AJ McLean fully supports her daughter’s wish to change her name.
The 9-year-old daughter of the Backstreet Boys singer, who recently changed her name from Ava to Elliott, insists he and his wife Rochelle are behind her no matter what.
AJ told People: “When my daughter asked to change her name to Elliott, initially, I didn’t know if it was a trans thing, it wasn’t, but it was a personal choice. It was her body, it was her Name, that’s all she is. She is still Ava. She will always be my Ava.
“But at the same time, whatever the reason, it’s hers and I’m going to support it a million per cent and my wife will [too]. “
AJ went on to explain that his daughter came to him and revealed that she was not happy with her name.
He shared that she told him: “Dad, I just don’t think my name is that unique and it’s not that original, there’s a lot of avas in dancing and a lot in school.”
He added: “She just watched ‘Pete’s Dragon’ and she liked the name Elliott but had two T’s. Now it just rolls off the tongue. Now she’s Elliott.”
AJ, 44 – who also has daughters Lyric and Rochelle, 5 – continued: “Whatever journey my two daughters go through, I’ll be one in a million in their corner, my wife. Will support them in their corners, whatever their path, whatever their journey. This is our family.”
Rochelle previously shared on Instagram: “For those asking…it’s not anyone’s business, but Elliott’s name change has nothing to do with gender. Ava has changed her name several times since she was around 5. Last year she let us start playing Called her Elliott and it stuck. She wanted something unique that no one else had. (There are so many Avas.)”
