John Mulaney and Olivia Munn have addressed the story behind their daughter’s name, Méi June, and it’s not a joke, despite what some may think.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday, Mulaney was asked about the name of their second child, born in September 2024. Kimmel noticed the unique combination of “Méi” and “June” and asked, “Did you do that to be funny?”
Mulaney quickly dismissed the idea, saying, “I’m a professional comedian, so if I was going for funny, it might be a harder laugh than May next to June.”
The comedian then explained the name was actually meant to honor his mother-in-law. “Olivia’s mom’s name is Jung, so we were doing an Americanized tribute to her by naming her June,” Mulaney shared. He added that they originally planned to name their daughter June, but changed their minds when he realized “June Mulaney” might sound like his own name if said a certain way.
Mulaney then suggested “Méi,” which means “plum” in Chinese, as a better option. So, they decided on Méi June.
Kimmel appeared satisfied with the explanation, jokingly saying, “I’ll accept that.”
Mulaney and Munn, who also have a 3-year-old son named Malcolm, welcomed Méi via gestational surrogate on September 14, 2024. The couple, who began dating in 2021 and married in July 2024, often share glimpses of their family life on social media.
In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Mornings, Mulaney reflected on how fatherhood has changed his perspective on life. He said, “I’m in the world now that I’m a father. My head was my only home before that.”
He added that when his son was born, he felt a sense of recognition: “The first thought I had was, I went, ‘Oh, there you are.'” When his daughter arrived, he felt an even deeper connection: “My thought was like, ‘Oh, we’ve met before. I’ve collided with you some other time.'”
