Cuteness OverloadThe Most Unique Celebrity Baby Names and Their Meanings: Malti Marie, Khai, X Æ A-12, Bear Blaze and More

Malti Marie Chopra Jonas

Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra, who married in December 2018, had a baby via surrogate in January 2022. They named their daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, J-14 confirmed in April 2022.

Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor

Harry and Meghan welcomed their second child in June 2021. Their little one is named after two prominent women in Harry’s life, his grandmother Elizabeth and his late mother, Princess Diana.

“Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet,” the couple announced in a statement. “Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.”

Nakana Oceana Valderrama

Wilmer Valderrama and his fiancée, Amanda Pacheco, welcomed their first child, a baby girl, in February 2021. One month later, Amanda revealed the meaning behind her moniker via Instagram, writing, “Her name reminds me of the beautiful journey her father and I took that ultimately led us to have this extraordinary human in our arms today.”

Khai

In September 2020, Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik became parents to a baby girl. Four months later, the model shared their little one’s name via her Instagram profile, which was updated to read, “Khai’s mom.” While the couple have yet to comment on the meaning behind Khai’s name some fans think it is in honor of Gigi’s late grandmother Khairia Daher Hadid. The name, which means “crowned” in Arabic, could also be a nod to Gigi’s sister, Bella Hadid, whose middle name is Khair.

River

Rooney Mara and fiancé Joaquin Phoenix welcomed their son, who is named after the Joker star’s late brother, River Phoenix, in 2020. Russian filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky announced the baby’s arrival during a Q&A at the 2020 Zurich Film Festival in September of that year. Joaquin’s brother died in 1993 at the age of 23 from a drug overdose.

X Æ A-12

Grimes explained the unconventional name of her and Elon Musk’s son in May 2020, just days after she announced his arrival. “X, the unknown variable. Æ, my elven spelling of Ai (love &/or Artificial intelligence). A-12 = precursor to SR-17 (our favorite aircraft). No weapons, no defenses, just speed. Great in battle, but non-violent + (A = Archangel, my favorite song) (metal rat),” she tweeted. “I think it sounds like the name of the main character in the story. I hope he vibes with that.”

Raddix Madden

“We are so happy, blessed and grateful to begin this new decade by announcing the birth of our daughter, Raddix Madden. She has completely captured our hearts and completed our family,” Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden wrote via Instagram in January 2020, announcing the arrival of their daughter via surrogate one month prior. “She is really really cute!! Some would even say RAD.”

Rani Rose Hudson Fujikawa

Kate Hudson shared the meaning behind her and Danny Fujikawa’s daughter moniker in October 2018, shortly after announcing her birth. “We have decided to name our daughter Rani (pronounced Ronnie) after her (paternal) grandfather, Ron Fujikawa. Ron was the most special man who we all miss dearly. To name her after him is an honor,” she wrote via Instagram.

Banks Violet Bair

Hilary Duff welcomed her first child with Matthew Koma, a baby girl, in October 2018. The Younger actress revealed to People earlier that year that the couple agreed on her moniker “right away” because they like the name, but initially thought Violet would be her first name. That changed when Matthew googled “Banks Bair” (Bair is his given last name) and learned that there are Bair ancestors named William Banks Bair. “So, it’s actually a family name,” Hilary said.

The pair welcomed their second daughter, Mae, in March 2021. The Lizzie Maguire actress is also the mother of son Luca, whom she welcomed with now ex-husband Mike Comrie in 2012.

Chicago West

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s second daughter, who was born via surrogate in January 2018, was named after the city in which Kanye grew up. Her nickname, “Chi,” is pronounced “Shy.” The Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum and the rapper also share daughter North, born in June 2013, and sons Saint, born in December 2015, and Psalm, born via surrogate in May 2019.

North’s moniker comes from North being the “highest power,” with the pair’s daughter being “the highest point and power between the two of them,” grandmother Kris Jenner explained to the Huffington Post. Psalm is in honor of the Book of Psalms in the Bible.

Rumi and Sir Carter

“Rumi is our favorite poet, so it was for our daughter,” Jay-Z revealed on the “Rap Radar” podcast after he and Beyoncé welcomed their twins in June 2017. “Sir was like, man, come out the gate. He carries himself like that. He just came out, like, Sir.” The musicians also share daughter Blue Ivy, who was born in January 2012.

Bear Blaze

Kate and husband Edward’s son’s middle name came after the couple met and survived a house fire. Bear, who was born in December 2013, joins Kate’s two older children, daughter Mia Honey and son Joe Alfie, whom she shares with ex-husbands Jim Threapleton and Sam Mendes, respectively.

Pilot Inspektor

Jason and Beth shocked fans when they named their firstborn son Pilot, who was born in September 2003, after a Grandaddy song lyric. The My Name Is Earl actor eventually split from Beth, marrying Ceren Alkac in 2008. The pair have since welcomed three children: Casper, Sonny and Alberta.