Ashanti reveals the meaning behind her and Nelly’s baby: ‘His dad named him with a lot of pride’
Ashanti spoke candidly on Wednesday about the meaning of the name of the newborn baby she welcomed with her husband Nelly, Kareem Kenkaide “KK” Haynes.
The 43-year-old singer confirmed earlier on Wednesday that she welcomed her son on July 18 with 49-year-old rapper Hot In Herre.
The Glen Cove, New York-born beauty explained Entertainment tonight the meaning of her son’s name.
‘Kenkaide is my father’s name, and of course my father only has girls,’ Ashanti the outlet told.
The baby’s middle name, Kareem, is of Arabic origin and means “generous, kind and dignified,” she told the outlet.
Ashanti, 43, opened up with her husband Nelly, 49, on Wednesday about the meaning of her newborn son’s name – Kareem Kenkaide ‘KK’ Haynes. Pictured in Atlanta in June
The couple was photographed embracing on Halloween last year in Fairburn, Georgia
Ashanti said Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., was the person who named their son.
“His father gave him this name with a lot of pride” and thought the name was “really, really cool,” Ashanti told the outlet.
Ashanti told the newspaper that she and her husband welcomed their baby earlier than planned, and that Nelly flew in at the last minute to be there for the birth.
“When we were all in the delivery room and saw his face for the first time, I cried. It was so emotional and spiritual at the same time,” Ashanti told the newspaper.
The singer of hits including Foolish and Rock wit U (Awww Baby) said it was “such an exciting feeling” when she first became a parent because she “had a vision of this moment for so long.”
Ashanti said she is fully committed to parenting: ‘My son is absolutely everything now, he is our priority and I don’t care what it costs, what I have to do, I’m just going to give everything I can for my son.
She added: “This little boy has my whole soul wrapped around his finger.”
The singer advised other new mothers to trust their intuition and “stay strong no matter what obstacles they face.”
The Glen Cove, New York-born beauty explained the meaning of her son’s name: ‘Kenkaide is my dad’s name, and obviously my dad only has girls.’
The baby’s middle name, Kareem, has Arabic origins and means “generous, kind and dignified,” according to Ashanti, who was photographed in Washington, DC in March.
Ashanti told the outlet, “Your child definitely feels your energy. Make sure the baby feels safe and secure and that you have space for yourself as well.
“Don’t get too caught up in the baby’s world. I think it’s really important to create a balance.”
Ashanti, whose son with Nelly is her first child, added: “I’m still completely new, so I’m not trying to give the best advice.”
The couple has been married since the end of last year.