True Celebrity Names (Born in the 1960s) Quiz

Answer: Gabriele Susanne Kerner

Born March 24th, 1960 in Hagen, West Germany, Gabriele Susanne Kerner (AKA Nena) began her musical career in the late 1970s, but did not achieve any real success until forming her band (also called Nena) in West Berlin in 1982. Their first single release "Nur geträumt" became an instant hit. Nena became known internationally with her 1983 hit "99 Luftballons"/"99 Red Balloons".

Nena is the nickname that was given to her by her family while on vacation when she was just a little girl; it means 'little girl' in Spanish.

Answer: Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin

Born May 17th, 1961 in Dore, Ireland, Gabriele Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin (AKA Enya) kicked off her music career playing in her own family's band Clannad, then branched out on her own to pursue a solo career. Her name has become synonymous with Celtic music and she has been sought after to provide songs for movie soundtracks as well, such as "May it Be" from "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring". Enya has been recognized internationally, winning multiple World Music Awards and Grammy Awards.

'Enya' is a phonetic spelling of how her birth name, Eithne, is pronounced in Irish Gaelic.

Answer: Leslie Wunderman

Born March 7th, 1962 in New York, New York, Leslie Wunderman (AKA Taylor Dayne) first used the stage name Les Lee when she began performing, releasing two solo dance singles in the mid-1980s. She signed a recording contract under the name Taylor Dayne, and continued with a number of hit songs early on. In the late 1990s, Dayne also began a parallel acting career.

Taylor Dayne stated in an interview that she chose the name Taylor Dayne in an effort to reinvent herself as a performer.

Answer: Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou

Born June 25th, 1963 in London, England, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (AKA George Michael) achieved fame early in his musical career as part of Wham! with school friend Andrew Ridgeley. They broke up their partnership in 1986 after five years together, after which Michael continued with a highly successful solo career. In fact, his debut solo album, "Faith" (1987), won the Grammy for Album of the Year (in 1989).

With pending fame after the release of the single "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)" in 1982, Michael changed his name, anglicizing Georgios, and taking Michael from his uncle.

Answer: Isabelle de Truchis de Varennes

Born April 18th, 1964 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, Isabelle de Truchis de Varennes (AKA Zazie) began a career in modelling before beginning her music career in 1990. She earned the Best New Female Pop Artist of the Year (Victoires de la musique) in 1993, which she followed up in 1998 with Best Female Artist of the Year.

Zazie's name came as a childhood nickname, referenced from the book "Zazie dans le métro" by Raymond Queneau.

Answer: Saul Hudson

Born July 23rd, 1965 in London, England, Saul Hudson (AKA Slash) made his mark in the music industry in the 1980s and 1990s as the lead guitarist with Guns N' Roses. In 1996 he left GNR to form Slash's Snakepit, a project which lasted six years, after which he helped form the group Velvet Revolver. Since ending his stint with that group in 2008, Slash went on to pursue a solo career.

Slash purportedly got his name from actor Seymour Cassel, due to Slash always being in a rush.

Answer: Sophie Danièle Sylvie Maupu

Born November 17th, 1966 in Paris, France, Sophie Danièle Sylvie Maupu (AKA Sophie Marceau) began acting as a teen, with her debut film "La Boum" released in 1980. After the 1982 sequel was released, Sophie earned a César Award as the Most Promising Actress. In the 1990s she gained recognition internationally for such films as "Braveheart" (1995) and "The World Is Not Enough" (1999).

Sophie chose to change her name from Marpu to Marceau for professional reasons, after a Parisian street 'avenue Marceau'.

Answer: Mark Sinclair

Born July 18th, 1967 in Alameda County, Mark Sinclair (AKA Vin Diesel) began his acting career on stage as a child of seven, but did not get into film until the 1990s. Since then he has made a name for himself as an action star, although he is not limited to that role.

At one time, working as a bouncer, Vin used his mother's (and twin brother's) last name (Vincent), shortened, as a pseudonym. The name 'Diesel' came from friends who said he was always full of energy.

Answer: James Todd Smith

Born January 14th, 1968 in Bay Shore, New York, James Todd Smith (AKA LL Cool J) began rapping at the age of nine, and by the age of 16 he was sending demos to different record companies. His first record was produced the next year, and critical success soon followed. He won his first Grammy for 1992's ""Mama Said Knock You Out". LL Cool J also got into acting at the same time his music career took off, including both film and TV.

The name LL Cool J is short for Ladies Love Cool James.

Answer: O'Shea Jackson

Born June 15th, 1969 in Baldwin Hills, California, O'Shea Jackson (AKA Ice Cube) formed his first rap group C.I.A. (Cru' in Action!) in 1984, and then his second group N.W.A. (Niggaz Wit Attitudes) in 1986. A few short years later (1989), Ice Cube went solo and began a solid career of rapping, record producing, acting, and filmmaking.

Ice Cube adopted his name while in high school, choosing it as a stage name along with his friend Sir Jinx (Anthony Wheaton) when they formed C.I.A.