The name of Paris Hilton's new baby is Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum.
The US socialite and businesswoman said she wanted to choose a name on the theme of world cities, like herself, but one that also had “other meanings”.
Last month, she announced the arrival of her son, who was reportedly born by surrogate, with partner Carter Reum. The couple said they had kept the birth a secret from even their closest friends and family.
Speaking in the latest episode of her podcast This Is Paris, she explained the process behind choosing the name, which she had thought up “over a decade ago”.
“This is a name that is so special to me. I've been planning my children's names for years and years,” she said.
“I knew even when I was a little girl that I wanted to have a daughter named London, because London is one of my favourite cities in the world, I think it's such a beautiful name — it could work for a boy or a girl.
“I just think it sounds cute, Paris and London.”
She continued: “It's hard to think of a boy name on that theme I really wanted to stick with the theme of other cities, or a state or a country, just something about the world because I love to travel and I love exotic names.”
Hilton added that she had considered some of her other favourite cities for her son's name, including Las Vegas, in Nevada, and Aspen, in Colorado, as well as Ibiza, which she admitted sounded “weird”.
“Over a decade ago I thought of this amazing name. It's such a beautiful name, it's so unique. I love that it's not only a city but it also has other meanings that are just beautiful,” she said.
“I do believe that names have power and we wanted a name for our baby boy that was uniquely remarkable.”
Hilton said she had chosen the name of Phoenix because it stands for “hope, rebirth and transformation”.
“Phoenix has a few good pop culture reference points, but more important it's the birth that flames out and rises from the ashes to fly again,” she said, reading an extract from her coming memoir.
“I want my son to grow up knowing that disaster and triumph go around and come around throughout our lives, and that this should give us great hope for the future.”
PA contributed to this report
Celebrity couples who have had babies via surrogacy — in pictures
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Socialite Paris Hilton and her husband Carter Reum have welcomed a baby boy via surrogacy, she announced in January. AFP -
Actress Rebel Wilson welcomed a daughter, Royce Lillian, via surrogate in November 2022. Getty Images -
'The Tonight Show' host Jimmy Fallon and his wife Nancy Juvonen's daughters Winnie Rose and Frances Cole were born via surrogacy in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Reuters -
Power couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are parents to two daughters, Sunday and Faith. While Kidman gave birth to Sunday in 2008, Faith was born via a surrogate in 2011. AFP -
Funnywoman Kristen Wigg and her husband Avi Rothman welcomed twins through surrogacy in December 2021. Getty Images -
Actress Gabrielle Union and NBA star Dwyane Wade had their daughter Kaavia James Union Wade via surrogacy in November 2018. Union has been open about her journey after several pregnancy losses. AFP -
Star couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have three children. Their first was born when Parker was 37. When she was 43, the couple decided to use a surrogate and had twins Marion and Tabitha in 2009. AFP -
Actress Elizabeth Banks and sportswriter and film producer husband Max Handelman have two sons, Felix and Magnus Mitchell, born via surrogacy. AFP -
Actress Ellen Pompeo had her second child, Sienna May, with husband Chris Ivery, via surrogacy in October 2014. They welcomed their third, Eli Christopher, in 2016. He is presumed to have been born via a surrogate, too, according to reports, though the couple have not officially commented on this. AFP -
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas made headlines by announcing the arrival of their first child through surrogacy on Instagram. AFP -
Model and TV host Tyra Banks and her former partner Erik Asla are parents to son York, who was born in 2016. After years of trying to become pregnant, the couple turned to gestational surrogacy to have a child. AFP
