Ashanti Reveals Meaning Behind Newborn Son's Name & The Nickname They're Already Calling Him

Ashanti is opening up about her baby boy!

If you missed it, the 43-year-old singer and actress just revealed she gave birth last month to a baby boy named Kareem Kenkaide Hayes.

In another new interview, Ashanti dished on the meaning behind the baby’s name and she revealed the nickname they’ve already given him.

Keep reading to find out more…

“His dad named him with a lot of pride,” she told ET, noting they’ve already nicknamed him KK, which was mentioned in the statement from their rep.

The name Kareem means generous, kind an dignified, which spoke to the couple, while his middle name, Kenkaide, is a tribute to Ashanti‘s father, whose name is Ken-kaide.

“Having all of us in the delivery room and seeing his face for the first time, I cried it was just so emotional and spiritual at the same time,” she added. “Having a vision of this moment for so long…it was such an electrifying feeling.”

What’s it like being a new mom?

“My son definitely dictates everything now, he is the priority overall and I don’t care what it will take, what I have to do, I’m just going to give everything and my all to my son,” Ashanti shared. “This little boy has my entire soul wrapped around his finger.”⁠

Advice she would also share with other new moms is to “follow your gut instinct and keep strong no matter what the obstacles bring.”

“Your child absolutely feels your energy. Make sure that the baby feels secure and safe and you have to have space for you as well. Don’t get too lost into the world of the baby. I think that it’s really important to create a balance,” she adds. “I’m super brand new so I’m not trying to give the golden advice.”⁠

“It was incredible to watch just how confident and how gentle and how soothing he is with his son,” Ashanti shares of Nelly. “It was just an amazing, incredible feeling.”

Congratulations once again to Ashanti and Nelly on their bundle of joy!