Rob McElhenney, who is best known for his role in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and as a co-owner of the soccer team Wrexham A.F.C., has started the legal process to change his last name.
The actor is switching to a very different name, one that fans of his TV show might already recognize. Even though he has been working in entertainment since the late 1990s and is very rich, this decision is mostly about making things easier for his growing international business projects.
McElhenney wants to officially go by the name ‘Rob Mac.’ This shorter version of his name is a practical choice, mainly because people outside the U.S. often struggle to pronounce ‘McElhenney.’ As his business and storytelling work expands into different countries and languages, his original last name has caused confusion.
He has already been using ‘Rob Mac’ in professional settings for a while, realizing that a simpler name helps with communication and recognition worldwide. This is especially important for his role as the founder of More Better Industries, a company that invests in various projects, including soccer teams in Central and South America. His full last name, with its multiple syllables, has been a problem in these international dealings, so a shorter, easier name is better for business.
Rob Mac is officially the name of Robert McElhenney
The switch to ‘Rob Mac’ is not just a stage name or nickname; it will be his legal name on all official documents. This means a full rebranding of his public and legal identity. While this is a big change, it also makes his real-life name closer to his character on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, who is also called ‘Mac.’ Fans have been calling him ‘Mac’ casually for years, so this change feels like a natural step.
McElhenney did not make this decision lightly. At first, he worried that changing his last name might dishonor his family heritage. But after looking into his family history, he learned that his ancestors had also changed the spelling of their surname at some point, which made him feel better about the choice. Still, not everyone in his family is happy about it. His wife, Kaitlin Olson (who also stars in It’s Always Sunny), and their kids, who all legally have the last name McElhenney, have mixed feelings.
rob mcelhenney changing his last name to mac is true kinnie behavior
— stevie!!(@steviepleasie) June 29, 2025
Olson has said that their children are not excited about the change. The kids have always had the last name McElhenney, and they are not happy about it being different from their dad’s new name. Olson, who also shares the McElhenney name legally, has shared her own thoughts on the situation. For now, McElhenney will become ‘Rob Mac’ on all official records, while his wife and kids will keep the McElhenney name, at least for the time being.
