The well-known actress has quietly altered her legal name following her recent wedding and adoption, surprising fans and prompting fresh public discussion about celebrity identity and personal agency. The change was revealed during a video chat with a co-star, when she clarified that her surname is now the same as her husband’s — and that she has dropped part of the name fans have known her by since childhood.
The actress at the centre of the change is the 21-year-old star who rose to fame for her role in a hit Netflix series. She married in May 2024 and subsequently adopted a child with her husband. In a light-hearted exchange with a long-time friend and co-star — who had attempted to guess her full name — she confirmed that she no longer uses “Brown” legally. Her middle name, she confirmed, has always been “Bonnie”; the name “Bobby” had been adopted earlier as a stage name. When her co-star tried to piece together her full legal name after the marriage, she cut him off and said that “Brown” should be dropped. The name she gave was “Millie Bonnie Bongiovi.”
The admission marked a formal shift from the name the public and entertainment industry had identified her with — the name on her early credits and social media presence. Although fans and tabloid headlines have often referred to her as “Millie Bobby Brown,” the actress has signalled a level of personal re-definition following significant life changes: marriage and motherhood via adoption.
The response from the public has been mixed. Some supporters praised her choice, viewing it as a meaningful gesture of commitment to her new family, while others expressed confusion or surprise at the sudden removal of a name she has carried since adolescence. Several speculated on the practical implications for her future work: whether she will retain her former name publicly for continuity in acting credits, or eventually transition all professional attributions to her new legal name.