AJ McLean spoke about his nine-year-old daughter’s decision to change her name from Ava to Elliott.
The 44-year-old singer expressed that, although he and his wife, Rochelle Karidis, did not expect the change, they were fully supportive of their child’s decision during an interview with People that was shared on Friday.
The performer expressed that, although he supported the decision, he was still fond of his daughter’s former name: ‘It is her body, it’s her name, it’s her everything. And she’s still Ava. She’ll always be Ava to me,’ he said.
Opening up: AJ McLean spoke about his nine-year-old daughter’s decision to change her name from Ava to Elliott in a new interview; He is seen with daughters Elliot (L) and Lyric, five, in 2021
The Backstreet Boys member and his wife, who said their vows in 2011, share Elliott as well as their younger daughter Lyric, aged five.
McLean pointed out that his eldest child’s decision to change her name did not mean that she began identifying as a male.
‘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,’ he said.
Supportive: The 44-year-old singer expressed that, although he and his wife, Rochelle Karidis, did not expect the change, they were fully supportive of their child’s decision
Holding on: He revealed that though he was supportive, his daughter was still Ava to him: ‘It is her body, it’s her name, it’s her everything. And she’s still Ava. She’ll always be Ava to me’
McClean then remarked that he and Karidis wanted to let their daughter make her own choices.
‘Whatever reasoning it is, that’s hers, and I’m going to support it a million percent, my wife will [too],’ he stated.
The hitmaker recalled that his daughter chose to change her name in an effort to differentiate herself from her friends.
He said that she told him: ‘”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.”‘
Personal choice: McLean shared that despite the name change, Elliot does not identify as a male. ‘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’; Pictured 2016
McClean went on to remark that he and his wife wanted to encourage their children to follow their aspirations.
‘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,’ he said.
The singer and his wife initially met in the early 2000s, although they did not begin dating until 2009.
The hitmaker was previously linked to several other individuals, and he was briefly engaged to Sarah Martin.
Reasoning: The hitmaker recalled that his daughter chose to change her name in an effort to differentiate herself from her friends, after she told him ‘Dad, I just feel like my name is not that unique and not that original’
McClean and Karadis went on to become engaged in 2010, and they tied the knot the following year.
The happy couple subsequently began a family with Elliott’s birth in 2012.
The pair later expanded their family with Lyric’s arrival five years later, and their daughters have made several appearances in various social media posts over the years.
Proud parents: The pair welcomed Elliot in 2012, and later expanded their family with Lyric’s arrival five years later
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