Joaquin
Rafael Bottom/Leaf Phoenix was one of five children, all with
equally interesting names, including River (1970–1993), Rain ,
Liberty, Summer, and a half-sister Jodean.
After Joaquin's parents, John Lee and Arlyn Bottom, married in
1969, they joined a religious cult and traveled around South
America. They became disenchanted with the cult and moved back to
the US in 1978, and changed their last name to Phoenix to
symbolize new beginning.
About this same time, a young Joaquin began calling himself
"Leaf," desiring to have a similar nature-related name as those of
his siblings. Leaf was the name he used as a child actor until, at
age 15; he changed it back to Joaquin.