Ellen DeGeneres’ wife of almost two years, Portia de Rossi, 37, has filed paperwork to legally take on DeGeneres as her last name. I’m reporting this because I want to say how happy I am for these two, but also that I’m relieved to no longer have to look up the exact capitalization and spacing of their last names. This couple has/had the hardest last names. It’s hard to remember that the “de” in de Rossi is lower case with a space before Rossi, especially when DeGeneres is all one word. I get why celebrities take on stage names, because some names can be hard to accurately spell and pronounce. (Not that they need to be homogenized! It can just be tricky sometimes.) Here’s more:
Portia de Rossi’s second anniversary gift for Ellen DeGeneres? A name change.
The actress, who tied the knot with the talk show host, 52, on Aug. 17, 2008, has asked the court to legally change her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres, according to a petition filed Friday in L.A. County Superior Court.
As for the reason, the papers, which were initially signed by Rossi, 37, in March, say, “Petitioner is taking the last name of her spouse.”
But de Rossi isn’t a DeGeneres just yet. The name change won’t be official until a hearing, scheduled for Sept. 23, takes place.
A rep for the talk show host had no comment.
TMZ.com was first to report on the filing.
[From People]
Now Portia will be Portia DeGeneres! I took on my husband’s last name, and it’s phonetically similar to my maiden name like Portia’s is to Ellen’s. I think it’s kind of cute that his name isn’t that different from my original one, and I was proud to take my husband’s last name. (To each their own, though, and I understand why people keep their maiden names or use hyphenations.) Congratulations to Ellen and Portia on their second anniversary and Portia’s name change! That’s a nice gesture, and one Ellen surely appreciates.
This is like Portia’s 3rd name. Ellen likes em blonde and a little psycho, doesn’t she? How long before Portia leaves to marry a dude?
I’m a fan of the name change, but not of Portia’s tiny bangs. 😛
(It looks like the haircut a four year old would give herself–I’m sure I’m just not avante-garde enough to “get” it, though.)
oh zip it
Elllen better have made her sign a prenup… Congrats on the name change
These two make me barf. I am not anti-gay and other publicly gay couples don’t bother me at all but for some reason this particular couple, de Rossi and Degeneres, gross me out. When I see pictures of them I actually get a crawly feeling and I can’t watch Degeneres’ show. I don’t know why.
Yeah, hilariously she was born as Amanda Lee Rogers. So from Rogers -> de Rossi -> DeGeneres. Fun.
I like Ellen and am happy for them.
I seriously love two women whom I have never met, and I’m straight. But I love them just the same.
UG the bangs ARE horrible 🙁
Agree about the bad bangs.
I wonder if it’s a professional name change too, or just legal?
I do think it’s a little odd that she changed her original name SO completely, but I guess in Hollywood it’s not that weird.
@aenflex: I agree about the bangs.They look worse then the ones I cut for myself— when I was 7!
Is it going to be de Generes or DeGeneres?
These two always look so happy to be together when I see them…it always makes me smile.
I like it when couples don’t feel like they have to tell everyone how WONDERFUL everything in their relationship is…they just live it, and don’t announce it.
Oh, I love those two 🙂 so I’m really happy for them, they’re so in love and it shows.
Also, i’m a big fan of the name change.
@ di Butler — Seriously? Portia was in a long-term relationship with Francesca Gregorini when she met Ellen, and not that it’s anyone’s business, but I’m pretty sure she’s always identified as gay.
Love this couple, they always seem so happy with each other.
Brittney, everything I’ve read about Portia indicates that she’s always identified as gay. I’m fine with the name change but don’t understand the “Lee James” part of it. Lee was a name she was given at birth, but where does the James come from?
She hasn’t always identified as gay, she was married to a man for a time. Oh, Mandy, those bangs.
portia de rossi is an awesome name – if she doesn’t want it can i have it?
Why not, Portia de Rossi is a fictitious name anyway, at least now half her name will be real, lol.
Amanda Lee Rogers > Portia de Rossi > Portia Lee James DeGeneres … who am I??
Love Ellen, and I was thrilled to hear gay marriage is winning again in CA, but Amanda/Portia seems like an uberflake. Obviously Ellen has a type… but hey, each to their own, glad they’re happy.
Happy for them but the bangs are just wrong.
Portia is looking a little older than 37 in those pics.