Millie Bobby Brown Isn't Her Real Name, Her True Identity Exposed

Millie Bobby Brown, best known for her role as Eleven on "Stranger Things," recently dropped a surprising fact about her real name.

The revelation follows Millie Bobby Brown's recent response to online criticism about her appearance.

During an interview with BuzzFeed UK, the 21-year-old actress revealed that her actual name is Millie Bonnie Brown, not Millie Bobby Brown as fans have long believed.

Brown explained that she changed her middle name from Bonnie to Bobby for "sh-ts and giggles" when she began her acting career. "I’ve never told anyone that," she admitted. "You heard it here first!"

Her "Electric State" co-star Chris Pratt, who was also present during the interview, responded with a shocked, "Oh, sh-t!"

The switch to "Bobby" wasn’t entirely random. The young star seemingly chose the name as a tribute to her father, Robert "Bobby" Brown. However, this isn’t the only name change Brown has undergone recently.

In August 2024, Brown confirmed that she had taken her husband Jake Bongiovi’s last name after their wedding earlier that year. She shared behind-the-scenes photos from "Stranger Things" Season 5 on Instagram, where her new name appeared on a blackboard as "Millie Bobby Brown Bongiovi."

Brown’s transformation hasn’t been limited to her name.

Ahead of her 21st birthday in February, she debuted a new blonde hairstyle on Instagram, leaving fans speculating about the reason behind the change. While some thought the makeover might be for a potential role as Britney Spears in a biopic, others weren’t so kind, critiquing her new look and suggesting it made her appear "old."

The actress took a firm stand against the criticism. She first shared a Vogue article titled "No One Cares How Old You Think Millie Bobby Brown Looks" on her Instagram Stories. Then, she directly addressed the scrutiny, highlighting the challenges of growing up in the public eye.

"I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me, something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny," Brown said on social media. "I think it’s necessary to speak up about this."

"I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me," she continued. "Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on 'Stranger Things' season 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target."

Brown didn't mince words when taking on the media, directly calling out specific articles and journalists who've criticized her appearance and decisions, including "Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing so badly?" by Lydia Hawken and "What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face?" by John Ely.

"This isn’t journalism. This is bullying," she stated. "The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, it’s disturbing."

She added, "The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse. We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when the time comes, it seems easier to tear them down for clicks. Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs."

Matt Lucas has since issued an apology to Millie Bobby Brown.

“Dear Millie, I just saw your post and wanted to respond, and provide some context,” the actor wrote on Instagram. “Nearly 25 years ago, I co-wrote and appeared in a sketch show called ‘Little Britain.’ There was a character in it called Vicky Pollard, who had blonde hair and always wore a pink top, and in the photo, you had blonde hair and wore a pink top, so I pointed out the similarity by posting one of her catchphrases."

“I thought you looked terrific and I was mortified when the press wrote that I ‘slammed’ you, firstly because that’s not my style, and secondly because I think you’re brilliant,” he added. “I would not have posted it if I had thought it would have upset you, but I realize it has, and for that, I apologize. Matt x.”