Elizabeth Stamatina Fey, who we would one day know simply as Tina Fey, was born May 18, 1970 to Donald Henry Fey and Zenobia Xenakes according to Geneastar. Her mother's Greek ancestry inspired her middle name, which would later inspire her alias. In a conversation with The Quad, Fey reflected on her name. "My first name is Elizabeth, but I've always gone by Tina even in, you know, from elementary school on," she explained.
Fey's certainly in good company with other celebrities who have changed their names. Examples include Lea Michele, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna, according to Radar. But Fey was strategic about the shift, especially when it came time to enter the spotlight. By the time the "Bossypants" author was in high school, she had already dropped her given name to go by Tina — the latter-half of her Greek middle name — with the hope of sounding more hip, per Glamour UK. We think it's safe to say that the entertainment industry definitely approved.
