So … we now know that Gwen Stefani finally gave birth to her second child yesterday here in SoCal, that she birthed another son and decided to name him Zuma Nesta Rock … and now, the speculation as to the “why” begins, at least, until either Gwen or hubby Gavin Rossdale decide to enlighten us. At first, I assumed that Zuma meant that she gave birth to a baby girl. Pink reader Sajel sent me a link that confirms Zuma is, traditionally, considered a female name … but what about the rest of the newborn baby’s name … what gives?
What’s in a name? For Gwen Stefani’s newborn, Zuma Nesta Rock – plenty. Take the unique first name: Computer game aficionados may remember Zuma, a popular 2004 video game from PopCap Games. Zuma required players to remove balls rolling around the computer screen by firing a colored ball at them before they filled up the screen. A more likely name inspiration? Malibu’s famous Zuma Beach, a favorite destination for parents Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale and big brother Kingston. The beach, famous for its surfable waves, was the inspiration for Neil Young’s album Zuma, making the locale a bona-fide musical landmark. And then there’s Nesta, Zuma’s middle name. Gwen and Gavin, avid Bob Marley fans, probably took a cue from the late singer’s middle name, which was also Nesta. Marley’s home base of Kingston, Jamaica, was an inspiration for big brother Kingston Rossdale’s name, so it seems Marley themes are popular in the Stefani-Rossdale household. Zuma’s second middle name, Rock, might be a nod to Rock Steady, the third studio album from Stefani’s band No Doubt. Rock Steady was primarily recorded in Jamaica and featured a reggae-heavy sound, rounding out the Bob Marley love for the musical clan.
Lord. Well, as far as baby names go, Zuma Nesta Rock‘s isn’t the strangest … I think that distinction still belongs to actor Jason Lee‘s son Pilot Inspektor Riesgraf. It’s not even the most absurd baby name that I’ve heard of lately … I would have to say that Matthew McConaughey‘s older brother Rooster McConaughey (who has wacky name of his own, but doesn’t really count since it’s a nickname) naming his son Miller Lyte wins that contest. Even still, I can’t help but think that little Zima … sorry, Zuma is gonna have a lifetime of razzing coming his way. I just hope the kid learns how to defend himself early on … something tells me that his fair older brother, Kingston James McGregor, might not be that great of a protector. So … what do y’all think about this baby name?
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maybe it is just a big joke and it really isn’t the kids name…i doubt it but just maybe? Even Nesta Rock would have been better with out the ZUUUUMMMMAAA!!
LOL. These poor kids. Funny, I was reading your post about the name and was thinking the EXACT same thing with the Zima and Nestea. That poor child. They can’t be serious names. Maybe they tell the press those are the kids’ names to keep their privacy??? Surely they cannot be that cruel. Rooster isn’t a nickname?
You can’t forget the legendary names that Frank Zappa left his progeny.
-Moon Unit
-Dweezil (whose birth certificate actually reads Ian Don Calvin Euclid Zappa because the nurse wouldn’t admit his wife until she changed her mind on naming the child Dweezil. His names come from all the male musicians that Zappa could rattle off. They still called him Dweezil.)
-Ahmet
-Diva Muffin
Homer Laffoon, now that is just mean
ROTFL!!!!!
I like the game Zuma on yahoo games. That is what I thought of first.
I was given an unusual name and I love it.
Celebs can name their kids whatever they want, those children live in a different world all together from us.
I think of musical ditties like…”Who’s zoomin’ who?” (Aretha Franklin) and the theme song from the kids show Zoom (“Come on and zooma, zooma, zooma, zoom!”). ugghh.
Craziest baby name is Shannyn Sossamon’s kid: Audio Science. What the heck?
You all act like this kid is actually going to attend public school. Right……………
ZUMA in the phils was the name of one of our classic comic stories…ZUMA was a snake man; his whole body was green with scales and a 2-headed snake on his neck–end-to-end (that doesnt seem to have a tail).
so it was the first thing that went into my head! hahah snake-man/boy!
but i still love gwen and gavin and the lil guys!
Zuma is an addicting online puzzle game. I didn’t know that it was suitable for a first name. Who is going to further to him as Zuma, because first and foremost he is Gwen’s Stefani’s child. That until he follows Milley Cyrus’ playbook and become a tween heartthrob in 9-15 years.
I’m so disappointed. I always thought they were above the whacky names. There are so many cool names they could have chosen. And I was also hoping for a girl. :(
I was so excited to find out what they named the baby. I am sooo disapointed and surprised. Kingston is such a cool name. Zuma, not so much. Good thing he will be cute.
Nesta is Bob Marley’s middle name and Kingston is Bob Marleys home country Jamaica’s capital.
i had really thought Gwen had more sense than most than to go and name her baby zuma! that is a wretched name! even if it does ahve 50 sentimental reasons behind it! i work at a dog spa and there are not even any DOG”S NAMED ZUMA! come the f on gwen, thats bad. poor baby….
[...] “Hi, my name is … Zuma.” *thwack* August 23, 2008 at 11:18 am | In Comments on the lives of Celebrities, Random Thoughts | It would have been cooler if she’d named her kid Numa Numa Rossdale instead. Click. [...]
if they love bob marley so much, why not call him “marley”??
i think its selfish of gwen/gavin to name their child this. its horrible.
though the weirdest name given to a child, i think, was “talula does the hula from hawaii.” i kid you not. parents in new zealand actually named their daughter this, and the courts actually made the girl a ward of the state so her named could be changed!
Musicians have been giving their kids weird names forever… remember Frank Zappa’s kids? Dweasle & Moon Unit? I think they are all just trying to out-do eachother and make sure their kids are completely original.
You can always tell which stars smoke weed (at the VERY least) by what they name their kids. Geezus.