Ashanti has celebrated the arrival of her first baby with Nelly by sharing a powerful postpartum photo on Instagram.
“Funny how life’s plans aren’t always on time. I’ve been waiting to be a mom for a long time, but nothing could prepare me for everything motherhood brings! This is what postpartum looks like,” Ashanti wrote alongside a photo of herself in Frida Mom shorts. She also referenced her 2002 hit single, “Baby,” saying, “I’m so proud of my body for giving me my baby, baby, baby, baby, baby.”
While Ashanti did not provide additional details about her baby on social media, her representative confirmed to People that the baby’s name is Kareem Kenkaide Hayes. Born on July 18, the newborn is a Cancer. The choice of middle name likely honors Ashanti’s father, Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas. The name Kareem, however, is a more common choice.
Name Details:
Kareem
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Noble, generous (according to Nameberry.com)
Similar Names: Karim, Khalid, Kamal, Ibraheem
Notable Namesake: Former NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Popularity: The name entered the Social Security Administration’s top 1,000 baby names list in 1972, ranking 405th that year. It was the 626th most popular name in 2023.
Ashanti announced her pregnancy in April 2024, highlighting the increasing trend of people having babies in their 40s.
The couple married in 2023, two decades after their initial meeting and years after rekindling their romance. Nelly, who has a 25-year-old son and a 30-year-old daughter from previous relationships, also adopted his niece and nephew following his sister’s death in 2005.
