Marilyn Monroe.

Fun fact: "Very few of my friends know I can play the piano." (Marilyn Monroe)

Norma Jeane's, successful modeling career brought her to the attention of Ben Lyon, a 20th Century Fox executive, who arranged a screen test for her. Lyon believed, that she was Jean Harlow all over again. She was offered a standard six-month contract with a starting salary of $125 per week. Lyon did not like the name Norma Jeane and chose "Carole Lind" as a stage name, after Carole Lombard and Jenny Lind, but he soon changed his mind.

Monroe was invited to spend the weekend with Lyon and his wife Bebe Daniels at their home. It was there that they decided to find her a new name. Following her idol Jean Harlow, she decided to choose her mother's maiden name of Monroe. Several variations such as Norma Jeane Monroe and Norma Monroe were tried and initially "Jeane Monroe" was chosen.

Eventually, Lyon decided Jeane was too common and he suggested "Marilyn", saying that she reminded him of Marilyn Miller. Monroe, at first did not like it because Marilyn, was the contraction of the name Mary Lynn, a name she did not like. Lyon, felt that the name "Marilyn Monroe" was sexy, had a "nice flow", and would be "lucky" due to the double "M".

 Video: Norma Jean:

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