Meghan Markle Announces New Name As She Asks People To Stop Calling Her ‘Meghan’

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Meghan Markle has announced a new name and asked the public to stop calling her ‘Meghan.’

Few public figures attract as much attention as Meghan Markle.

Since marrying Prince Harry in 2018 and becoming the Duchess of Sussex, virtually every aspect of her life has been scrutinized, debated, and dissected by both supporters and critics.

Whether it’s a public appearance, a family photograph, a business venture, or even the way she introduces herself, Meghan’s actions regularly become headline news.

Now, the duchess has sparked fresh discussion after revealing that she would prefer to be addressed by a different name, a move that has reignited conversations about identity, family, and life after royal duties.

Life after leaving the Royal Family

Meghan and Prince Harry stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 before relocating to North America.

The couple said at the time that they wanted greater independence, more privacy, and the ability to build a life outside the restrictions that came with royal duties.

After initially spending time in Canada, they eventually settled in Montecito, California, where they now live with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Since leaving royal life, the pair have launched numerous projects through Archewell, signed major media deals, and spoken openly about their experiences within the monarchy.

Meghan says she has endured years of abuse

Throughout that period, Meghan has repeatedly discussed the intense criticism she has faced online and in the media.

During a recent appearance in Australia, she spoke candidly about being targeted on social media, describing years of relentless abuse.

The duchess told attendees she had spent much of the last decade being ‘bullied and attacked’ online, while Prince Harry also reflected on the impact social media can have on mental health.

The duke revealed that he delayed seeking therapy for years despite struggling privately.

“I waited until I was literally in the fetal position, much older, lying on the kitchen floor,” Harry admitted. “Maybe I should try it.”

The comments were part of a wider conversation about mental health, online abuse, and the pressures of living in the public eye.

The couple continues to generate headlines

Even routine appearances continue to attract enormous attention.

During the same Australia visit, Meghan made headlines after appearing as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia.

Host Poh Ling Yeow introduced her by saying: “We’ve had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before but no one like this. All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.”

Reports later emerged suggesting Meghan had been unhappy with aspects of the introduction, although those claims were never substantiated.

Yeow subsequently defended the duchess, describing her as ‘delightful,’ ‘very easy going,’ and someone with ‘a good sense of humor.’

The attention surrounding even minor moments has become a recurring feature of Meghan’s public life.

Earlier this year, she and Harry were criticized after posting a family Easter photograph featuring Archie and Lilibet.

While many followers praised the glimpse into family life, others questioned why the couple continued to share personal moments despite previously speaking about wanting privacy.

The reaction once again demonstrated how polarizing the Sussexes remain.

A name that means more than people realize

Questions surrounding Meghan’s name have surfaced several times in recent years.

Many people still refer to her as Meghan Markle, the name she used throughout her acting career and during her rise to fame on Suits.

However, Meghan has previously revealed that Markle is no longer her surname.

During an episode of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, she corrected actress Mindy Kaling after being introduced using her maiden name.

“You know I’m Sussex now,” Meghan said.

She later expanded on the subject during an interview with Bloomberg, explaining that while royal naming conventions can be confusing, Sussex has become the family’s shared name.

“My legal name is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,” she explained. “But Sussex for us works as our family name and it’s the name that we share with our children.”

She added that she hadn’t fully appreciated how meaningful that shared surname would become until Archie and Lilibet were born.

“I love that it’s something Archie, Lili, H and I all have together,” she previously said. “It means a lot to me.”

The Sussex name has become increasingly central to the couple’s public identity in recent years.

They renamed their website Sussex.com, while their charitable organization Archewell Foundation was also rebranded as Archewell Philanthropies as part of what representatives described as a new chapter for their philanthropic work.

The moment Meghan asked people to call her something else

The latest discussion about Meghan’s name emerged during the Sussexes’ visit to Australia.

While attending a series of events across Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney, the couple met community leaders, charity workers, hospital staff, veterans, and artists.

One stop included a visit to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, while Meghan also spent time with women receiving support through McAuley Community Services.

At another event, the couple met Australian poet laureate Steve Cotterill at the Australian National Veterans’ Art Museum.

During their conversation, Cotterill reportedly asked how he should address the duke and duchess.

Prince Harry replied simply: “However you like.”

Meghan’s answer, however, quickly became the focus of headlines around the world.

Instead of requesting a formal title, she offered a much simpler alternative.

“Call me Meg?” she replied. The comment immediately generated debate online.

Supporters viewed it as a friendly and informal response, while critics accused the duchess of attempting to appear more relatable.

Some commentators argued the nickname felt inconsistent with how the public often perceives her, while others pointed out that “Meg” has long been a common nickname for people named Meghan.

The discussion intensified despite the fact that earlier in the day, aides had reportedly told hospital staff that “Harry and Meghan is fine” when they asked how the couple preferred to be addressed.

Still, the brief exchange was enough to trigger another wave of online reactions.

And while the debate continues, the answer Meghan herself gave was remarkably straightforward.

After years of being known globally as Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex says that if people want to address her personally, she’d simply prefer one thing: “Call me Meg.”

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