Keke Palmer Reveals Ex Darius Jackson ‘Made’ Up Their Son’s Name: ‘I Was Pregnant, Anything Went’

Keke Palmer is sharing how she landed on her son’s name.

While appearing on Scott Evans’ House Guest podcast, the One Of Them Days actress, whose real name is Lauren Palmer, opened up about how she and her ex, Darius Jackson, decided on the name for their 2-year-old son, Leodis.

“Darius actually made his name. He wanted both our names, which is so crazy,” she said, joking about how the practice of combining the parents’ names is seemingly common in Chicago. “So yeah, that was him trying to put like Darius and Lauren, like Leodis, like it was just too much, but I said, ‘Hey, let’s do it. It’s adorable.’ ”

“I was pregnant, anything went. It’s adorable, … and then also it sounded like an old name,” she said. “He sounded like he was marching with [Martin Luther King Jr.]. It’s like Leodis Andrellton Jackson. He’s gonna be on somebody’s campaign.”

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The Emmy award winner, 31, welcomed her first child on Feb. 25, 2023, with her ex-boyfriend. Since welcoming Leo, the actress hasn’t shied away from posting about him on social media. Between silly videos and heartfelt tributes, Palmer has been relishing in motherhood.

“Mommy’ing is coming along if you were looking for an update. I have juggled quite a few careers but this is my greatest gig of all,” Palmer wrote on Instagram in March 2023. “I will never be the same again, but if you thought I was a bad mama jamma before, you can’t imagine the greater purpose my son has given my life!”

The Nope actress has a different outlook on life now that she’s a mother. Palmer previously told PEOPLE that life is “always a juggling act” these days as she navigates motherhood and her demanding career as an actress, musician and business owner.

“I do feel like being 30, it’s put me in a different head space that’s allowed me to kind of feel more observational about my life,” she told PEOPLE. “I’m not so in the weeds of everything. I’m really trusting and having faith that everything will work out as it should. I think so much of that peace has come from my son.”

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The True Jackson VP alum and Baby, This is Keke Palmer podcast host celebrated her son Leodis’ second birthday with several posts on both her and her son’s Instagram pages. In the sweet tribute on her Instagram, she shared a collection of photos and videos from the past two years. In the post, Palmer included a video of her doing her son’s hair and another of her kissing him on the cheek as a baby.

She also shared pictures of her and her son, including one where they both were sticking their tongues out. Another snap showed Palmer lying on the floor as he sat on her stomach and looked at the camera.

“My life can and will never be the same. You have made me who I will forever be, a MOTHA,” Palmer wrote in her caption. “Leodis from the moment you were in my stomach I knew you were a strong little boy. I could just feel it!”

“Even though you are no longer in my stomach you are in fact my greatest strength,” she continued. “Idk if it’s telepathy or what but you have taught me that I can do anything and as long as you are watching I promise I won’t let you down. Strong baby, strong mommy!!!”