"Carruthers, Peregrine Carruthers" doesn't quite sound as well as "Bond, James Bond," but that is what author Ian Fleming was originally going to name his super-spy. He decided against it because he realized that exotic and fantastic things would be going on around Bond, so he needed a dull name to provide some balance. A name like Peregrine would blow any spy's cover.
If you think that is bad Walt Disney originally wanted to name his iconic toon Mortimer Mouse. He eventually changed the name to Mickey Mouse at the bequest of his wife. She didn't think kids would vibe well with the name. Apparently Disney didn't listen 100%. A new character appeared a few years after the introduction of Mickey named Mortimer. Never heard of him? There's a good reason.
It may not surprise you that Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker was originally named Annikin Starkiller. Before George Lucas had pounded out all the intricate details of Star Wars this character was a composite of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. He was in the learning phase like Luke but had the cockiness of Han. Eventually the two broke but Lucas held onto the name Anakin for Luke's father. Luke was also named Justin Valor for a while in between the Starkiller and Skywalker phase. That name is a bit too cheesy.
So what's the point? People change names all the time - especially celebrities. Want to know some of their real names? Trust me some are embarrassing. Enjoy.
Chevy Chase - Cornelius Crane Chase
John Wayne - Marrion Morrison
Tom Jones - Thomas Jones Woodward
Cary Grant - Archie Leach
Audrey Hepburn - Edda Van Heemstra Hepburn
Tiger Woods - Elridge Tiger Woods
Fred Astaire - Frederick Austerlitz
Richard Burton - Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.
Queen Latifa - Dana Owens
Marilyn Monroe - Norma Jean Baker
Ringo Starr - Richard Starkey
Rodney Dangerfield - Jack Roy
Kid Rock - Bob Ritchie
Bob Hope - Leslie Towne Hope
Larry King - Lawrence Zeiger
Ludacris - Christopher Brian Bridges
Gene Simmons - Chiam Witz
Ice Cube - O'Shea Jackson
Madonna - Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone
Lewis Carroll - Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson
