13 Celebs Whose Parents Name Them After Famous Performers Or Historical Figures

BuzzFeed
·4-min read

Naming a child is an important and special decision, and parents often name their babies after other people they admire. Sometimes, such a name is especially fitting because their baby grows up to pursue a similar career to their namesake.

Here are 13 celebrities who were named after other famous people:

1.Taylor Swift was named after a '70s music icon — "Fire and Rain" singer James Taylor.

James Taylor and Taylor Swift playing guitars while seated on a plush couch on stage, with microphones in front of them

2.Karlie Kloss was named after another '70s music icon (and James Taylor's ex-wife) — "You're So Vain" singer Carly Simon.

Karlie Kloss in an elegant dress poses at the Caring for Women Foundation event backdrop
Karlie Kloss in an elegant dress poses at the Caring for Women Foundation event backdrop
Carly Simon at the Tribeca Film Festival, dressed in a stylish long-sleeved satin gown and a wide-brimmed hat adorned with flowers
Carly Simon at the Tribeca Film Festival, dressed in a stylish long-sleeved satin gown and a wide-brimmed hat adorned with flowers

Gotham / WireImage / Via Getty, Presley Ann / Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

In a 2015 "Questions for Karlie" YouTube video, she said, "My parents really liked the name Carly, but they wanted to name me with a K because all my sisters' names start with a K."

3.Selena Gomez was named after the late Queen of Tejano Music, Selena Quintanilla.

Selena Gomez on the red carpet in an elegant gown with silver accents, accessorized with earrings, rings, and bracelets
Selena Gomez on the red carpet in an elegant gown with silver accents, accessorized with earrings, rings, and bracelets
Selena Quintanilla in a sparkling, fitted gown with a halter neckline, smiling and posing in front of a backdrop with multiple Grammy award logos
Selena Quintanilla in a sparkling, fitted gown with a halter neckline, smiling and posing in front of a backdrop with multiple Grammy award logos

Gilbert Flores / Variety via Getty Images, Arlene Richie / Getty Images

In 2016, she told Sacramento's NOW 100.5, "My dad and mom were huge fans. My name was going to be Priscilla, but my cousin actually took the name when she was born six months before me. They actually loved [Selena's] music, so they just named me after her...I grew up, and I went to her grave. I got to go to her house. It was really crazy. And then when I started working, I remember I got to meet her family, and I just got super emotional 'cause it's so crazy to see how far everything ... I don't know where she'd be right now. It's nuts."

4.Jordan Chiles was named after basketball player and fellow Olympian Michael Jordan.

Gymnast Jordan Chiles performing during a competition, wearing a leotard with
Gymnast Jordan Chiles performing during a competition, wearing a leotard with
Michael Jordan in 1992 USA Basketball uniform dribbling a basketball on the court during a game
Michael Jordan in 1992 USA Basketball uniform dribbling a basketball on the court during a game

Naomi Baker / Getty Images, Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images

In 2018, she told Koin, "[My mom] is literally in love with sports."

5.Cole Sprouse was named after jazz singer, pianist, and actor Nat King Cole, whose voice you likely recognize from his iconic version of "The Christmas Song."

Cole Sprouse in a suit jacket and shirt, standing in front of a greenery backdrop at an event
Cole Sprouse in a suit jacket and shirt, standing in front of a greenery backdrop at an event
Nat King Cole playing a piano while smiling, dressed in a suit and tie
Nat King Cole playing a piano while smiling, dressed in a suit and tie

Dominik Bindl / Getty Images, Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

6.Dylan Sprouse was named after Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas, who's known for works like "Do not go gentle into that good night" (and was also referenced in Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department").

Dylan Sprouse in a corduroy suit with hands in pockets, standing in front of a
Dylan Sprouse in a corduroy suit with hands in pockets, standing in front of a
Dylan Thomas, seated, wearing a patterned cardigan, dark sweater, trousers, and a neckerchief, looking towards the camera
Dylan Thomas, seated, wearing a patterned cardigan, dark sweater, trousers, and a neckerchief, looking towards the camera

Michael Simon / Getty Images, Hulton Archive / Getty Images

7.Leonardo DiCaprio was named after Renaissance painter Leonardo da Vinci.

Leonardo DiCaprio at AFI Awards in a suit and shirt, standing in front of a backdrop with the AFI logo and
Leonardo DiCaprio at AFI Awards in a suit and shirt, standing in front of a backdrop with the AFI logo and
Leonardo da Vinci portrait, showing him with a long beard, a dark hat, and a calm expression
Leonardo da Vinci portrait, showing him with a long beard, a dark hat, and a calm expression

Jesse Grant / Getty Images for AFI, Dea / De Agostini via Getty Images

In 2014, he told NPR, "My father tells me that they were on their honeymoon at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, I believe. They were looking at a da Vinci painting, and allegedly I started kicking furiously while my mother was pregnant. And my father took that as a sign, and I suppose DiCaprio wasn't that far from da Vinci. And so, my dad, being the artist that he is, said, 'That's our boy's name.'"

8.Marc Anthony — whose real name is Marco Antonio Muñiz — was named after famous '60s singer Marco Antonio Muñiz.

Marc Anthony performs on stage, wearing sunglasses, a leather jacket, and a T-shirt
Marc Anthony performs on stage, wearing sunglasses, a leather jacket, and a T-shirt
Marco Antonio Muñiz wearing a dark suit and bow tie sings into a microphone on a geometric-patterned stage
Marco Antonio Muñiz wearing a dark suit and bow tie sings into a microphone on a geometric-patterned stage

Sergione Infuso - Corbis / Corbis via Getty Images, BMG / Via youtube.com

He adopted a stage name to avoid confusion with the older singer.

9.Sebastian Stan is named after Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

Sebastian Stan in a shirt with a blazer attends an A24 event, standing against a backdrop with
Sebastian Stan in a shirt with a blazer attends an A24 event, standing against a backdrop with
Portrait of composer Johann Sebastian Bach, holding a sheet of music, wearing a dark coat with large buttons and white ruffled cuffs
Portrait of composer Johann Sebastian Bach, holding a sheet of music, wearing a dark coat with large buttons and white ruffled cuffs

Dominik Bindl / Getty Images, Dea / De Agostini via Getty Images

10.Rachel Zegler was named after Jennifer Aniston in a roundabout way — she was named after Rachel Green, the actor's iconic Friends character.

Rachel Zegler at Elsie Fest wearing a shimmering crop top and high-waisted shorts with stockings and heels
Rachel Zegler at Elsie Fest wearing a shimmering crop top and high-waisted shorts with stockings and heels
Jennifer Aniston posing with arms crossed, wearing a sleeveless blouse and necklace
Jennifer Aniston posing with arms crossed, wearing a sleeveless blouse and necklace

Variety / Variety via Getty Images, Getty Images

In 2023, she told The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, "That is a real fact, and nobody ever believes me. Because they think there's no way I'm young enough to be named after Friends, but I am. My mom...they were going to name me Catherine, but my older sister's Jaqueline. And they thought that might be too confusing for babies to figure out. My mom loved the way it sounded on Friends for Jennifer Aniston, and then that was my name."

11.Willow Smith is seemingly named after her famous father, Will Smith.

Willow Smith, and Will Smith on a red carpet, her in a short dress with buttons and him in a patterned suit
Paul Archuleta / FilmMagic / Via Getty

12.Willow's brother, Jaden Smith, is seemingly named after their famous mother, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Jada Pinkett Smith and Jaden Smith are dressed in sleek outfits. Jada is holding a stylish, patterned clutch. Jaden's hair is styled in dreadlocks
The Chosunilbo Jns / ImaZins via Getty Images

13.And finally, Anne Hathaway was named after the famous poet who shares her name — Anne Hathaway, who's also known as William Shakespeare's wife.

Anne Hathaway on the red carpet wears a fitted, strapless dress with cut-out details at the premiere of
Anne Hathaway on the red carpet wears a fitted, strapless dress with cut-out details at the premiere of
Judi Dench portraying a historical Anne Hathaway peering out from a dark, wooden doorway, wearing period clothing with a lace collar
Judi Dench portraying a historical Anne Hathaway peering out from a dark, wooden doorway, wearing period clothing with a lace collar

Cindy Ord / Getty Images, Sony Pictures Classics / courtesy Everett Collection

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