Famous entertainers often stay at hotels while traveling, but that can put them at increased risk for attracting unwanted attention from paparazzi — or even repeated unwanted encounters with fans. So when checking in, many celebrities have developed alter egos that allow them to stay at hotels and stay under the radar.
However, the funny thing about these aliases is that while they may conceal the celebrity’s identity, they can be very revealing.
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Many celebrities aliases were leaked back in 2014, so the brightest stars among us have very likely changed theirs. But that doesn't make the names any less telling.
For example, a celebrity who names himself after a favorite character may identify deeply with certain personality traits. Or someone who uses a loved one’s name may want to keep their family close while on the road. But, then again, maybe there’s not all that much depth to these fake names. There are also celebrities who use their hotel aliases as an opportunity for a joke and nothing more.
Beyoncé
When trying to go undercover, Mrs. Carter knows to pick a name that could be anybody on the planet: “Ingrid Jackson.”
Kim Kardashian
When checking into hotels, Kim Kardashian doesn't seem to choose the most discreet names. Which, of course, is very fitting. She has sometimes gone by the name of her favorite character “Princess Jasmine” to avoid detection.
Ice Cube
When checking into hotels, Ice Cube just used his real name: O’Shea Jackson can inconspicuously slip in and out of hotels. He also sometimes goes by “Darius Stone,” his character’s name in the “xXx” movies.
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks alternated between Harry Lauder, a vaudeville performer and comedian, and Johnny Madrid, a trumpet player who performed with Blood, Sweat & Tears and The Outsiders.
Taye Diggs
Taye Diggs follows in the tradition of actors who change their names for the big screen — which is convenient when traveling. He could use his given name, Scott, to avoid detection.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan’s alter ego, “Bella Lovelace” is an ode to Linda Lovelace, the ‘70s porn star who Lohan almost played in a biopic.
Jay-Z
Jay-Z is one of the few stars who has chosen an alias arguably more famous than his own. When checking into hotels, Shawn Carter goes by “Frank Sinatra.”
Brad Pitt
When traveling with a significant other, it seems Brad Pitt has a tendency to make his own couple’s names. When he was half of Brangelina, Pitt checked into hotels as Bryce Pilaf.
Angelina Jolie
When Jolie traveled solo, she sometimes checked into hotels using the mysteriously absurd alias “Miss Lollipop.”
Michael Jackson
When Michael Jackson had to leave Neverland Ranch and check into a hotel, he would reportedly use the name “Dr. Doolittle.”
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp has always been a bit unusual. He doesn’t break that tendency when coming up with aliases: Some of Depp’s hotel aliases include Mr. Drip Noodle, Mr. Oddpong and Mr. Stench. Apparently no matter his identity, he is not a fan of first names.
Kristen Stewart
When trying to slip secretly in and out of hotels, Kirsten Stewart has reportedly gone by “Chuck Steak.” For those unfamiliar with butcher terminology, it is the name of a type of beef that comes from the cow’s shoulder.
Jessica Alba
A bit of thought went into Jessica Alba’s alias. She goes by “Cash Money,” which may seem a bit brash, but it’s actually an homage to her husband, Cash Warren.
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake has gone by “Mr. Woodpond” at hotels. Get it? Timber...lake; Wood...pond.
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber used his fake name to honor a character from sitcom history, Chandler Bing. It’s unclear if Matthew Perry returns the favor by checking into hotels as the Canadian popstar.
Fergie
Stacy Ferguson — also known as Fergie — could have gone the predictable route and checked into hotels using her real name, but instead she decided to have a bit of fun. She goes by “Penny Lane,” either inspired by The Beatles or “Almost Famous.”
Slash
Slash’s real name is Saul Hudson. But that apparently wasn’t a good enough name to slip into hotels undetected. Instead the Guns N’ Roses guitarist has gone as “I. P. Freely” when checking in and out.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis has reportedly gone by Señor Pants at hotels. It must be an inside joke and it must be very funny.
Tom Cruise
Everybody knows that a proper alias is the name of the street you grew up on, then the name of your first pet. Tom Cruise — who checks in as Cage Hunt — is the only celebrity to kind of follow this rule and at least choose names with a meaning from his past. “Cage” comes from Lieutenant Colonel Bill Cage, the character he played in “Edge of Tomorrow,” and Ethan Hunt from the “Mission Impossible” movies.
Kid Rock
Who knew that Kid Rock — born Robert James Ritchie — was into comic books? At hotels, the musician goes by “Dick Grayson.” For those who aren’t familiar, the name is to Robin as Bruce Wayne is to Batman.
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi is no stranger to playing around with names. The singer was born John Bongiovi and altered the spelling for his stage persona. But when choosing an alias, Bon Jovi decided to honor Tennessee Williams’s play, “A Streetcar Named Desire.” He checks in as “Stanley Kowalski” and probably screams “Stella!” every time a bellboy closes a door behind him.
Kate Beckinsale
If an alias is an opportunity to honor your heroes, Kate Beckinsale loves the “Alien” movies and humor. She has reportedly checked into hotels as “Sigourney Beaver.”
Chris Rock
Chris Rock’s alias may seem like a joke, but it also honors a man in his field who came before. “Slappy White” was a standup comedian and actor who appeared on “Sanford and Son” and “Blossom.”
Matt Damon
If Matt Damon ever stays in the same hotel as a head of state, there could be a mix-up. The actor has requested to be called “Mr. President” at hotels. He has also been known to go by “Mr. Naff.”
Britney Spears
Although Britney Spears did not appear in the Austin Powers series until “Goldmember,” her hotel alias may have been partially inspired by a character in the series’ first film. Spears has reportedly checked in as “Ms. Alotta Warmheart,” reportedly because of her warm heart. She has also used the name “Mrs. Diana Prince,” in honor of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney dug up a name from his past to check into hotels discretely. “Apollo C. Vermouth” was the name he used to produce a single from the ‘70s art band The Bonzo Dog Band. Although nobody’s certain where the alias came from, Beatles conspiracists have a whole slew of theories — including many literary references.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston has hidden in plain sight at hotels. She picked the most normal name around, Mrs. Smith, to stay in her room without anybody knowing her real identity.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton loves Tinkerbell. Not only did she name her pet Chihuahua after the tiny Disney character, she has been known to check into hotels under her name.
Elton John
Sir Elton John has a flair for the eccentric. To conceal his true identity in hotels, the musician has reportedly checked in as “Sir Humphrey Handbag” or “Binky Poodle-Clip.”
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne loves his country. When checking into hotels, Osbourne has represented his British roots by using the names “Prince Albert” or “Harry Bollocks” to keep fans away. His real first name is John, by the way.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman is a Harvard grad, so she learned a few valuable lessons during her education. Lesson number one is to choose an inconspicuous name if you wish to be inconspicuous. Hence “Lauren Brown.”
Tobey Maguire
After playing Peter Parker, Tobey Maguire is no stranger to aliases. His choice for his own hotel identity is a cheeky “Neil Deep” whose meaning is best left to the imagination.
Jude Law
To avoid detection at hotels, Jude Law has in the past chosen an easily-overlooked name: Mr. Perry. Nobody seems to know from where Law pulled his alias, however our burning question is whether or not the actor stays in character as “Mr. Perry” for his entire hotel stay.
Debra Messing
When Debra Messing doesn’t want to be found at hotels, she keeps things glamorous as “Ava Harper.”
Daniel Craig
When Daniel Craig travels, he has in the past disguised himself as a figure from his past. Craig goes by “Olwen Williams,” his grandfather’s name, who was an innkeeper in Wales.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
When choosing her alias, Sarah Michelle Gellar went back to the ‘60s for her source material. Gellar goes by “Neely O’Hara” at hotels, which was the name of one of the most tragic characters in the book (and film) “Valley of the Dolls.” In the story, O’Hara becomes a star, moves to Hollywood, develops an addiction to prescription drugs and becomes a terror.
Clive Owen
Clive Owen’s hotel name was inspired, in part, by his wife, Sarah-Jane Fenton. Owen has gone by “Robert Fenton” while traveling. Perhaps his first name was inspired by his 2001 film “Gosford Park” wherein he played a character named Robert Parks.
Rob Schneider
Rob Schneider didn’t choose the best alias. His name of choice was Nazzo Good. Mr. Nazzo Good.
George Clooney
At this point, George Clooney knows that it is unlikely he will be able to pass through a hotel unseen. Which may be why he has been known to check in as one of the few actors more famous than him, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Clooney said that he would always laugh when hotel staff was forced to call him “Mr. Schwarzenegger.”
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller has reportedly gone by “Clyde Tibenus.” Stiller’s inspiration for his hotel name is unclear — although perhaps “Tibenus” is a reworking of his own name.
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler may not strike most people as a loner — however his hotel alter ego definitely is. When avoiding paparazzi and fans at hotels, the Aerosmith frontman has been known to check in as “I. K. Malone.”
