Brooke Hogan Honors Late Dad by Naming Twin Molly Gene Oleksy
Brooke Hogan named one of her twin daughters after her late father, Hulk Hogan, using his middle name Gene.
Riley Carter here. Another day, another viral moment. Let’s unpack this without trying too hard.
In January of this year Brooke Hogan and her husband, former NHL defenseman Steven Oleksy, welcomed twins into their family. While the two new arrivals have yet to make a splash on social media, one baby’s moniker is already turning heads. According to sources close to Brooke, she chose Molly Gene Oleksy for her daughter’s full name as a heartfelt nod to her dad, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, whose legal name was Terry Gene Bollea. It may seem like a small detail, but fans of the Hogan family know how meaningful middle names can be when they carry a legacy.
Brooke’s decision carries extra weight given her rocky relationship with her father in recent years. TMZ reports that Brooke and Hulk were estranged leading up to her twin delivery, following ongoing tensions over how he treated her during her teenage years and beyond. Despite the distance, insiders insist Brooke was always “a daddy’s girl” at heart, even when logic—and a busy life—pulled them apart.
One of the main reasons Brooke and Steven relocated from Nashville to Florida in early 2024 was to be closer to her famous pop culture parent and potentially help with caregiving duties. Our sources say the move was motivated by genuine concern and hope for reconciliation. Reality, however, had other plans. Busy schedules, long travel days, and lingering hurt prevented the family from truly reuniting under the same roof.
Still, Brooke and Hulk managed a final heart-to-heart in September 2023—just months before his sudden cardiac arrest in July 2025. According to those in the room, Brooke openly told her dad she loved him, and for the first time in years felt she got through to him. It was a bittersweet exchange that, in hindsight, feels like a prelude to her tribute. Naming her daughter after his middle name became a way to hold onto that last loving moment.
When news broke that Hulk Hogan passed away on July 25, 2025, after suffering cardiac arrest, Brooke was said to be in a state of grief mixed with relief. A family friend told TMZ that Brooke spent the day praying for her dad’s soul and felt at peace knowing he was no longer in pain. Even through tears, she found comfort in the fact that little Molly carries a piece of Hulk’s identity forward.
Fans have flocked to social media to praise Brooke’s tribute, with comments ranging from touching to emotional. Instagram users pointed out that middle names often fly under the radar, yet here it serves as a powerful lifeline to a complicated but ultimately loving father-daughter relationship.
And there you have it—Hogan heritage lives on in a tiny new package. Whether Molly Gene grows up to love wrestling or chart her own path, she’ll always have grandpa’s name in her corner. Okay cool, so like, yeah, that happened.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
