I will say it is completely stupid and I have no idea why but I feel Tyler Christopher sounds more exotic than Tyler Baker which sounds like the name of a country bumpkin.
Not that there is anything wrong with that! But I sort of see how one would prefer the former to the latter if one overthinks these things and I can totally see Hollywood types like an agent or Marcil overthinking those things.

Personally I think all of them would have been better served to pick a name and stick to it - including actresses that get married.
Alison Sweeney (who was mistakenly credited as Allison Sweeney in one of her non-Days appearances, I found while researching this thread) has the right idea imo.
A name is a brand. The only thing it matters for is consistency.

49 minutes ago, FrenchBug82 said:

I will say it is completely stupid and I have no idea why but I feel Tyler Christopher sounds more exotic than Tyler Baker which sounds like the name of a country bumpkin.

Agreed. It just sounds better.

Jackée Harry (born Jacqueline Yvonne Harry) briefly went by simply Jackée in the 80s at the height of her stardom.

This thread is turning out to be even more fun than I expected!

After leaving GL, Melinda Fee used the names Melinda O. Fee and Melinda O'Fee.

Yes, I remember when Paul Michael Glaser was just Paul Glaser on LOL. Good catch. Triple names were suddenly big about the time he changed.

Though I'm ready and willing to poke fun at actors who change their names for numerological reasons, acting is such a crazy profession with talented people sometimes making it but sometimes not, if I thought I'd have a bigger career calling myself Tracey or even Traceeeey, I just might do it.

Sally Whittaker > Sally Dynevor - Coronation Street 

Vanessa Marcil > Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo > Vanessa Marcil - General Hospital 

 

ATWT: Rita McLaughlin (Carol Deming) became Rita M. Walter and then just Rita Walter in 1975 after her marriage to Rev. Norman Walter.

On 10/25/2021 at 6:53 PM, dragonflies said:

Tyler Christopher If I remember right it was originally Tyler Christopher Baker, then Tyler Baker, then Tyler Christopher. 

I believe when he was first cast he was Tyler Baker. Then all of a sudden it became Tyler Christopher. I remember because when I first saw the change in one of the soap mags I was like, who? Huh?

I remember that. I totally believe the rumor that Vanessa made him change it.

One not mentioned yet in the spellings category is Christian Le Blanc (Michael Baldwin, "The Young and the Restless").

He's either Christian LeBlanc (no space) or Christian Le Blanc (space) depending on which one you care to pay attention to while writing. It matters though. There's also the matter of him either being Christian Jules LeBlanc (no space) or Christian Jules Le Blanc (space). So frustrating to me when I write about him.

The space in Christian LeBlanc's name is so unnecessary and pretentious. It's an extremely extremely extremely common last name in south LA, and nooooooooo one puts a space between the syllables. In fact, the only time I've ever seen anyone with "La/Le" last names here put a space is when they're trying to break into show business.

On 10/24/2021 at 11:02 PM, Bright Eyes said:

For her first stint on the show Arianne Zucker went by Zuker.

Tracey Bregman added the E to her first name thanks to the advice from a psychic.

Another name that bugs me when I write about them, lol.

It's either Tracey Bregman or Tracey E. Bregman. It's almost like a light switch in terms of which one to use and when. The show sometimes uses just Tracey Bregman, but more recently has been sticking to Tracey E. Bregman. So I'm sticking with the E. LMAO.

As for Arianne Zucker, I knew I wasn't crazy when I recalled Zuker (without the "C") was a thing. Sigh.

This thread has turned into a venting paradise for a writer like me. 😀😁

11 minutes ago, All My Shadows said:

The space in Christian LeBlanc's name is so unnecessary and pretentious. It's an extremely extremely extremely common last name in south LA, and nooooooooo one puts a space between the syllables. In fact, the only time I've ever seen anyone with "La/Le" last names here put a space is when they're trying to break into show business.

Overall, I know names for Hollywood actors is about how you're listed in SAG which doesn't allow duplicates hence why Vanessa Williams isn't the model/actress most known for that name but the one who was on "Days of our Lives" and "Melrose Place," not to mention "Candy Man." It's an old law but it makes sense. Heck, Sarah Brown now goes exclusively by Sarah Joy Brown because of this.

1 hour ago, Forever8 said:

Sally Whittaker > Sally Dynevor - Coronation Street 

Vanessa Marcil > Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo > Vanessa Marcil - General Hospital 

 

This one I will forever remember. I believe Vanessa blocked the SON Twitter page (which remains blocked by her till this day) because in one article way back in the day I pointed out she wasn't truthful about being married to that guy from was it CSI: NY? when she first returned to GH. It came out in their divorce paperwork or something. She was all about having his name though.

17 minutes ago, Errol said:

Another name that bugs me when I write about them, lol.

It's either Tracey Bregman or Tracey E. Bregman. It's almost like a light switch in terms of which one to use and when. The show sometimes uses just Tracey Bregman, but more recently has been sticking to Tracey E. Bregman. So I'm sticking with the E. LMAO.

 

I remember she got divorced or something and changed her name from Tracey Bregman Recht to Tracey Bregman around the time she added the "E" and one of the soap mag columnists snarking that it was a good thing, because they drew the line at 3 names and Tracey E. Bregman Recht was just a bit too much.

Edited October 27, 20214 yr by BoldRestless

13 hours ago, Forever8 said:

Lindsay Korman to Lindsay Hartley when she married Justin Hartley - Passions 

His second wife, Chrishell Stause, likewise switched to Chrishell Hartley. She has since reverted to Stause following their split.

6 hours ago, dragonflies said:

I dunno, when he was married to Eva Longoria, she went by Eva Longoria Christopher, that rolls off the tongue, "Eva Longoria Baker" not so much lol

Ehhh - tomato, tomahto. 😉

Radio actor Michael Romano had many soap roles in the 30's and 40's in Chicago and the New York.

When he moved to LA he changed his name to Jay Novello and acted in radio then TV and movies for many years.

 

Alan Feinstein (Mickey LOL, Jim EON etc) used the name Alan Yorke early in his career.

An oldie, but on All My Children, during her first run as Cecily Davidson, the actress went by Rosa Langschwadt (approximate spelling!). When she returned to the show, the actress was then going by Rosa Nevin.

When he was on OLTL he was Jack Crowder. By the time he got a gig on GH, he was Thalmus Rasalala.