Brad Pitt is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, but many people have only just learned what his real name actually is – and it’s not what you would think
10:27, 18 Dec 2025
Brad Pitt is one of the biggest names in Hollywood(Image: ANGELA WEISS, AFP via Getty Images)
Fans of Brad Pitt have been left scratching their heads after discovering the true name of the Hollywood heavyweight. The Fight Club actor is a household name, with an impressive collection of accolades including two Oscars, two BAFTAs, and two Golden Globes, not to mention his roles in some of the most successful films ever produced.
Today (December 18) sees Pitt celebrating his 61st birthday – but did you know that Brad Pitt isn’t his full moniker? It’s not unusual for actors to adopt stage names or tweak their birth names to make them more memorable or to avoid confusion with another actor sharing the same name. However, many fans of the F1 star were taken aback to learn that Pitt had also altered his name before making his mark in Hollywood.
The subject of Brad Pitt’s real name has sparked debate on platforms like Reddit over the years, with one user questioning if his name is actually Bradley, while another confessed they had only just discovered his full name.
Born William Bradley Pitt, he was named after his father, William Alvin Pitt. Yet, when embarking on his acting career, he opted to use his middle name, shortening it to Brad for ease of pronunciation and to create a more impactful professional persona in Hollywood.
A Reddit user recently discovered: “TIL [today I learned] that Brad Pitt’s first name isn’t Bradley, it’s actually William, with Bradley being his middle name.”
Glamour magazine recounts a tale from 2018 where the Hollywood star introduced himself as William to a woman in a coffee shop. She responded by saying he “looked like a Bradley”. He then revealed that it was his middle name and “smiled and winked at her”.
Reflecting on the encounter, the woman shared: “[I replied] ‘Nice to meet you, Bradley. I mean William.’ He laughed to himself, then got on his bike.”
Pitt is not alone in using a stage name in Tinseltown. A few years back, a list of “celebrities’ real names” made the rounds on Reddit, leaving users “surprised” at the number of stars using pseudonyms.
Some of the standout examples included Emma Stone, who was born Emily, Jack Black, whose full name is Thomas Jacob Black, Julianne Moore, originally Julie Anne Smith, and Vin Diesel, born Mark Sinclair Vincent.
However, some Reddit users noted that many of these name changes were simply celebrities adopting nicknames or their middle names professionally – much like Pitt.
One curious commenter pondered: “I always wonder if like, Vin Diesel’s friends call him Mark or Vin. Or if Snoop goes by ‘Calvin’ with his wife or whatnot.”
Another expressed their fascination, adding: “I’m always blown away by this stuff. And always wonder how they come up with new stage names!”.
A third person commented: “As a Julianne, I find the Julie Anne to Julianne change mesmerising. I can’t stand to be called Julie, but it seems strange for her to have squashed two names into one when the sound is basically the same.”
As for Brad Pitt, it’s been reported that he sometimes introduces himself as William in certain social settings, including the famous coffee shop encounter.
Regardless of which name he prefers, we’re wishing him a fantastic 61st birthday!
