AJ McLean will support his children no matter what, after it was revealed his nine-year-old daughter wishes to change her name to Elliott.
The 44-year-old Backstreet Boys legend spoke to People recently about his daughter Ava's decision - after his wife, Rochelle, first announced the change on Instagram.
In a joint post, the couple wrote: "After two and half years of homeschool, these two beauties are back to school! Lyric is starting kindergarten and Elliott (Ava) is in fourth grade! I can't believe it! I'm so proud of these girls. As much as I am going to miss them, I'm excited to watch them spread their wings and fly!"
"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, it's her name, it's her everything. And she's still Ava. She'll always be Ava to me," the father-of-two told the publication.
"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]," he added.
Discussions on a potential name change began over a year ago, McLean revealed, saying that his daughter had told him: "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."
McLean's wife, Rochelle, later took to her Instagram stories to reaffirm that her daughter's name change was not related to a desire to change gender, writing: "For those asking … not that it's anyone's business but Elliott's name change is not a gender thing."
She also added that it was "odd" for parents to choose names for their children as babies, and expect them to go by their names for the rest of their lives.
"Anyway … so that's how Ava became Elliott. I knew once I put it out there people would have opinions, but be kind. She's just a kid trying to make her way in this crazy world! I just want her to know she can always be whoever she wants to be," she added.
Rochelle and AJ have been married since 2011, and share two daughters together. McLean, a Florida native, was the first member of Backstreet Boys when they were formed in 1992, per StarPulse.
Being popular for numerous hits in the 90s and early 00s - such as 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)' - the group has received nine Grammy Award nominations, as well as receiving five Billboard Music Awards.
