At a Glance
- Dakota Fanning’s birth name is Hannah Dakota Fanning; Elle Fanning’s is Mary Elle Fanning
- Both actresses have used their middle names since childhood, following their mother’s example
- The siblings will appear together for the first time in the 2027 film “The Nightingale”
- Why it matters: Fans may be surprised to learn the stars they’ve known for decades go by different names
Hollywood has known them as Dakota and Elle Fanning for years, but those are actually their middle names. The sisters were born Hannah Dakota Fanning and Mary Elle Fanning, a detail that has caused occasional confusion throughout their lives.
The Name Story
Elle explained the family’s naming tradition during a 2016 interview with Glamour. “My mom goes by her middle name, and my sister goes by her middle name. Her first name is Hannah,” the 27-year-old said. “It’s possibly a Southern thing, I don’t know. But since my mom goes by her middle name, we go by our middle names too.”
This practice created some awkward moments during Elle’s school years. “It was awkward in school when they were calling roll call,” she recalled. “They’d go, ‘Mary? Mary?’ Kids would be like, ‘There’s no Mary here.’ I’d awkwardly raise my hand, like, ‘Uh, it’s me.'”
Dakota, 31, confirmed her own naming story in a 2004 interview. “My first name is Hannah. So it is Hannah Dakota Fanning. But I have always been called Dakota.” She added that her father was the one who originally came up with her middle name.
First Film Together
Despite their individual success, the Fanning sisters have never appeared in a movie together-until now. They will co-star in “The Nightingale,” based on Kristin Hannah’s 2015 novel about two siblings in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. The drama is scheduled for theatrical release on February 12, 2027.
The project has been developing for several years. “It’s taken a couple years in the making,” Elle told James O Connor Fields at the January 11, 2026 Golden Globes. “But we are finally really doing it this time.”
Both sisters will serve as producers on the film. Before committing to the project, they made specific promises to each other about their on-set dynamic.
“[Dakota] promised me that she’s not gonna boss me around,” Elle shared. “I’m like, ‘You have to treat me like a fellow actor.'”
Dakota had her own request: “Don’t annoy me too much.”
Beyond the Names
While the Fanning sisters have built impressive acting careers under their middle names, Dakota admits she still gets starstruck-though not necessarily by fellow actors. She finds herself more awestruck meeting reality television personalities, specifically mentioning Lisa Vanderpump as someone who leaves her starstruck.
The revelation about their birth names adds another layer to the public’s understanding of these accomplished actresses who have been in the spotlight since childhood. From Hannah Dakota Fanning’s breakout role in “I Am Sam” to Mary Elle Fanning’s acclaimed performances in films like “The Neon Demon,” both have established themselves under the names fans have come to know and love.
Key Takeaways
- Dakota and Elle Fanning’s real first names are Hannah and Mary, respectively
- The family tradition of using middle names spans three generations
- “The Nightingale” marks their first on-screen collaboration as sisters
- The World War II drama will arrive in theaters in February 2027
