unilad homepage
  • News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Macaulay Culkin explains why he legally changed his name to one that's completely bizarre

Home> Celebrity> News

Published 12:29 24 Nov 2025 GMT

Macaulay Culkin explains why he legally changed his name to one that's completely bizarre

The Home Alone star officially changed his name in 2019

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

Topics: Macaulay Culkin, Hollywood, Nostalgia, News, Celebrity

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Macaulay Culkin has reminded people what his real name is after changing it in 2019.

Culkin, who shot to fame as a child star in movies like Home Alone, Uncle Buck, and Richie Rich, is still a well-known name in Hollywood all these years later.

However, many people might forget what Culkin's full name is (as of six years ago, anyway).

The actor's legal name is Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin, something which he reminded people at 'A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin' on Saturday (November 22). The event was created to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Christmas classic Home Alone.

Advert

But why on Earth did Culkin actually change his name to the unique moniker?

In 2018, while on Jimmy Fallon's show, Culkin said he was going to create a poll that would allow people to pick what his new middle name would be.

Macaulay Culkin legally changed his name in 2019 (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Macaulay Culkin legally changed his name in 2019 (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

The hilarious options given in the poll were: Kieran (after his younger brother), TheMcRibIsBack, Shark Week, Publicity Stunt, or Macaulay Culkin.

"Sure, I might have gold-plated watercraft, and chrome plated invisibility cloaks, but all I want for Christmas is a new middle name," he quipped at the time.

He announced the winning name on Christmas Day of that year and then officially became Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin in 2019.

As to why he made the poll in the first place; it was all for a bit of a laugh, basically.

"I did it all for that one joke. And a bit on Fallon," Culkin said.

Another topic that was discussed at the anniversary event was Culkin's kids watching Home Alone. According to the dad-of-two, they've seen it a few times but still have no idea that their dad is Kevin.

Culkin shares his sons with long-term partner Brenda Song (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Culkin shares his sons with long-term partner Brenda Song (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

He added that his boys, Dakota, four, and three-year-old Carson, 'really love' the movie.

Culkin shares his kids with long-term partner and Disney star Brenda Song. The pair have been dating for many years and got engaged in 2022, but they're yet to tie the knot.

Explaining why, the Running Point actress said: "We talked about eloping. But I was like, ‘If we eloped, my mom would have a heart attack that she wasn’t going to be there."

Apparently, Culkin has asked if Song doesn't actually want to marry him, something he's supposedly 'fine' with but he 'just wants to know' if that's the case.

Song added that some people aren't even aware that she and Culkin are together. Noting this, she told Cosmopolitan magazine: "That the public is like, ‘Wait, they’re together and they have kids?’ Good. That means we did our job."

  • Macaulay Culkin explains disturbing truth behind traumatizing 'My Girl' death scene
  • Macaulay Culkin reveals strict set of rules he has for fans who approach him in public
  • Macaulay Culkin reveals how Uncle Buck co-star John Candy tried to protect him from his 'monster' father
  • Macaulay Culkin finally reveals what Kevin’s dad did for work to answer question fans have been baffled by for decades

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Rebel Wilson gives update on using weight loss drugs with honest body admission

    The Pitch Perfect actress began her weight loss journey in 2020

    Celebrity
  • Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic/Getty
    5 hours ago

    Vera Wang, 76, shared her strange secrets to stay looking so young

    The fashion icon often leaves people stunned when she reveals her age

    Celebrity
  • Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images
    5 hours ago

    Logan Paul doesn't share what he's collecting anymore after selling rare Pokémon card

    Paul sold the card after purchasing it in 2021 for $5 million

    Celebrity
  • Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
    7 hours ago

    All the celebrities calling for closure of ICE Detention Center in open letter

    Many celebrities have signed an open letter calling for an ICE facility to be closed

    Celebrity