Wrexham AFC co-owner and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney has legally shortened his name to “Rob Mac” a move he says was driven by years of people constantly mispronouncing or misspelling his surname.
McElhenney revealed the change in a light-hearted social media video, admitting the £330 ($450) legal process was worth it to save time and spare others the confusion. “It’s mostly a stage name,” he said, “but the amount of time I’ve lost trying to correct people is literally days of my life. And probably minutes of yours.”
The decision follows a humorous 2023 birthday song by Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, aimed at teaching fans how to pronounce McElhenney’s name. While his wife Kaitlin Olson and kids aren’t thrilled with the change, he insists it’s just about practicality: “Most people already call me Rob Mac anyway.”
He added: “Honestly, call me whatever you want… But maybe we just keep it simple and try Rob Mac.”
The actor also took the opportunity to reflect on the origins of his name, noting that even its current spelling was arbitrarily given to an ancestor. Despite the change, he emphasized his continued love for his family name and heritage.
Outside of Wrexham, McElhenney recently launched More Better Industries, a media company focused on film and television, and co-owned Mac’s Tavern in Philadelphia, which recently announced its closure after 15 years.
