NFL Star Chad Ochocinco Changing Name Back to Johnson for Upcoming Wedding
New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco is changing his last name yet again after taking to Twitter on Wednesday to confirm that he will change it back to his birth name "Johnson," for personal reasons.
The 34-year-old NFL star tweeted that the name change will take effect on July 4, which sources suspect will be just in time for his scheduled July wedding with his "Basketball Wives" fiancee Evelyn Lozada, according to TMZ.
Chad, birth name Chad Javon Johnson, changed his last name to Ochocinco on October 25, 2006 in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month although it is now understood that he is reversing the name change because he would prefer that Lozada take on his real last name.
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The reality star couple raise eyebrows in 2011 after 33-year-old Chad proposed to Lozada, 35, after just four months of dating, although he took the time to explain his decision to commit quickly.
"I know everything about her, so there are no surprises. My grandma says, 'Always marry your best friend, because your best friend will be able to tell you anything and not hide nothing.' That's one of the things I really like, which is one of the reasons why she's wearing that ring," Chad told PEOPLE.
Lozada echoed Chad's sentiments, and spoke about their upcoming wedding plans which are reportedly yet to be finalized.
"I want something small, even though he wants something big. I want something intimate. I'm 35, and we have five kids together. I don't want anything over the top," Lozada said.
