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AJ McLean Talks Supporting Nine-Year-Old Daughter After She Changes Her Name to Elliott

AJ McLean Talks Supporting Nine-Year-Old Daughter After She Changes Her Name to Elliott

AJ McLean is opening up about supporting his daughters no matter what.

Back in August, the 44-year-old Backstreet Boy singer’s wife Rochelle revealed that their 9-year-old daughter decided to change her name to Elliott, after her parents gave her the name “Ava” at birth.

In a new interview, AJ explained why Elliott decided to change her name, and revealed with the new name came from.

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“When my daughter asked to change her name to Elliott, initially, I didn’t know if it was a transgender thing, which it is not, but it is a personal choice,” AJ shared with People. “And it is her body, it’s her name, it’s her everything. And she’s still Ava. She’ll always be Ava to me.”

“But at the same time, whatever reasoning it is, that’s hers, and I’m going to support it a million percent, my wife will [too],” he added.

AJ went on to explain that Elliott came to him over a year ago to talk to him about changing her name.

“‘Dad, I just feel like my name is not that unique and not that original, and there’s a lot of Avas at dance and a lot of Avas at school,’” AJ recalled Elliott saying to him.

As for where she got the inspiration behind the new name, AJ shared, “She just finished watching Pete’s Dragon, and she loved the name Elliot, but with two Ts. Now it just rolls off the tongue. Now she’s Elliott.”

He added, “Whatever journey both my girls have, I will be in their corner a million percent, my wife will be in their corner and support them, whatever their path is and whatever their journey is. That’s just the family that we are.”

Along with Elliott, AJ and Rochelle are also parents to five-year-old daughter Lyric.

If you missed it, AJ recently showed off his body transformation after losing 32 pounds.

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Photos: Getty Images
Posted to: AJ McLean