AJ McLean is speaking from his heart.
The 44-year-old Backstreet Boy opened up in a new interview with People magazine on his daughter’s decision to change her name to Elliot. AJ’s daughter, aged nine, was given the name “Ava” at birth.
AJ explained why Elliott decided to change her name, saying:
“When my daughter asked to changer 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.
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.”
He voiced his full support for his daughter, stating:
“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 shared that Elliott approached him over a year ago to open up to him about changing her name, recalling 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.’”
AJ also shared where she got the inspiration for her new name:
“She just finished watching Pete’s dragon, and she loved the name Elliott, but with two Ts. Now it just rolls off the tongue. Now she’s Elliott.”
He sweetly 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.”
