Millie Bobby Brown revealed she has officially changed her name following her marriage to Jake Bongiovi and their journey into parenthood, marking another significant transition in her public and personal identity. The announcement of the new name aligns with recent public appearances and promotions for the upcoming season of Stranger Things, keeping the Millie Bobby Brown name change in clear focus.
The Story Behind the Name Change
During a promotional segment for Stranger Things season five earlier this week, Millie Bobby Brown, who is now 21 years old, participated in a playful quiz with her cast members for VT’s YouTube channel. In a moment of friendly banter, the interviewer quizzed Noah Schnapp, Brown’s close friend and the godparent to her daughter, on her full name. Schnapp initially guessed, “Millie Bonnie Brown.”
Brown, however, clarified the development, indicating that her identity has evolved since tying the knot and adopting her first child. Schnapp tried again, “Millie Bonnie Bobby Brown Bongiovi,” but Brown encouraged him to, as she put it, “just to drop the Brown.” The actress explained,
Drop the Bobby [and] drop the Brown. It’s just Millie Bonnie Bongiovi,
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress. With that simple commitment, she embraced her new married and maternal identity.
Transition Into Family Life with Jake Bongiovi
Millie Bobby Brown married Jake Bongiovi, who is the 23-year-old son of Jon Bon Jovi, in 2024. The couple subsequently adopted their first child, a daughter, in 2025. Their family life has become a substantial part of Brown’s off-screen narrative, as she openly shares her experiences with parenthood and partnership.
Reflecting on motherhood and their growing bond, Brown told British Vogue in an interview earlier this month,
It’s been a beautiful, amazing journey — she’s taught us so much already,
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress. She continued,
Perspective is a huge thing. The smaller things in life are so much more precious. Our days are filled with lots of cuddles and laughter and love. It’s just endless joy.
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress.
Parenting Approach and Protecting Their Child’s Privacy
Describing their approach to raising their daughter, Brown emphasized an even division of responsibilities with Jake Bongiovi. She was candid in her praise for her partner:
That’s why I’m so grateful to have partnered with him in this life,
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress. She added,
He is just the most amazing dad.
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress.
The couple is intentional about keeping their child’s privacy intact. Upholding their child’s right to choose whether and how to engage with public life, neither parent has disclosed their daughter’s name or shared images showing her face. Brown articulated their decision to British Vogue, stating,
For me, it’s really important to protect her and her story until she’s old enough to potentially one day share it herself,
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress. She explained further,
It’s not my place to purposefully put her in the spotlight unwillingly.
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress. On the matter of her daughter’s future, Brown said,
If she chooses to share her personality one day with the world, like I did when I was young, that’s something we’d support. But right now, as she’s so little. … As her parents, it’s our job to protect her from that.
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress.
Life in Georgia and Embracing a Rural Lifestyle
Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi have established their home on a farm in Georgia, where Brown feels most at home, given her lengthy connection with Atlanta, especially due to her time filming Stranger Things. In a conversation with Vogue, Brown expressed her feelings about her adopted hometown:
I grew up here, you know?
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress. She elaborated,
This is the longest place I’ve been consecutively in my life because of Stranger Things. For me, this is my home.
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress.
Some have speculated that the young family is pursuing a rural lifestyle primarily for its perceived trendiness. Brown addressed these assumptions in an interview with Vanity Fair, stating,
I’m doing it because I love it,
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress. She went on,
There are maybe some [people] out there doing it because it seems wholesome, but it is not. If you’re not picking up horse s*** or washing a cow with your bare hands, then that life is not made for you. At all.
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress.
A Shared Vision for Their Future
Millie Bobby Brown recounted that she and Jake Bongiovi had discussed vital elements of life and partnership well before beginning their family. These included their political perspectives, types of homes, and the nature of family life they envisioned. Speaking on their mutual understanding at the start of their relationship, Brown said,
We were pretty united going into it,
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress. She described these deep conversations further,
We talked about our political views, what kind of family we want to build, the kind of home we want to live in, the kind of relationship we’re looking for, the kind of careers we want. It’s such an important decision, and we wanted to make sure we were making the right one. I knew I was. It always felt right with him.
Millie Bobby Brown, Actress.
Looking Forward as Millie Bonnie Bongiovi
The choice to officially go by Millie Bonnie Bongiovi represents more than a simple name change for the actor and public figure—it’s a reflection of her evolving identity as a wife, a mother, and a partner. Millie’s thoughtful, privacy-focused approach to parenthood and her determination to build a balanced, purposeful life with Jake Bongiovi highlight her commitment to family values over public spectacle.
As the couple continues life together in Georgia—balancing new experiences with familiar territory—fans and the public will now know Millie Bobby Brown as Millie Bonnie Bongiovi. Her journey, from Stranger Things star to wife and mother, sets a personal example for others navigating complex transitions without losing sight of what truly matters.
