TikTok star-turned-singer Addison Rae is making a bold move by changing her stage name. The 24-year-old, best known for her viral hits and debut album Addison released on June 6, has decided to go by just “Addison” in her professional career.
Speaking on the YouTube series Feeding Starving Celebrities hosted by Quenlin Blackwell, she opened up about the change.
Addison Rae Drops Last Name in Fresh Rebrand
“I said it in an interview, I was just like, ‘Oh, I think I’ve grown past being called Addison Rae,’” Addison shared on the June 8 episode.
“Then the album being named ‘Addison’ kind of was a tie-in for that,” she added.
Apart from the symbolic meaning, she also had a more down-to-earth reason for the name change.
“I just am tired of also signing Addison Rae. It’s really long. I just would rather sign Addison,” she said with a laugh. “And then I was like, ‘Yeah, it just makes more sense because, like, it’s going back to the roots really.’”
A Trend Among Young Stars to Reclaim Their Identity
Addison, whose full name is Addison Rae Easterling, made it clear that she understands fans may still remember her by her former name, and she’s fine with that.
“Whoever knows me as Addison Rae and knew me as Addison Rae will always know me as that,” she said.
She’s not the only one stepping away from a family name or past identity. Other young public figures have recently made similar choices.
Angelina Jolie’s daughter Shiloh Jolie, 19, dropped Brad Pitt’s last name in 2024 and now creates dance content under the name Shi Joli. Kailyn Lowry’s son, formerly Isaac Elliott Rivera, recently said on her podcast Barely Famous that he now goes by Elliott.
Even Malia Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, uses the professional name Malia Ann in Hollywood. Michelle Obama spoke about it on the Sibling Revelry podcast:
“You’re trying to distinguish yourself… They want to be their own people.” She added with a laugh, “They’re still going to know it’s you, Malia… But we respected the fact that she’s trying to make her way.”
