John Mulaney is approaching the role of fatherhood with utmost sincerity, or so he claims. However, his buddy Jimmy Kimmel seemed less than persuaded on Monday, when Mulaney dropped by his late-night show for a casual chat. During their conversation, Kimmel couldn't resist pointing out that Mulaney and his wife, Olivia Munn, had recently welcomed their second bundle of joy in September – a daughter named Méi June.
"Her name is Méi," observed Kimmel, with a hint of curiosity. "And her middle name is June… Did you do that just for the pun?"
Mulaney, unwavering, joked back, "I'm a professional comedian, so if I were aiming for humor, 'May' next to 'June' might've been a harder laugh to resist." He then elaborated that his daughter's name was actually meant as a tribute to his mother-in-law.
"Olivia's mom's name is Jung, so we Americanized it to June as a gesture of honor," he shared. "Initially, our daughter was destined to be named June alone."
But the comedian had a sudden realization that "June Mulaney" sounded too much like "John Mulaney" if pronounced in a certain, quirky way. He explained further, "Hence, we thought, 'How about Méi?' – which signifies plum in Chinese – and thus, she became Méi June."
In response, Kimmel seemed mostly convinced that the play on words was unintentional and readily accepted Mulaney's explanation. "I'll accept that," he said.
Mulaney and Munn, who are also parents to a three-year-old son named Malcolm, welcomed Méi into their family on September 14, 2024, through the help of a gestational surrogate. The couple embarked on their romantic journey in 2021 and tied the knot in July 2024, just months before their daughter's birth.
Neither of them shies away from proudly showcasing their children's milestones, frequently sharing heartwarming photos and sweet posts about their family on social media. During a recent appearance on CBS Sunday Mornings, Mulaney emphasized how fatherhood has profoundly transformed his perspective on life.
"I'm now part of a world that I never knew existed before becoming a father. My head was my only sanctuary until then," he said. "When my son was born, my first thought was, 'Oh, there you are.' And when my daughter was born, I had this – I don't mean to sound mystical or anything – but it felt like we had met before. It's like these people entered my life, and I don't know how, but they've made me appreciate the world so much more."
