If you still call her "Meghan Markle," you’re technically behind the times. Honestly, most of us are. It’s a habit. We watched her for years on Suits, followed the royal wedding in 2018, and the name "Markle" just stuck in our collective brains like glue. But if you were to look at her legal documents today—or even listen to how she introduces herself in 2026—you’d find a totally different story.
Names are weird, especially when you mix in a 1,000-year-old monarchy and a move back to California.
The Big Name Swap
A lot of people think she just kept "Markle" for her brand. She didn't. During a pretty candid interview with Bloomberg’s Emily Chang in late 2025, Meghan actually cleared the air on this. She confirmed that when she married Prince Harry, her legal name changed.
It wasn't a "choice" in the way we usually think about it. It was an automatic shift into a new "construct."
Her official legal name is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
That’s it. No "Markle" at the end. No "Windsor" tacked on for fun. In the world of UK royalty, the title becomes the name. It sounds kinda stuffy to American ears, right? Imagine going to the DMV and trying to explain that your last name is actually a "Dukedom."
Why she corrected Mindy Kaling
You might have caught this moment on her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan. Her friend Mindy Kaling kept calling her "Meghan Markle" during a segment. Meghan eventually stepped in—not in a "diva" way, but more like a tired mom correcting a grocery list.
"You know I'm Sussex now," she said.
📖 Related: Rachel Bilson Nude Naked: Why You Won't Find What You're Looking For
She explained that having children changed her perspective on the whole thing. When Archie and Lilibet started using "Sussex" as their surname at school, Meghan wanted that shared identity. She wanted to be "The Sussexes" as a unit, not three people with one name and one person clinging to her maiden name.
The "Mountbatten-Windsor" Confusion
Okay, let’s get into the weeds for a second because this part is super confusing. Technically, the Royal Family’s "house" name is Windsor. But back in 1960, the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip decided that their direct descendants who don't have royal titles would use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.
So, why aren't Harry and Meghan using that?
- They have HRH status: Even though they don't use the "His/Her Royal Highness" styles anymore for work, they still legally hold them. People with those titles don't usually need a surname.
- Military Tradition: Growing up, Harry was "Harry Wales" because his dad was the Prince of Wales. It’s a royal hack—you just use your father’s title as your last name.
- The Rebrand: By using "Sussex" as a family name, they’ve basically turned a British title into a California-style surname.
It’s a bit of a loophole. They aren't "Mr. and Mrs. Sussex" in a legal British sense, but in the US, where they live now, they’ve adopted it as their family identity.
What’s on the Birth Certificates?
If you want to see how messy this gets, you just have to look at their kids' paperwork.
When Archie was born in London in 2019, Meghan was listed as "Rachel Meghan Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex." Fast forward to 2021 when Lilibet was born in Santa Barbara. The California authorities were a bit more strict. For Lilibet’s birth certificate, Meghan had to use her birth name: Rachel Meghan Markle.
So, in the eyes of the State of California, she’s still a Markle on that specific document. But in her day-to-day life and her business ventures, she’s Sussex.
The Spencer "Plan B"
Here’s a wild detail that came out recently. There was a point where Harry and Meghan actually considered dropping the royal names entirely.
According to reports from early 2025, during some friction regarding their children’s UK passports, Harry supposedly talked to his uncle, Earl Spencer. The idea was to potentially change the family's last name to Spencer—Princess Diana’s maiden name.
🔗 Read more: Is Ice Spice a Capricorn? Why Her Birthday Explains Everything About Her Career
It would have been a massive middle finger to the establishment, honestly. It also would have been a way to honor Diana’s legacy while distancing themselves from the Windsor name. Ultimately, the passport issues got sorted out and they stuck with "Sussex," but the fact that it was even on the table shows how much they struggle with the "Markle" vs. "Royal" identity.
Breaking it down simply:
- Maiden Name: Rachel Meghan Markle (Still used on some legal docs).
- Official Title: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
- How she wants you to call her: Meghan Sussex.
- The "Secret" Surname: Mountbatten-Windsor (Rarely used).
Is "Markle" Gone for Good?
Probably not. In the world of SEO and Google searches, "Meghan Markle" is still a powerhouse. People aren't searching for "Meghan Sussex" nearly as much. From a business perspective, the Markle name has too much "brand equity" to ever fully disappear.
But personally? She seems over it.
She’s spent the last few years trying to build something that belongs to her and Harry—not her father’s family and not the British institution. "Sussex" is the middle ground. It’s royal enough to keep the prestige but "Americanized" enough to function as a regular last name in Montecito.
📖 Related: Dolly Parton Bathing Suit: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Modesty
If you’re writing her a letter or introducing her at a gala, stick with The Duchess of Sussex. If you’re just chatting with friends, "Meghan" usually does the trick. But if you want to be technically accurate in 2026, remember that "Markle" is effectively her past, and "Sussex" is her present.
Actionable Takeaways for the Curious
- Update your references: If you’re a writer or a fan, using "Sussex" as her surname is the most current and respectful way to refer to her family unit.
- Don't expect a legal change: While she uses Sussex as a surname, it's unlikely she'll ever formally change her name to "Meghan Sussex" in a court of law, as the Dukedom title already serves that legal purpose in the UK.
- Watch the kids: Archie and Lilibet are the real trendsetters here. By using Sussex at school, they are officially the first generation to turn a 19th-century title into a modern-day American last name.