Keke Palmer is sharing how she came up with her son's unique name.
In February 2023, Keke had her first child with then-partner Darius Jackson, naming him Leodis. "Born during Black History Month, with a name to match !" she wrote on Instagram at the time. "LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world baby Leo."
In an appearance on the House Guestseries, Keke elaborated on the inspiration behind the name — and who between her and Darius picked it.
"Darius actually made his name," she said. "He wanted both our names."
"That was him trying to put like Darius and Lauren — like Leodis," she continued. "Like, it was just too much, but I said, 'Hey, let's do it. It's adorable.' I was pregnant, anything went."
Keke, who hails from Harvey, Illinois, also joked that combining names is common practice in her home state. "My parents did the same shit," she mused. "Like, come on, Willy-ani. Daddy named Willy, I guess."
She added, "My little sister's name is Lawrencia. My dad's Lawrence. That's too much! My parents' email is Laron — Larry and Sharon. Guys, y'all gotta stop. It's too much!"
Jokes aside, Keke said she also liked the name because "it sounded like an old name." "It sounded like he was marching with Martin [Luther King Jr.] and them," she shared. "Like, Leodis Andrellton Jackson. He's gonna be on somebody's campaign."
