According to the wife of a Backstreet Boys member, AJ McLean’s 9-year-old daughter has changed her name from Ava to Elliot, but the choice was “not a matter of gender”.
Rochelle McLean explained via her Instagram Stories on Wednesday that “‘Ava’ has changed her name several times since she was five.”
The makeup artist and hairstylist continued, “Last year she told us to start calling Elliot and it stuck. She wanted something unique that no one else has. (There are so many Ava).”
Rochelle, who is also mom to 5-year-old daughter Lyric, said she “really doesn’t see the harm” in honoring her eldest child’s “desire to be unique”.
She continued, “Think about it, it’s a little weird that as parents we choose names for people we haven’t met yet and expect them to last forever. [identify] as that person! ,
Rochelle ends her post by asking her followers to be “kind” to the little one.
“She’s just a baby girl trying to make her way in this crazy world!” she wrote. “I just want her to know that she can always be who she wants to be.”
AJ, 44, and Rochelle, 40, married in 2011 and welcomed Elliot and Lyrica in 2012 and 2017, respectively.
The “Everybody (Backstreets Back)” singer began her eldest daughter’s name change by celebrating her and her sister’s first day of school.
“After two and a half years of homeschooling, these two beauties are back to school!” He wrote on Instagram on Wednesday. “Song is starting kindergarten and Elliot (Ava) is in fourth grade!
“I can’t believe it!” He continued. “I’m so proud of these girls. As much as I’m going to miss them, I’m so excited to see them spread their wings and fly!”
AJ’s Instagram followers praised Elliot’s new nickname in the comments section.
“Can’t tell you how much Nicole was growing up in my classes and I wanted a unique name. LOVE Elliot!!!” One social media user wrote, another told Elliot to “be happy, wild and free”.
(This story has not been edited by seemayo staff and is published from a rss feed)