of singer [[David Bowie]]) was known publicly as a child as Zowie Bowie.

Rappers are known to use stage names, such as [[Jay-Z]] (Shawn Carter), [[50 Cent]] (Curtis Jackson), [[Sean Combs|Diddy]] (Sean Combs), [[Young Thug]] (Jeffery Williams), [[Ludacris]] (Chris Bridges), [[Lil Wayne]] (Dwayne Carter Jr.), and [[Soulja Boy]] (DeAndre Way). At times, these artists will use their real names to make some of their material seem more authentic or personal. [[Eminem]] (Marshall Mathers) took his stage name from the pronunciation of his initials (M and M), and later used his real name at various public events and as an [[alter ego]] after his real name gained recognition following the release of his multi-platinum album ''[[The Marshall Mathers LP]]''. [[LL Cool J]] (James Todd Smith) referenced his real name on the albums ''[[Mr. Smith (album)|Mr. Smith]]'' and ''[[Todd Smith (album)|Todd Smith]]''. [[Queen Latifah]] (Dana Owens) released ''[[The Dana Owens Album]]'' after changing her focus from hip-hop to jazz. [[Xzibit]] (Alvin Joiner) has also been credited by his real name when acting in several television shows.