To millions of people, she was Lisa Marie Presley, the only daughter of Elvis Presley.
To Elvis, she was often simply “Button Head.”
Lisa Marie was born on February 1, 1968, exactly nine months after Elvis and Priscilla’s wedding. A few days later, they brought their baby daughter home to Graceland.
Elvis quickly developed his own collection of affectionate names for her.
Accounts of his family life record “Buttonhead” as one of Elvis’s favorite pet names for Lisa Marie. He was also reported to call her “Yisa.”
Exactly why Elvis chose “Button Head” has never been clearly documented, but friends remembered him using it naturally when talking to his daughter.
One recollection even describes Elvis saying goodbye to Lisa Marie with the words “Be a good girl, Button-head” during an emotional family moment.
Lisa Marie Remembers Growing Up as Elvis Presley’s Daughter
In the official Graceland video, Lisa Marie looks back at memorabilia, home movies and childhood items connected to growing up with Elvis.
Elvis was famously generous with his daughter, filling her childhood with toys, trips and unforgettable experiences. He later even named his customized Convair 880 airplane “Lisa Marie” after her.
But little details like “Button Head” reveal something the cars, planes and gifts cannot.
Behind the King of Rock ’n’ Roll image was simply a dad with a silly, affectionate nickname for his little girl.