You’ve probably seen her face on every billboard from West Hollywood to Times Square, but if you look at a legal document for the girl who took over TikTok, you won't see "Rae" anywhere near the end of it. Honestly, it’s one of those things that most people just glaze over. We call her Addison Rae. It sounds snappy. It’s got that "it-girl" ring to it.
But Addison Rae's last name is actually Easterling. Specifically, her birth name is Addison Rae Easterling. If you’re wondering why she doesn't go by Lopez (her dad’s name) or why she recently decided to drop the "Rae" entirely for her music career, you’re not alone. The story behind her name is basically a roadmap of her family’s complicated history in Lafayette, Louisiana.
The Easterling vs. Lopez Confusion Explained
Most fans get tripped up because Addison’s parents have different last names, and her brothers don't share hers either. It’s a bit of a mess.
Addison was born on October 6, 2000, to Sheri Easterling and Monty Lopez. At the time of her birth, her parents weren't married. Because of that, she took her mother’s maiden name: Easterling. Even after her parents eventually tied the knot in 2004, the name stuck.
Then you have her brothers, Enzo Lopez and Lucas Lopez. They carry Monty’s last name. So, in one house, you have an Easterling and two Lopezes.
💡 You might also like: Danny DeVito Wife Height: What Most People Get Wrong
It gets even more layered when you look at her parents' relationship. They’ve been "on-and-off" for decades. They divorced when Addison was young, remarried in 2017, and then went through a very public, very messy split in 2022 involving cheating allegations and a bizarre stint where Sheri dated rapper Yung Gravy. Through all that drama, Addison has stayed an Easterling—at least on paper.
Why "Addison Rae" and Not "Addison Easterling"?
Let’s be real: "Addison Rae" just sounds like a pop star. "Addison Easterling" sounds like a character in a Nicholas Sparks novel set in a library.
When she first joined TikTok in 2019, she didn't necessarily hide her last name, but she leaned into her middle name. It’s a classic Hollywood move. Think of it like Miley Cyrus (born Destiny Hope Cyrus) or Reese Witherspoon (born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon). Using a middle name as a surname creates a brand that is easy to remember and even easier to hashtag.
The Shift to Just "Addison"
In a move that surprised a lot of people in mid-2025, she decided to shorten things even further. While guesting on Quenlin Blackwell’s Feeding Starving Celebrities, she dropped a bit of a bombshell. She’s moving away from "Addison Rae" and wants to be known simply as Addison.
📖 Related: Mara Wilson and Ben Shapiro: The Family Feud Most People Get Wrong
Why? Well, she’s trying to shed the "TikToker" label.
She mentioned in the interview that she’s "grown past" the name Addison Rae. To her, that name is tied to the 15-second dance clips and the Hype House era. As she moves into being a serious pop artist—referencing her 2025 debut album Addison—she wants a name that feels more "legacy." Like Madonna. Or Beyoncé. It’s ambitious, sure, but that’s the play.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Heritage
Because her father’s last name is Lopez, there is a lot of chatter online about Addison’s ethnicity. Monty Lopez is of Spanish descent, which gives Addison her Hispanic roots. However, she often talks about her "Cajun" upbringing in Lafayette.
The name Easterling is English, but her mother’s side of the family has deep roots in the Louisiana Bayou culture. This mix of Spanish and Southern heritage is something she’s leaned into more lately, especially as she tries to define her "roots" in her newer creative projects.
👉 See also: How Tall is Tim Curry? What Fans Often Get Wrong About the Legend's Height
- Birth Name: Addison Rae Easterling
- Professional Name (Old): Addison Rae
- Professional Name (Current): Addison
- Father: Monty Lopez
- Mother: Sheri Easterling
The Stage Name "Rae" and the Pop Culture Overlap
Interestingly, Addison isn't the only "Rae" in the game right now, which might be another reason she’s dropping it. You have Tate McRae, Carly Rae Jepsen, and the singer RAYE.
Pop fans on Reddit and Twitter have joked for years that there are simply too many "Raes" to keep track of. By ditching the surname, she’s attempting to claim the "Addison" territory entirely. It's a risk. "Addison" is a pretty common name compared to "Rihanna," but when you have nearly 90 million followers, you can kind of do whatever you want with your branding.
Final Verdict on the Name Change
So, if you’re filling out a trivia sheet: her legal last name is Easterling, her dad is a Lopez, and her stage name is currently just Addison.
The name change isn't just about making it easier to sign autographs (though she did joke that "Addison Rae" is too long to write out). It’s a calculated pivot from social media influencer to mainstream entertainer. Whether the public will actually stop calling her "Addison Rae" is a different story. Habits die hard, especially when those habits involve the person who basically defined the TikTok era.
If you're following her career, keep an eye on her credits in upcoming films and album jackets. The "Easterling" name will likely stay tucked away in legal contracts, while "Addison" becomes the singular face of her brand.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators:
- Check the Credits: When looking for her music on streaming platforms, search for "Addison" to find her latest releases, as "Addison Rae" might eventually become a legacy profile.
- Branding Lesson: If you're building a personal brand, consider using your middle name as a surname if your legal last name is difficult to spell or doesn't fit your "vibe."
- Stay Updated on Legalities: Keep in mind that for official business or merchandise returns, "Easterling" is still the name on the corporate side of her empire.