Backstreet Boy AJ McLean Supports Daughter’s Desire to Change Name From Ava to Elliot

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Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean’s daughter has changed her name from Ava to Elliot.

McLean said that he and his wife Rochelle are behind her no matter what.

“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. And it is her body, and it’s her name, it’s her everything. And she’s still Ava. She’ll always be Ava to me,” McLean said.

“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],” McLean added.

McLean did admit that he was “a little taken aback” when he learned of his daughter’s decision.

“But I support my kids in whatever they want to do. So now Elliott is Elliott,” McLean continued.

He added, “She may wake up tomorrow and say, ‘I’m Ava again.'”

McLean’s wife Rochelle said the choice was “not a gender thing.” Rochelle said via her Instagram,” ‘Ava’ has changed her name quite a few times since she was about five.”

More on this story via Post Millennial:

He also said of his 5-year-old daughter Lyric, “[Elliott] did almost start this domino effect because then Lyric wanted to change her name to Ava. And I was like, ‘No. No. No. We’re not gonna do this.'”

Mclean said his daughter came to him and revealed she was unhappy with her name saying, “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.”

“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.”

The 44-year-old former teen heartthrob also told PEOPLE that after competing on RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race he was “inspired” to “get FaceTite, a procedure where a plastic surgeon uses radiofrequency waves and liposuction to pull in loose skin,” after losing 30 lbs.