Khloé Kardashian Nixed the ‘Crazy’ Baby Name Tristan Thompson Wanted to Give Daughter True
If you’ve spent hours scrolling through baby name lists, debating initials, second-guessing yourself and landing back at square one, you’re in good company.
Khloé Kardashian recently revealed that naming her son was so agonizing, she went nine months after his birth without settling on an official name.
At one point, “Tiger” was a serious contender.
The reality star opened up about the drawn-out naming journeys for both of her children during the newest episode of her “Khloé In Wonder Land” podcast, released March 4.
In an “Ask Me Anything” session with fans, she was asked: “What are names you didn’t choose for True and Tatum?”
Her answer is likely to resonate with any parent who has felt the weight of choosing a name their child will carry for a lifetime.
Nine Months of ‘Baby’ and ‘Rob’
Kardashian and Tristan Thompson, who were together on-and-off between 2016 and 2021, welcomed their two kids — True, 7, and Tatum, 3 — in 2018 and 2022, respectively, according to People.
When it came to naming Tatum, Kardashian described a level of indecision that many new parents will find deeply familiar.
“Well, Tatum, I don’t think I landed on a name for 9 months, which [was] after he was born. Which is crazy,” she explained.
That’s an entire pregnancy’s worth of time spent trying to figure out what to call her baby boy. In the meantime, the family improvised.
“We called him ‘baby’ at first and then we would just call him ‘Rob’ sometimes,” she said.
For any parent who has brought a newborn home and found themselves whispering, “What should we actually call you?” — Kardashian’s experience is a reminder that the “right” name doesn’t always arrive on schedule.
Sometimes it takes much longer than expected.
The Search for ‘Unique But Not Too Unique’
Kardashian didn’t go into the naming process without a plan. She had a clear strategy — one that many parents adopt when trying to create cohesion among siblings’ names.
“I wanted a T name [but] something still unique but not too unique. Not crazy,” she said.
That balance between distinctive and approachable is one so many parents wrestle with. You want your child’s name to stand out, but you don’t want them to spend their entire life spelling it out or explaining it.
Kardashian wanted the initials TT for her son, matching daughter True Thompson’s initials — a sibling-naming detail that parents of multiple children often consider.
Finding a name that checked all those boxes proved to be a tall order. Before settling on Tatum, Kardashian explored options that leaned further toward the “wild” end of the spectrum.
“I think the wildest name I liked for him was ‘Tiger,’” she added.
Tiger Thompson certainly would have had a ring to it — but Tatum won out.
Putting ‘Baby Kardashian’ On the Birth Certificate
Here’s where the naming saga takes a turn that might surprise — or deeply reassure — parents who have felt the pressure of filling out that birth certificate paperwork at the hospital.
Kardashian initially gave her son the name “Baby Kardashian” on his birth certificate, according to People.
She legally changed his name in 2023 after a Los Angeles County judge granted the name change, per People. He was 13 months old at the time.
Legal name changes after birth are more common than you might think. The process varies by state, but it typically involves filing a petition with the court.
Kardashian’s experience — going through a Los Angeles County judge to finalize the change — illustrates that while it adds an extra step, it’s an available option for families who need more time.
If you aren’t 100% sure at the hospital, know that there can be a path forward, even if you need more time.
True’s Name: A Family Legacy Spanning Generations
While Tatum’s name took months of deliberation, naming her daughter True was the polar opposite. Kardashian said she “always knew” her daughter’s name was going to be True and there “was no real options.”
Well, almost no options.
Thompson initially wanted to go with Khaleesi — a title from the fictional Dothraki language in Game of Thrones meaning “queen” or the wife of a khal (warlord). It refers specifically to Daenerys Targaryen, who adopts the title after marrying Khal Drogo.
Kardashian was not swayed.
“I just knew we weren’t naming her Khaleesi, but I think that was the only name I can think of, but it wasn’t going to happen,” she said before calling the suggestion “crazy.”
True’s name carries deep family significance. Kardashian explained that the name came from her grandfather’s middle name. Robert True Houghton is Kris Jenner’s dad. He was Mary Jo “MJ” Campbell’s (Jenner’s mom) first husband.
The name goes back even further: Robert True got his name from his dad, who was named True Otis Houghton.
The moment of inspiration came at a family dinner. Khloé said she was at dinner with MJ when she was trying to figure out what to name her daughter.
She wanted the initials to be TT. MJ was the one who suggested True because it was her grandfather’s name.
Sometimes the best baby name ideas come not from an app or a book, but from the people sitting right across the table from you.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
