With Ohio Sen. JD Vance recently announced as President Trump's vice-presidential running mate for the 2024 election , many are curious about the origins of his name. Vance, 39, has a unique and evolving naming history that reflects his personal journey.
Born James Donald Bowman in Middletown, Ohio, Vance’s early years were marked by significant changes. After his parents divorced, his middle name was changed from Donald, his father's name, to David. This was just the beginning of a series of name changes that Vance would undergo.
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During his teenage years, Vance adopted the surname of his stepfather, becoming James Hamel. This name is reflected in his 2003 senior yearbook at Middletown High School, where he was known as such.
As an adult, Vance decided to honor his maternal grandparents by legally adopting their surname when he married his wife, Usha, in 2014, becoming James Vance. Despite these changes, Vance has always preferred to go by "JD," a choice he maintains in his official U.S. Senate biography , which spells his first name as JD.
However, Vance's popular 2016 memoir , "Hillbilly Elegy" – which was adapted into a Netflix film directed by Ron Howard in 2020 – lists him as JD Vance. This spelling was also used by Trump in the recent announcement of Vance as his running mate.
The evolution from James Donald Bowman to James David Vance is a testament to his complex personal history and the influences of his family. Since the release of "Hillbilly Elegy," Vance has risen as an influential voice within the Republican Party. His journey from a tumultuous childhood to becoming a U.S. Marine veteran, venture capitalist, best-selling author, and now a vice-presidential nominee, is a unique story and transformation.
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Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What does 'JD' Vance stand for? Trumps V.P. pick has changed his name several times
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