Dwayne Johnson's Real Name: Dwayne Douglas Johnson

Quick answer: Dwayne Johnson's real name is Dwayne Douglas Johnson. He was born on May 2, 1972, in Hayward, California. "The Rock" is his WWE ring name, not his legal birth name.

Birth name vs. The Rock

Dwayne Douglas Johnson is the son of wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles) and Ata Johnson; his maternal grandfather was Samoan wrestling legend Peter Maivia. He played defensive tackle at the University of Miami and briefly in the Canadian Football League before entering professional wrestling (Britannica; LOC).

In WWE (then WWF) he first wrestled as Rocky Maivia, then as The Rock—a ring persona. Legal and film credits use Dwayne Johnson; branding often pairs both names.

Wrestling peak and Hollywood

As The Rock he became one of WWE's top draws in the late 1990s and early 2000s Attitude Era, winning multiple world championships and headlining WrestleMania events (Britannica). Film breakthroughs included The Scorpion King (2002), then franchise leads in Fast & Furious entries, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and sequel, DC's Black Adam (2022), and Disney's Moana (voice of Maui). He has repeatedly ranked among Hollywood's highest-paid actors in trade surveys (Britannica).

Business and public life

Johnson co-founded the Seven Bucks Productions banner and launched lifestyle brands including teremana tequila and related consumer lines covered in business press. He has returned to WWE for part-time appearances while maintaining a film slate. He has children with ex-wife Dany Garcia and with Lauren Hashian (Britannica biographical overview).

The Rock Says... or Johnson memoir/fitness book in print Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Blu-ray Moana DVD/Blu-ray