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Jenna Bush Hager Says Laura Bush Urged "Mela" Spelling for Daughter Mila to Prevent Mispronunciation

The TV host shared the lighthearted family story on the Dec. 4 taping of Jenna & Friends during a chat with guest host Scarlett Johansson.

Overview

  • Bush Hager recounted that her mother worried Texans with Southern accents were saying "My-la" when reading "Mila."
  • Laura Bush suggested swapping the spelling to "Mela," pointing to names like "Lela" that track more closely with pronunciation.
  • Scarlett Johansson quipped on air, "What did she want you to do about that?" as Bush Hager laughed about the idea.
  • No change was made to the name, and her daughter’s legal name remains Margaret Laura "Mila" Hager, born April 13, 2013.
  • Social Security data show "Mila" rose from No. 78 in 2013 to No. 33, while "Mela" is not in the top 1,000; siblings Poppy and Hal were named in tribute to family.