Kaitlin Olson Reacts as Rob McElhenney Officially Becomes “Rob Mac”
The It’s Always Sunny duo talk name changes, family reactions, and why Kaitlin’s keeping “Olson”—at least on camera.
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Los Angeles, July 2 EST: Rob Mac name change has officially gone from inside joke to legal fact. The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-creator, formerly known as Rob McElhenney, filed the paperwork in Los Angeles last week—trading one of Hollywood’s most famously mispronounced names for the moniker fans already use.
“I’m Olson McElhenney—But I Go by Olson”
At the show’s 20th anniversary celebration, Kaitlin Olson (now legally Olson McElhenney, if you’re updating your Rolodex) weighed in with a shrug and a smile.
“I’m legally Olson McElhenney, but I go by Olson, so I don’t really have to change anything… Whatever makes him happy, makes me happy,” she told People.
Married since 2008, Olson and McElhenney (sorry—Mac) have long been Hollywood’s least-precious comedy power couple. Between their TV dynasty, co-ownership of Wrexham AFC, and raising two teens, this is just another weird plot twist—offscreen this time.
The Kids? Not Huge Fans
Their sons, Axel (14) and Leo (13), are reportedly “really not happy” about the change, according to Olson. And fair enough—they still carry the original name and, for now, don’t plan to switch. Rob says it’s their call.
He’s not pushing it, just… simplifying.
Why the Change?
In a very Rob Mac move, he addressed the change in a video that walks the line between genealogy deep-dive and comedy sketch. Turns out, the “McElhenney” spelling may have been a 19th-century Ellis Island remix, not a deep-rooted family relic.
Also, after decades of correcting mispronunciations (“Mick-ell-henny?” “Mackle-henney?”), the name had become more time sink than identity marker.
He called the switch “kinda douchey,” but also inevitable.
“If the name was arbitrarily created by a government official, I can arbitrarily shorten it,” he joked.
Hard to argue with that logic. Especially when most fans, friends, and IMDb stans already knew him as Rob Mac.
Sunny Moves On
Starting with the July 9 premiere of It’s Always Sunny Season 17, he’ll be credited as Rob Mac on all new work. Kaitlin’s staying Olson (professionally and otherwise), because why mess with a perfect comedic brand?
No identity crisis here—just two comedy vets doing marriage and career the same way they do TV: together, weirdly functional, and always in on the joke.
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