Honestly, if you’ve been keeping up with the Kardashians for any length of time, you know the drama is never-ending. But beneath the headlines about cheating scandals and gym selfies, Khloe Kardashian has quietly become the most "normal" parent of the bunch. Kinda. Her approach to naming her children—True Thompson and Tatum Thompson—is actually way more grounded than you might think, especially considering her sister Kim has a kid named Saint and her sister Kourtney has a Rocky.
People love to speculate. They think every name is a coded message or a jab at an ex. But for Khloe, it was basically about family history and a lot of indecision.
The Meaning Behind True Thompson
When Khloe welcomed her daughter on April 12, 2018, the world was already reeling from the news of Tristan Thompson's infidelity. Then she announced the name: True.
People lost their minds. The irony was too thick. "How can you name her True when her father was anything but?" was the general vibe on Twitter (now X). But the reality is way less petty.
- It’s a family name: Khloe’s grandmother, MJ, was the one who suggested it.
- Legacy: It turns out her maternal grandfather’s name was True Otis Houghton.
- The Robert connection: Her own father, the late Robert Kardashian, had True as a middle name.
So, while everyone was looking for a "gotcha" moment against Tristan, Khloe was actually just honoring the men in her family who meant the most to her. She’s mentioned before that she wanted a "T" or "K" name, and True just stuck. It’s short. It’s classic but weirdly modern. It’s very her.
Tatum Thompson: The Eight-Month Name Mystery
If True’s name was a quick decision, Tatum was the opposite. Her son was born via surrogate on July 28, 2022, and for a long, long time, we didn't know his name.
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She actually didn't legally name him for about eight months. Can you imagine? Going through life calling a human "Baby" or "Papa" because you just can't commit?
Khloe has been incredibly open about her surrogacy journey being different from her pregnancy with True. She felt less of an immediate "connection," which she’s admitted made the naming process feel heavy and difficult. She wanted something unique but not "off-the-wall." She joked that the family already has enough of those.
Why Tatum?
Eventually, she landed on Tatum Robert Thompson.
- The "T" Tradition: Keeping the alliteration with True and Tristan.
- Honoring Rob: The middle name Robert is a direct nod to her brother, Rob Kardashian, and her father.
- The Resemblance: The family often calls him "Baby Rob" because he looks exactly like her brother.
Initially, his birth certificate actually listed his last name as Kardashian. It wasn't until later that she legally changed it to Thompson to match his sister. It’s a subtle detail, but it speaks volumes about the headspace she was in during that first year of his life.
A Different Kind of Parenting
Khloe is the "organized" one. She’s the sister who has her Oreos stacked in perfect jars and a schedule that would make a drill sergeant sweat.
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While Kim and Kourtney seem to have a more "free-range" approach, Khloe is all about the routine. She’s been vocal about how much True and Tatum thrive on structure. They eat at the same time. They sleep at the same time.
"I am incredibly clean and organized. I like everything in its place. I'm very regimented. And I don't want that for True, but she already has so much of that."
It’s interesting to see how she balances that "Kardashian Brand" life—where everything is a photo op—with the actual grunt work of being a present mom. She’s often seen doing the school runs and hosting the cousins for playdates. She’s clearly trying to give them a sense of stability that her own romantic life hasn't always had.
Breaking Down the Family Tree (Sorta)
To keep it simple, here is how Khloe’s household looks in 2026:
True Thompson
Born: April 12, 2018
Age: 7
Vibe: The "mini-me" who loves to dance and is surprisingly good at keeping her room clean.
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Tatum Thompson
Born: July 28, 2022
Age: 3
Vibe: The spitting image of Uncle Rob and the quiet soul of the house.
There’s often talk about Tristan’s other children—he has a son, Prince, with Jordan Craig, and another son, Theo, with Maralee Nichols. Khloe has been criticized for her "great friendship" with Tristan, but she’s maintained that she wants True and Tatum to have a relationship with their father, regardless of his track record as a partner. It’s a messy, complicated, very public version of co-parenting.
What This Means for You
Whether you love them or hate them, the Kardashian naming trends usually influence what people name their own kids about two years later. "True" saw a spike in popularity after 2018, and "Tatum" (which was already a solid name) definitely got a boost from the "Khloe Effect."
If you’re looking for naming inspiration, the takeaway from Khloe is actually pretty solid: look at your family tree. You don't need to invent a word or name your kid after a cardinal direction. Sometimes the best names are the ones hidden in your grandfather's middle name or a nickname that just feels right after a few months of "getting to know" the baby.
If you're stuck on a name, don't feel pressured to have it figured out by the time you leave the hospital. If Khloe Kardashian can wait eight months to name her son while the whole world is watching, you can definitely take an extra week to make sure it fits. Focus on names that carry a story—those are usually the ones that age the best.
Next Steps for Your Research:
- Check out the Houghton family lineage if you want to see more names that MJ might suggest next.
- Look into surrogacy bonding resources if Khloe’s story about her connection with Tatum resonated with you.