Celebrity2 min(s) read
People are only just finding out what Elle and Dakota Fanning's real names are
For decades, Dakota and Elle Fanning have been known as two of Hollywood’s most beloved sisters. Both began their careers at a young age, quickly establishing themselves as talented actors.
Dakota’s major TV debut came at just five years old, appearing on the hit drama ER, while Elle followed suit by appearing in I Am Sam around the age of two or three - as the younger version of her sister's character.
Despite their lengthy careers and years of being in the public eye, a surprising revelation has recently left some fans stunned.
After the 2026 Golden Globes, a Twitter user shared an image of the sisters and captioned it with, “I just found out Dakota Fanning’s first name is Hannah and Elle Fanning’s first name is Mary, and now I don’t know myself.”
While this news may seem startling to some, it’s a revelation that has been around for a while but just now caught the attention of the public.
Why do they use their middle names?
In interviews, both sisters have explained the reason behind using their middle names rather than their given first names. Elle shared with Glamour that she simply "never went by Mary, like ever," and noted that her mother also uses her middle name.
Since their mother follows this tradition, Elle and Dakota naturally did the same. Elle suggested that it might even be a Southern tradition, though she wasn’t entirely sure.
Despite this long-standing practice, Elle admitted that it wasn’t always easy, especially when she was in school. "It was awkward in school when they were calling roll call because they’d go, 'Mary? Mary?' Kids would be like, 'There’s no Mary here.' I’d awkwardly raise my hand, like, 'Uh, it’s me,'" Elle recalled.
Dakota’s take on her first name
Dakota’s story mirrors her sister’s. While her middle name is well-known, her first name is actually Hannah. The actress explained this in a 2004 interview with People, when she was just 10 years old.
At the time, Dakota had just starred in Man on Fire alongside Denzel Washington. She revealed that her dad had chosen the name, but from the beginning, she had always gone by Dakota instead of Hannah.
With both sisters embracing their middle names throughout their careers, it’s no surprise that some fans are just now discovering this interesting fact.