Celebrity Baby News: Rooney Mara & Joaquin Phoenix Welcome First Child

By Nicole Maher

In the latest celebrity news, celebrity couple Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix welcomed their first child. According to UsMagazine.com, the couple named their celebrity baby after Joaquin Phoenix’s late brother, River Phoenix. The couple’s pregnancy was confirmed in May, with Mara being about six months along at the time. The child’s name was announced at the 2020 Zurich Film Festival following the screening of a documentary titled Gunda, which was executive produced by Phoenix. 

This celebrity baby was named after Joaquin’s late brother. What are some ways to incorporate an important family member’s name into your child’s name?

Cupid’s Advice: 

Whether it’s the name of a parent, grandparent, or lost sibling, many people look to incorporate important family names into the names of their children. If you are looking for the best ways to incorporate these important family member’s names into that of your child, Cupid has some advice for you:

1. Middle name: If you and your partner have already decided on the first name of your child, then opt for using the family member’s name as the middle name. This can be a great option if you feel that the important family member’s name is out-of-date, or simply does not seem to match the personality of your family and newborn child. 

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2. Switch the gender: Sometimes the gender of the child is different from that of the past family member. One way to incorporate the family name despite this difference is to find the gender-equivalent. Many names are unisex or have male and female versions, such as Michael and Michelle, which can make it easy to incorporate an important family name even if the gender of your baby is different. 

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3. Right up front: Just as Mara and Phoenix did, place the important family member’s name right up front. By choosing to use the family member’s name as your child’s first name, you are showing just how important that person was to you. It is also a great way for your child to feel connected to this family member, even if they never had the opportunity to meet them. 

What are some other ways to incorporate an important family member’s name into the name of your child? Start a conversation in the comments below!