Rihanna’s Third Baby’s Name Draws from a Beloved Song, Leaving Fans Stunned by the Choice 🎶👶
Rihanna, the Barbadian superstar whose every move captivates the globe, has once again left fans reeling with a heartfelt and surprising announcement. On May 18, 2025, weeks after revealing her third pregnancy with A$AP Rocky at the 2025 Met Gala, the 37-year-old shared the name of their third child—a daughter—via a nostalgic Instagram post. The name, inspired by a popular song that holds deep personal meaning for the couple, stunned fans with its unexpected choice and emotional resonance. The reveal, steeped in Rihanna’s signature blend of music and storytelling, sparked a frenzy on X, with fans marveling at the name’s significance and debating its implications for her long-awaited album, R9. 💖👶
A Tradition of Memorable Reveals
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, 36, have made family announcements a cultural spectacle. Parents to sons RZA Athelston Mayers, 3, and Riot Rose Mayers, 22 months, they confirmed their third pregnancy on May 5, 2025, at the Met Gala, where Rihanna showcased her baby bump in a pinstriped Marc Jacobs ensemble. Rocky, a co-chair, told the Associated Press, “It’s time we show the people what we was cooking up,” his excitement palpable. The reveal followed Rihanna’s iconic pregnancy announcements: a 2022 Harlem photoshoot for RZA and her 2023 Super Bowl halftime performance for Riot, where she subtly signaled her pregnancy in a red jumpsuit.
Their naming choices have always reflected their hip-hop roots and “R” tradition, tied to Rihanna’s real name (Robyn) and Rocky’s (Rakim). RZA honors Wu-Tang Clan’s leader, while Riot evokes a punk spirit, with Pharrell Williams suggesting the latter. On Late Night with Seth Meyers, Rocky hinted the third child’s name would also start with an “R,” setting high expectations. Rihanna’s announcement of the name not only met but exceeded them, tying it to a song that resonates with their love story and musical heritage, leaving fans in awe.
The Name Reveal: A Musical Tribute
On May 18, 2025, Rihanna unveiled their daughter’s name, Roxanne Ruby Mayers, through an Instagram post that doubled as a love letter to music. The post featured a sepia-toned photo of Rihanna and Rocky holding a vinyl record of The Police’s 1978 hit “Roxanne,” with their sons RZA and Riot playing nearby in a cozy nursery. A short video showed Rihanna placing the record on a turntable, the song’s opening chords fading into a new R9 snippet with lyrics: “Roxanne, my ruby, you light up our nights.” The caption read, “Roxanne Ruby Mayers, our song, our flame. Inspired by the beat that brought us together. 🎶 #BabyNo3.”
In a follow-up Vogue interview, Rihanna explained that “Roxanne” was inspired by The Police’s song, a favorite from their early dating days in 2019. “We’d drive through New York blasting ‘Roxanne,’ laughing, dreaming,” she said. “It’s raw, real, and a little rebellious, just like us.” The middle name, Ruby, nodded to Riot’s middle name (Rose) and symbolized passion, tying to the song’s fiery emotion. The choice stunned fans, who expected a hip-hop reference given RZA’s Wu-Tang nod, not a rock-reggae classic from Sting’s catalog. On X, one user posted, “Roxanne after The Police?! Rihanna’s throwing curveballs, and I’m here for it! 😲💗.” Another wrote, “Roxanne Ruby is so unexpected but so Riri. She’s rewriting the name game! 🎶.”
Why the Choice Shocked Fans
The name’s connection to “Roxanne” was shocking for its departure from hip-hop influences and its personal significance. Rihanna and Rocky’s love story, which blossomed after years of friendship, was tested by Rocky’s February 2025 not-guilty verdict in a firearm assault case, a “dark cloud” Rihanna described in Harper’s Bazaar. The song “Roxanne,” with its tale of devotion amid chaos, mirrored their resilience, making the name a poignant choice. Rihanna’s desire for a daughter, shared in a 2024 Interview magazine interview—“I would try for my girl. But if it’s another boy, it’s another boy”—added emotional weight, as Roxanne fulfilled that hope.
Fans were also stunned by the reveal’s nostalgic execution. The vinyl and sepia aesthetic, paired with the R9 snippet, suggested the album might draw from retro influences, a shift from Rihanna’s dancehall-heavy Anti. The nursery, glimpsed in the video with ruby-red accents and a framed “Roxanne” single, reinforced the theme, with a star-shaped mobile evoking the song’s “red light” imagery. On X, fans speculated about R9’s direction, with one tweeting, “Roxanne’s name is tied to an R9 song? Is Rihanna going rock-reggae? Mind blown! 🤯 #RoxanneRuby.” Others were moved by the couple’s vulnerability, with a post reading, “Naming their girl Roxanne after their love song? Rihanna and Rocky are too real. I’m crying! 😭💖.”
Questions and Speculation
The reveal’s cryptic elements sparked big questions. The R9 snippet, with its “Roxanne, my ruby” lyric, led fans to wonder if the album would center on family, with Roxanne as a muse. The vinyl’s prominence fueled theories about a collaboration with Sting or a cover of “Roxanne,” especially after Rihanna’s 2018 Grammy performance of “Wild Thoughts,” which sampled Santana. One X user asked, “Is R9 a tribute to Roxanne and their love story? Rihanna’s dropping hints! ❓🎶.” Others questioned if Ruby hinted at a gemstone theme for future Fenty products, with a fan tweeting, “Ruby for Roxanne and Rose for Riot? Fenty jewelry line incoming? 👀.”
The announcement’s timing, post-Met Gala and amid Rocky’s Puma campaign, suggested a strategic blend of personal and professional. Fans recalled Rocky’s lawyer joking about naming the child “A$AP Joe,” but Roxanne Ruby’s musical tie felt more authentic. The reveal’s emotional depth, reflecting the couple’s trials and triumphs, resonated with fans who related to honoring love through art. One X post summed it up: “Roxanne after a song that defined their romance? Rihanna’s making us all believe in love again. 💔.”
A Name That Redefines Legacy
Roxanne Ruby fits the “R” tradition, joining RZA and Riot in a sibling set that celebrates music and rebellion. The nursery’s design, with its nod to “Roxanne” and Rihanna’s Barbadian roots (seen in her 2023 Barbados vacation posts), grounded the name in heritage. The reveal’s impact was massive, with 3.5 million Instagram likes, per Entertainment Now, and #RoxanneRuby trending on X. Fans praised Rihanna’s ability to surprise, with one tweeting, “Roxanne from a Police song? Rihanna’s got me shook and emotional. She’s a genius! 👑🎶.”
The name announcement, tying a 1978 classic to a 2025 milestone, showcased Rihanna’s knack for weaving music into her life’s narrative. As she and Rocky await Roxanne’s arrival, expected around November 2025, the reveal has fans stunned and hopeful for R9. One X user captured the sentiment: “Roxanne Ruby Mayers, inspired by a song that fueled their love? Rihanna’s out here breaking hearts and dropping bangers. Can’t wait for this queen! 🌟💗.” With Roxanne Ruby, the Fenty-Mayers family continues to shine, leaving fans eager for the next verse. 🎶👶
