25 celebrities whose real names will surprise you

NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 08: Actor Whoopi Goldberg attends the Ceremony: Xuly.Bet x Mimi Prober x Hogan McLaughlin front row during New York Fashion Week presented by First Stage at Industria Studios on February 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mireya Acierto/Getty Images for New York Fashion Week: The Shows)

Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Johnson)

By now, everyone knows Whoopi Goldberg is a stage name. “Whoopi” isn’t the most common name out there and, since she isn’t Jewish, Goldberg isn’t that likely either.

The Oscar-winning TV host came up with her moniker back when she did stand-up comedy. And it may surprise you to know that her name actually does come from a whoopee cushion!

“If you get a little gassy, you’ve got to let it go,” Whoopi has said. “So people used to say to me, ‘You’re like a whoopee cushion.’ And that’s where the name came from.”

And Goldberg? Well, that was because her mom felt a more Jewish name would help her make her way up in Hollywood. It’s ironic since most people change their name because of the way it sounds for the same reason!

But hey, when you have that kind of unique combination, it’s hard to deny there’s something special there. She probably holds the record for the best name of an Oscar winner, at least.