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We like our pop stars to be somewhat otherworldly so there is no point starting an assault on the charts and being called anything that's either too complicated or, frankly, too dull. And that's why our singing heroes have always displayed a propensity towards tweaking the words that appeared on their birth certificates. Here are ten examples of pop stars who've adopted new names and why...

Lady GaGa - Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta

Her producer claimed her vocals sounded like Queen frontman Freddie Mercury so she pinched the name from the Queen hit, Radio GaGa.

Pink - Alecia Beth Moore

Took name from the Tarantino film Reservoir Dogs after friends claimed she looked like Steve Buscemi who played Mr Pink.

Akon - Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam

There is clearly not enough space on a CD sleeve for this mouthful....

Fergie - Stacy Ann Ferguson

Obvious shortening but not to be confused with Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah or the Manchester United manager Sir Alex...

George Michael - Yorgos Kyriacos Panayiotou

Yorgos is of Greek stock, hence the tongue-twisting name. Not sure that someone called Yogos Panayiotou could have got away with those tight shorts in the Wham! Days...

Elton John – Reg Dwight

Realising that Reg Dwight sounded more like a milkman that a pop star, the flamboyant pianist took his stage name from bluesology saxophonist Elton Dean and Long John Baldry. HRH added a “Sir” later on although Lady Elton John is probably more apt.

Boy George - George Alan O'Dowd

Of good honest Irish heritage as the name indicates. What must his mammy have thought when the make-up bag came out?

Bono - Paul Hewson

Was given the nick name Bono as a teenager after a Dublin Hearing Aid shop called Bono Vox, which is Latin for “Good Voice.” His bandmate Dave Evans is called The Edge, but that's another story.

Tina Turner – Annie Mae Bullock

The surname came when she married rock'n'roller Ike – he of pistol whipping fame. And as for the Tina, well, you can't beat a bit of alliteration in a pop name.

Stevie Wonder – Steveland Judkins

Steveland sounds like a theme park for people called Steve. And Wonder replaced Judkins quite simply because of the teenager's ridiculous talent.