The Truth About Judy Garland's Real Name

As interest in Garland grew, someone suggested that Frances Gumm needed a new, more theatrical sounding name, according to the Judy Garland Museum. That person was comedian George Jessel, and he came up with the last name "Garland." It was Garland herself who found a replacement for "Frances." She picked "Judy," which came from a

As interest in Garland grew, someone suggested that Frances Gumm needed a new, more theatrical sounding name, according to the Judy Garland Museum. That person was comedian George Jessel, and he came up with the last name "Garland." It was Garland herself who found a replacement for "Frances." She picked "Judy," which came from a popular song by Hoagy Carmichael and Sammy Lerner. And thus one of the most famous stage names was created in 1934.

The following year, a 13-year-old Judy Garland signed her first film contract with MGM studios. She was apparently so good that she didn't even need a screen test, per Britannica. After tackling a few smaller parts, Garland teamed up with Mickey Rooney for "Thoroughbreds Don't Cry" (1937). The two proved to be a popular pair on screen and made several more movies together, including "Love Finds Andy Hardy" (1938) and "Babes in Arms" (1939). The teenage performer then netted one of the greatest roles of her early career, playing Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." Garland earned a special Academy Award for her work on the film.

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