Barack Obama opens up on daughter Malia’s name change

Malia is carving out a career as a filmmaker

|Published 2:12 PM ET, Monday February 3, 2025|

Former President Barack Obama recently addressed his daughter Malia’s decision to professionally use her middle name, “Malia Ann,” instead of “Malia Obama.” This choice was evident during the premiere of her film, The Heart, at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Malia, 26, opted for this name change to allow audiences to evaluate her work without preconceived notions associated with her family name.

In a discussion on the “Pivot” podcast, Obama recounted his reaction, stating, “I was all like, ‘You do know they’ll know who you are.'” Malia responded that she wanted viewers to watch her film without any association to her family. Obama acknowledged that both Malia and her sister, Sasha, are determined to establish their own identities and avoid leveraging their family’s prominence.

Reflecting on their upbringing, Obama emphasized the importance of allowing his daughters to grow up without undue public attention. He expressed pride in their grounded nature and their deliberate efforts to forge independent paths.