Here's the Sweet Meaning Behind Jax Taylor And Brittany Cartwright's Son's Name
Cruz might be a popular name among Bravoleb babies, but Jax and Brittany opened up about why it's a special name to them.
His Instagram declares he’s “the #1 guy in this group!” and in the world of Vanderpump Rules babies, that’s certainly true.
Cruz Michael Cauchi is set to make his reality television debut with mom and dad Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright on Bravo’s new show, The Valley, in spring 2024. But as we get ready to see his sweet face, it turns out there’s a lot to know about the toddler, including the meaning behind his name.
Why did Jax and Brittany name their son Cruz Michael Cauchi?
You can learn a lot about a person by their name, and Jax and Brittany thought long and hard about what to call their firstborn. Brittany admitted it wasn’t an easy decision.
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“From the very beginning, we had a girl’s name picked out, and when we found out it was a boy, it took us a while to decide on a name,” Brittany said in an interview with E! News. “I was probably around five months pregnant when we finally decided on Cruz.”
Cruz Michael Cauchi was born on April 12, 2021.
“Cruz means ‘cross,’” Brittany explained to E! News. “And coming from a religious family, I thought it was amazing. I also, of course, think it’s super cute, and goes with Cauchi so perfectly.”
It was revealed on Vanderpump Rules when Jax was seeing a reiki therapist that his legal name is actually Jason Cauchi. He told The Daily Dish in 2019 that “Jax Taylor” is a moniker he took on when he was 21 years old and modeling. He was told that his birth name wouldn’t work in the biz, and “Jax Taylor” was more model-friendly (plus, Taylor is his mother’s maiden name, Brittany shared with Bravo).
Ahead of their wedding, Jax told The Daily Dish of Brittany changing her last name, “I think she should keep her last name, but our kids will have my last name — my legal last name.”
Brittany agreed with the sentiment, telling The Daily Dish, “No one knows him as Jason Cauchi, everyone knows him as Jax Taylor, so if I’m all the sudden Brittany Cartwright Cauchi, I feel like people are going to be like, ‘What?’ And I think that might be a little confusing.”
Brittany and Jax kept that mentality two years later when they welcomed their son.
“His late father’s last name is Cauchi, so of course we wanted to continue his legacy with our son and family,” Brittany told E! News. “Michael is Jax’s middle name and his uncle/godfather’s name. As an added plus, Michael has always been my mom’s favorite boy’s name ever, so she was excited.”
What other Bravo stars have named their child Cruz?
It turns out Cruz is a trendy name to pick for a baby in the Bravoverse, US Magazine reported. The Real Housewives of Dallas’ Stephanie Hollman gave birth to her son, Cruz, in 2013. Her fellow Dallas Housewife Kameron Wescott put a different spin on the name, calling her son Cruise. Wendy Osefo of The Real Housewives of Potomac took another route with spelling when she named her son Kruz.
Teddi Mellencamp of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills also welcomed a son, Cruz, with husband Edwin Arroyave, in 2014.
Brittany responded to some heat on social media after her son was born, and those who accused her and Jax of jumping on a trend for Cruz’s name.
“I told Stassi [Schroeder of Vanderpump Rules] about my name, and she told me about Teddi [Mellencamp] and I don’t care, I love the name,” Brittany commented on Instagram, according to the U.S. Sun. “It’s so cute, so I see why other people have it!”
See more of Jax, Brittany and Cruz Michael Cauchi when The Valley premieres on Bravo in spring 2024.
