Fans Are Stunned To Discover The Real Names Of Sisters Elle And Dakota Fanning

For over two decades, sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning have been staples in the entertainment industry, captivating audiences with their performances in blockbuster hits and critical darlings alike. From Dakota’s early breakthrough in ‘I Am Sam’ and the ‘Twilight’ saga to Elle’s enchanting portrayal of Aurora in ‘Maleficent’ and her comedic turn in ‘The Great’, the pair has become Hollywood royalty. Their professional monikers are so well-established that most fans assume these are the names found on their birth certificates. However, a recent wave of social media discourse has left many supporters surprised to learn that neither sister uses her legal first name. It turns out that the Fanning siblings have been going by their middle names for their entire lives.

The truth is that the sisters possess first names that are quite traditional, differing significantly from the unique monikers they use professionally. Dakota was actually born Hannah Dakota Fanning, while her younger sister was born Mary Elle Fanning. This fact often resurfaces online, sparking confusion and disbelief among fans who have followed their careers since they were toddlers. Despite the shock it causes today, the actresses have never tried to hide this detail and have clarified the origin of their names in various interviews over the years.

According to the sisters, the naming convention stems from a disagreement between their parents regarding what they should be called. In a 2004 interview with People magazine, a ten-year-old Dakota explained that her father preferred the name Dakota, while her mother wanted to name her Hannah. To settle the dispute, they agreed to give her the first name Hannah but call her by her middle name, Dakota. When Elle was born a few years later, history seemingly repeated itself with their parents. Her father fought for the name Elle, while her mother preferred Mary, leading to the legal name Mary Elle Fanning.

Elle Fanning elaborated on this family dynamic during a 2016 interview with Glamour, revealing that the practice of using middle names was already an established tradition in their household. She noted that their mother also goes by her middle name rather than her first name. Elle speculated that this habit might be a “Southern thing,” as the family has roots in Georgia. Since their mother set the precedent, it felt natural for the daughters to follow suit and ignore their legal first names in daily life.

However, sticking to middle names did not always make things easy for the stars, particularly during their school years. Elle recalled in her interview that roll call was often a source of awkwardness when teachers would call out “Mary” to a silent room. She described having to sheepishly raise her hand and explain that she was the person in question, despite no one knowing her by that name. It was a minor inconvenience that highlighted just how disconnected they were from their legal handles.

While stage names are incredibly common in the performing arts, this situation is unique because the sisters have been famous since they were children. Usually, actors change their names later in life to join the Screen Actors Guild or to rebrand, but the Fannings simply brought their family tradition into the spotlight. As this trivia continues to circulate on platforms like X and TikTok, it serves as a fun reminder that even long-time public figures can still surprise us.

Do you have a family tradition regarding names or do you go by your middle name like the Fanning sisters; let us know your experiences in the comments.