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 while they didn’t expect the change, he and his wife Rochelle Karidis fully supported their child’s decision during an interview persons that was shared on Friday.
The performer expressed that while he supported the decision, he still liked his daughter’s former name: “It’s her body, it’s her name, it’s her everything. And she’s still Ava. She will always be Ava to me,’ he said.
Opening: 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 tied the knot in 2011 – share Elliott and their younger daughter Lyric, who is five years old.
McLean pointed out that his eldest child’s decision to change her name didn’t mean she began to identify as a man.
“When my daughter asked to change her name to Elliott, I didn’t know at first if it was a transgender thing, which it isn’t, but it’s a personal choice,” he said.
Supportive: The 44-year-old singer expressed that while he wasn’t expecting the change, he and his wife Rochelle Karidis fully supported their child’s decision
Holding on: He revealed that although he supported his daughter, his daughter was still Ava to him: ‘It’s her body, it’s her name, it’s her everything. And she’s still Ava. She will always be Ava to me’
McClean then noted that he and Karidis wanted to let their daughter make her own decisions.
“Whatever reasoning it is, that’s hers and I will back it a million percent, my wife will [too],’ he explained.
The hitmaker recalled his daughter changing her name to stand out from her friends.
He said she told him, “Dad, I just feel like my name isn’t that unique and it’s not that original, and there’s a lot of Avas in dancing and a lot of Avas in 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, I didn’t know at first if it was a transgender thing, which it isn’t, but it’s a personal choice.”; Pictured 2016
McClean further noted that he and his wife wanted to encourage their children to follow their aspirations.
“Whatever journey my two girls have, I will be in their corner a million percent, my wife will be in their corner supporting them whatever their path and whatever their journey. That’s just the family we are,” he said.
The singer and his wife first met in the early 2000s, although they didn’t start dating until 2009.
The hitmaker has been previously linked to several other people and he was briefly engaged to Sarah Martin.
Rationale: The hitmaker recalled his daughter deciding to change her name to stand out from her friends after she told him: ‘Dad, I just feel like my name wasn’t that unique and not that original is.”
McClean and Karadis got engaged in 2010 and tied the knot the following year.
The happy couple went on to start a family with Elliott’s birth in 2012.
The couple later expanded their family with Lyrics arriving five years later, and their daughters have made numerous appearances on various social media posts over the years.
Proud parents: The couple welcomed Elliot in 2012 and later expanded their family with Lyrics arriving five years later