Michelle Obama Reacts to Daughter Malia Dropping Last Name

Michelle Obama is all for her daughter’s independence.

Yet, following Malia Obama, who is Barack Obama’s eldest daughter, announcing she would no longer associate with the family name in her professional endeavors, they found it essential to remain authentic—a necessity given their eight-year residence in the White House makes anonymity a scarcity.

Michelle mentioned on the Sibling Revelry podcast on June 3 that “Malia, who initially ventured into films, decided to leave her last name off for her debut project.” She explained, “We joked, ‘They’ll still recognize it’s you, Malia,’ but we understand and support her effort to forge her own path.

In February 2024, Malia Obama introduced her new name during the premiere of her movie project titled “The Heart”. Eagle-eyed fans spotted that Malia Ann was the name credited to her in the Sundance Institute’s “Meet the Artist” highlight video.

Fortunately, the previous first family, who are also parents to Sasha Obama, now 23 years old, recognize that their children require some personal space and independence.

The author of Becoming stated that their daughters, aged 26 and 23, have been going through a phase where they seek independence – a common trait among adolescents. Despite being young adults now, this process is ongoing. They strive to prove themselves in the world, not wanting others to assume they haven’t worked hard or that things are simply handed to them. They are particularly conscious about avoiding any presumption of ease.

Additionally, Michelle pondered tailoring her parenting methods to fit her daughters’ unique experiences of growing up within the White House, which played a significant role in shaping them into the remarkable women they have become today.

Michelle remarked, ‘As they’ve grown older, they’re adopting our parenting guidelines.’ She explained that they now comprehend the reasons behind many of our actions. They see us as complex individuals, much like she did with her own parents when she moved out for college.

Michelle mentioned that our girls had no desire to be miniature princesses at the White House; instead, they were eager to challenge boundaries and explore new experiences,” Michelle explained. “They yearned for freedom, for opportunities to test their limits. They wanted to engage with the world outside. I recognized that under the circumstances, they likely required more freedom than I would have been able to provide if I were their grandmother.

Keep reading for more kids of celebrities who changed their names…

 

In January 2025, a court document shows that the daughter adopted by Rosie O’Donnell and her ex-partner Kelli Carpenter filed a petition to legally change her surname back to the maiden name of her birth mother, Deanna (formerly Neuens) Micoley. This information was obtained by People magazine.

Suri Cruise Holmes, the daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, went by her first name, Suri, combined with her mother’s middle name, Noelle, during her high school graduation ceremony in June 2024.

Previously, the former U.S. President Barack Obama’s daughter, Malia Obama, decided to use only her first and middle names – Malia Ann – when she was given credit for her role in the 2023 movie project called “The Heart.

On May 2024, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt decided to legally adopt only her mother Angelina Jolie’s last name, becoming known as Shiloh Jolie and no longer using Brad Pitt’s surname.

As a passionate admirer, I find it intriguing how Mossimo Giannulli‘s daughter, the renowned social media personality known as Olivia Jade, prefers to go by her first name in her influencing endeavors, rather than using the family surname.

Rob Schneider’s child, Tanner Elle Schneider, opted to use the name Elle King during her music career. This name is a fusion of her middle name and her mother’s surname, London King.

Kathy Najimy, who is famous for starring in “Hocus Pocus,” and Dan Finnerty from “The Hangover” are Samia Najimy Finnerty’s parents. However, for her music career, she has chosen to be known simply as Samia.

In August, Francis Ford Coppola’s brother, August Coppola, became a father to a child named Nicolas Kim Coppola with dancer Joy Vogelsang. You might recognize him under another name, though: Nicolas Cage, named after the comic book hero Luke Cage.

The daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, in the world of music, is now known simply as WILLOW. She has chosen to drop her last name for her stage identity.

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2025-06-04 18:50