| Posted By |
Message |
MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
|
The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
Halle Berry's baby boy has a name.
After welcoming their first child together on Saturday, it's being reported that "The Call" star and her French husband, actor Olivier Martinez, have named the tot Maceo-Robert Martinez.
It's being widely described in media reports that Maceo is of Spanish origin and means "gift of God" — fitting because the Oscar winner, who is 47, called the pregnancy the "biggest surprise" of her life because she thought it was "past the point where this could be a reality" — but it's not necessarily correct.
"Maceo is a name with some history, but no clear origin," name expert and author Laura Wattenberg from BabyNameWizard.com tells omg!. "You'll hear it described as a Spanish and Italian form of Matthew, but that's really a guess. It's a popular guess because of Matthew's attractive derivation: from the Hebrew for 'gift of God.'"
In the United States, "you'll find a smattering of Maceos in every generation," she continues. "In the early 1900s, many were Italian immigrants and their children. In the 1970s, when saxophonist Maceo Parker was playing with James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, we saw more African-American Maceos. One example is basketball player Maceo Baston, who was born 1976."
Wattenberg says Maceo falls into the musical name category. In addition to Maceo Parker, there's also famed "Sweet Georgia Brown" composer Maceo Pinkard.
"It has a jazzy, energetic sound," she notes. "It's also a name that navigates across borders and cultures smoothly, which is a good fit for this multiethnic, globetrotting family."
Robert, of course, is easier to attribute. The popular name (meaning "bright" and "fame") comes from Martinez's father, boxer Robert Martinez.
And while there is still some discrepancy over whether Maceo-Robert is hyphenated (different reports have it different ways and a rep for Berry has not yet responded to omg!'s request for comment), if it is, that's a French thing.
"Martinez is from France, where the hyphenated style — a la Jean-Luc — is much more classic for boys than in the U.S.," explains Wattenberg. "It also makes for a fine way to honor Olivier's father, Robert, without being a direct namesake."
No doubt when the dust settles Berry will tell us all about her name inspiration. Who knows — maybe it's something her daughter (and new big sister!) Nahla helped select.
What do you think of the name Maceo? Weigh in.
|
Posted 10/8/13 2:20 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Bebalina
<3
Member since 6/05 2922 total posts
Name:
N
|
The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
Maceo? Mateo means gift of God ...was Maceo a typo?
|
| Posted 10/8/13 2:47 PM |
| |
|
Ayne11
Yep
Member since 1/09 18021 total posts
Name:
|
The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
I can't even pronnounce it
Not gonna lie I was hoping for Simba 
Message edited 10/8/2013 3:11:17 PM.
|
| Posted 10/8/13 3:08 PM |
| |
|
halfbaked
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6937 total posts
Name:
|
Re: The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
Posted by Bebalina
Maceo? Mateo means gift of God ...was Maceo a typo?
No. It's Maceo. That was the whole point of the article- she's saying it's a Spanish form of Matthew, but it's really not.
|
| Posted 10/8/13 3:10 PM |
| |
|
Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
|
Re: The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
Posted by Bebalina
Maceo? Mateo means gift of God ...was Maceo a typo?
So does Matthew...they're all the same name just different variations.
|
| Posted 10/8/13 3:15 PM |
| |
|
dianadrw
LIF Adult
Member since 5/06 2092 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
Posted by Ayne11
I can't even pronnounce it
Not gonna lie I was hoping for Simba
Me too! 
|
| Posted 10/8/13 3:57 PM |
| |
|
JennZ
MY LIFE!!
Member since 8/05 25463 total posts
Name:
|
Re: The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
Extra just said it's pronounced
Ma-say-o
|
| Posted 10/8/13 7:11 PM |
| |
|
Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
|
Re: The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
Posted by Ayne11
I can't even pronnounce it
Not gonna lie I was hoping for Simba
|
| Posted 10/8/13 9:29 PM |
| |
|
Bebalina
<3
Member since 6/05 2922 total posts
Name:
N
|
Re: The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
better than, apple or north.
|
| Posted 10/8/13 11:19 PM |
| |
|
gina409
TWINS!
Member since 12/09 27635 total posts
Name:
g
|
Re: The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
Posted by Goobster
Posted by Ayne11
I can't even pronnounce it
Not gonna lie I was hoping for Simba
Lmao!!!!!
|
| Posted 10/9/13 12:05 AM |
| |
|
JP826
=)
Member since 9/06 10903 total posts
Name:
Me!! All about ME!
|
Re: The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
I actually LOVE the name - It would be even better if it was pronnounced Ma-See-O, but I like both variations.
Message edited 10/9/2013 9:09:07 AM.
|
| Posted 10/9/13 9:08 AM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: The Meaning Behind Halle Berry’s Baby Name
Posted by JP826
I actually LOVE the name - It would be even better if it was pronnounced Ma-See-O, but I like both variations.
I was just going to post this and then I saw what you wrote. I actually love it!
I'd be calling him Mace for short!
Message edited 10/12/2013 11:10:35 PM.
|
| Posted 10/12/13 11:10 PM |
| |
|
