Rob McElhenney speaking to the camera. @RMcElhenney

Rob McElhenney changes name to Rob Mac because nobody can pronounce it

Originally posted on Nerdist | By Kyle Anderson | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 9:45 PM ET

I’ve been married for a little over seven and a half years. When my wife and I discussed the various logistical things about anything legal, one thing she was adamant about was taking my last night. This was not something I care about at all; what’s in a name, and all of that. But her maiden name was hard for people to pronounce and she longed for something simple like “Anderson.” In our patriarchal society, it’s maybe the easiest way to get a simpler last name. Or, if you’re an actor like It’s Always Sunny star Rob McElhenney, you can just tell everyone your new name is “Rob Mac.”

I said what I said. pic.twitter.com/lvwKgTBBrx
— Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) July 1, 2025

On Twitter (I will never call it the other thing), McElhenney posted a minute-long video explaining that he wants everyone to just call him Rob Mac because nobody can pronounce his actual surname. (It’s MACKLE-henney, for anyone curious.) He explains, he’s wasted literal years of time correcting people and talking about pronunciation. He also says that, while he loves his family and their name, he points out their specific spelling was the work of an official at Ellis Island rather than any actual Irish heritage.

As Rob points out, most people call him Rob Mac anyway. His character on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is Mac. Mac is just his name! Okay? Okay. So don’t bother trying to pronounce McElhenney anymore. Part of me wonders if this all came from finding out even people in the UK and Ireland have trouble saying it. Must have been a big blow for someone who co-owns a Welsh football club. Welcome to Wrexham, indeed.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

This article first appeared on Nerdist and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: