Ashanti Shares Sentimental Inspiration Behind Her Newborn Son's Name and Says He Looks Like Her 'Twin'

Mar. 15, 2025

Speaking about her son’s name — Kareem Kenkaide Haynes — Ashanti revealed that the inspiration came from Nelly, 49.

“His dad named him with a lot of pride,” the proud mom told the outlet. “We were going back and forth for a long time on his name and he was very adamant. He was like, ‘This is what I want, I love this.’ ”

“I thought it was just so amazing and so thoughtful and so sweet because Kenkaide is my dad’s name and obviously my dad has only girls, so Nelly was just like, ‘I think that would be really dope.’ This was all his idea.”

Ashanti announcing she’d become a mom on her Instagram Stories.Ashanti/instagram

Ashanti/instagram

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The “Happy” artist also shared the meaning behind the name Kareem, which includes generous, kind, noble, bountiful and dignified.

Ashanti then went on to reveal that her son arrived “a little early” and that Nelly had to “fly in last minute which was awesome.” “He made it well before time, which was incredible,” she added toET, also calling the birth “such an amazing and incredible feeling and experience.”

Ashanti and Nelly.Alexander Tamargo/Getty

Alexander Tamargo/Getty

“Just having all of us in the delivery room and seeing his face for the first time, I cried,” she said. “It was just so emotional and so spiritual. Kind of having a vision of this moment for so long. I always wanted children, I always wanted to get married.”

She added with a laugh, “I didn’t know that I was going to spin the block and be with my ex from a long time ago.”

“But, just all of these emotions happening at one time, just knowing that this is your person, this is your purpose, this is what it’s supposed to be,” Ashanti continued. “And the three of us together, when we were all able to hold each other it was such an electrifying feeling. It just validated all of that. It was very emotional and spiritual to say the least.”

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Ashanti also shared the exciting newson Instagramalongside a photo and clip of herself posing in herFrida Momdisposable underwear.

Speaking in the video as she showed off her body in a blue robe, she added, “Four weeks postpartum. You have no idea what this body can do.”

source: people.com