“Sister Wives” star Meri Brown is not ditching Kody Brown’s last name anytime soon.
Speaking on Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes’ “I Do, Part 2” podcast, the former polygamist shared that she’s holding on to the Brown last name even after her divorce has been finalized.
“I have had the conversation many times with my best friend and with some other people too,” Meri said. “Right now, I’m not going to.”
‘Sister Wives’ Star Meri Brown Explains Why She’s Keeping Kody’s Last Name
Meri, who married Kody in 1990, explained that she identifies with “Brown” because she’s had it for 35 years. In addition, the “Sister Wives” star pointed out that her maiden name, Barber, is “really hard to say.”
“I only had my other name, my dad’s name, for 19 years,” Meri said. “Also, there’s a lot of R’s in it, and it’s really hard to say. Brown is a hell of a lot easier.”
Meri goes on to say that she and one of her sisters joke about not going back to their maiden name even after a divorce.
“Me and one of my sisters, we joke about it all the time, because she’s also divorced,” Meri shared. “We’re like, ‘Love you, dad. But we’re not going to go back to the maiden name.’”
In 2024, Meri told PEOPLE that she has no plans to drop Kody’s surname, adding that it’ll be weird to transition back to her other name.
“I definitely wouldn’t ever change it back to my maiden name. That would be weird for me,” she told the outlet at the time. “I only had that for 19 years. This one I’ve had for 34, so it would be weird on that level.”
Why Kody & Meri Got Divorced?
Meri and Kody finalized their divorce in 2014. The move allowed Kody to legally marry Robyn Brown and adopt her children from a previous marriage.
Despite their divorce, Meri and Kody continued their relationship in a spiritual marriage. In January 2023, they officially separated for good.
Currently, Meri revealed that she’s not dating anybody exclusively. Still, that doesn’t mean she’s not interested in meeting someone new.
“I do date when I find somebody that matches my energy,” Meri revealed in the same podcast interview. “I’m very selective about who I date. I’m very selective about who I bring into my world.”
“Sister Wives” Season 20 is set to premiere on Sunday, September 28, 2025, on TLC.
