My real name is actually ...

By Andy Hughes�

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FANCY being a pop star A makeover is essential. Lose that hairstyle, change your clothes, find some hip friends, oh, and don't forget to change your name.

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Some drop the family connection for�good reason, some because they figured it would help their progress up pop's ladder. A few have even gone the whole hog and changed their name by deed poll.

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Cliff Richard does have more of a ring than staid Harry Webb, and Elton John was probably right to loose Reginald Dwight, well you would wouldn't you!

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But how do you pick out your name �

Some artists got their names from friends, based on particular looks or personality traits. Gordon Sumner from Newcastle became Sting, not as the legend has

it, because he wore striped black and yellow jerseys, that came after the new name. In fact, one of Sting's early band cohorts liked to give the band members 'hard' names. Sting got his because he could look a bit nasty when the mood took him.

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Marillion's ex-lead singer Fish (a smart move when you are Mr and Mrs Dick's little lad Derek on your birth certificate) reckons his drinking habits gave him the name that sticks to this day.

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The list of name-changers goes on well past the most obvious examples.

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Roberta Joan Anderson answers to Joni Mitchell for professional purposes, Patricia Andrzejewski is a bit of a mouthful at the albums counter, so asking for Pat Benatar will get you the same person's output. Over in the jazz section, asking for Clementina Dinah Campbell may earn you some puzzled frowns, but substitute Cleo Laine and head scratching will cease forthwith.

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Ask members of your family whose tastes include the 1950's to sing you a few of the old Norma Delores Egstrom hits, and you might be unlucky. Translate that name, as the lady herself did, to Peggy Lee, and watch those confused expressions vanish.

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Sixties hipsters who like the mean and moody black leather look of Lou Reed might�be surprised to find his real name is Louis Firbank.

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Bang-up-to-date music lovers find that Richard Melville Hall is more of a mouthful than Moby, an appropriate name-change for an artist who can claim decent from the famous whale tale's author.

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What if your name is Louise Nurding Well, does it really matter Louise has kept her maiden name even after marrying footballer Jamie Rednap, and it hasn't hurt her career in the slightest, so maybe others should take note.

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Maybe you know someone famous with a deep dark secret about his or her name. Share with us please on The AnswerBank Message Boards, click here.