Penn Badgley is clearing up the chaos the Internet created about his son’s identity.
For years, people have been convinced that the You star and his wife, Domino Kirke, named their son James. But here’s the plot twist: Penn Badgley’s son’s real name isn’t James at all.
During a recent sit-down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, the actor finally put the rumors to rest. “This is a very weird thing to say, but our littlest, who is four … his name is not James,” he explained, straight-up calling out Wikipedia for constantly listing the wrong name.
What makes this even more awkward? The name James has been circulated online for so long that even family friends have started believing it. “We’d get it removed; it would go back. His name’s not James,” Penn said. And yeah, people still send them cards that say, “To all of us and James.” Imagine trying to keep something private, and even your friends get it wrong thanks to the Internet echo chamber.
The actor and Domino have kept their son’s actual name under wraps since his birth, wanting to give him a little shield from the spotlight. But Badgley did drop a hint for fans who are burning with curiosity: “It’s a good name though,” he said, keeping the mystery alive but assuring everyone it’s not some lame moniker.
The real kicker here is how something as simple as a misreported baby name can spiral so wildly out of control that even people close to you start accepting it as truth. It’s like the digital version of a telephone gone rogue. Penn Badgley’s son’s real name has been protected for years, but James just somehow became the unofficial stand-in that nobody can shake off.
Penn, who’s now preparing to become a dad again, this time to twin boys, talked about how surreal the experience is. He’s already a stepdad to 16-year-old Cassius and clearly enjoying the chaos of family life. About the twins, he said, “It’s thrilling, obviously… I see the sonogram, and it just feels so good.”
He even described one sonogram moment where the twins looked like they were chilling in a hot tub together, facing each other, already bonding before they’re even born. For someone who grew up as an only child, the idea of raising twins is kind of mind-blowing for him. “I cannot fathom what it would be like to have someone with you there,” he said. And yeah, it sounds like he’s still wrapping his head around the fact that he’s going to have to raise two babies at once.
As for the four-year-old with the mystery name? He’s hyped to be a big brother. According to Penn, the little guy is “stoked” about having younger siblings. Meanwhile, the 16-year-old is happy for the family but also kind of done, he’s already thinking about the fact that he’ll be out of the house in two years. Classic teen energy.
So no, Penn Badgley’s son’s name isn’t James. It never was. But thanks to the Internet’s stubbornness, it’s become one of those rumors that just won’t die. It’s honestly a wild reminder of how quickly misinformation spreads, even about something as personal as your kid’s name. At least now Penn’s using his platform to set the record straight… even if he’s still keeping the real name under wraps.
