Reality star JoJo Siwa has announced a name change as she enters the new year. The 22-year-old musician, dancer, and social media sensation revealed this notable alteration on her TikTok profile on New Year’s Eve.
Fans noticed that the “Karma” singer updated her name to “Joelle Siwa” for her 46 million TikTok followers. Discussions on Reddit highlighted that Siwa’s boyfriend, Chris Hughes, has also referred to her as “Joelle” in his now-expired Instagram story.
In her final TikTok of the year before 2026, Siwa hinted at exciting projects to come with a video of her lipsyncing to her 2016 hit “Boomerang.” Reactions in the comments section ranged from excitement about her new name to speculation about her upcoming work. “The name change perfect for 2026! Happy New Year,” one fan enthusiastically commented. Another wrote, “Joelle feels so authentic, wishing you every happiness in 2026.”
While some fans expressed confusion over the name change, many longtime supporters pointed out that “Joelle” isn’t a new name for Siwa. “Her real name is Joelle, Jojo was just a nickname. Are y’all new here?” quipped one social media user.
Aside from her professional endeavors, Siwa has made it clear that romance is also on her mind. After confirming her relationship with Love Island star Chris Hughes over the summer, the couple recently entertained discussions about engagement.
In a joint interview with The Sun’s Fabulous Magazine, Hughes shared his thoughts on the timing of a proposal, stating, “You always get people who get engaged (at) Christmas. You see it on Instagram; every year, you’re gonna see somebody who gets engaged. I kinda like the idea of it not being at a time where it could be expected.”