Last week, days before Rihanna and A$AP Rocky celebrated their son’s birthday on May 13, the Daily Mail published a copy of his birth certificate, revealing the couple named their firstborn RZA Athelston Mayers. Neither Rihanna nor Rocky initially commented when the news report came out. But they did confirm the name themselves this weekend when they posted a birthday tribute to him. Rocky also confirmed RZA was named in honor of hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan’s frontman RZA.
Rocky wrote, “WU TANG IZ 4 DA CHUREN 🤲” HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY TO MY 1st BORN . RZA️” He also shared a new photo of the family of three together.
Athelston, RZA’s middle name, is Rocky’s own middle name, so his full name has deeply personal roots too.
Rihanna actually showcased RZA’s name publicly before, when she wore a shirt with RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan on it way back in August 2022.
Rihanna and Rocky are currently expecting their second child. The couple has not revealed their due date, and—if the way they handled RZA’s name is any indicator—are not likely to share their second baby’s name or sex publicly any time soon.
Rihanna did tell British Vogue earlier this yearthat she is happy to welcome another son or a daughter into the family.“Listen, I’m down for whatever,” she said, in an interview conducted before she announced her second pregnancy. “My wish would be I would like to have more kids but whatever God wants for me, I’m here. I’m open [to whatever baby gender next]. Girl, boy. Whatever.”
She added in the same interview that she and Rocky learned RZA’s sex when she was pregnant with him. “Rocky wanted to know. He wanted a boy,” she said. “At first he was open, then he was like, ‘Nah, I want a boy, I’m sure.’ I was just like, ‘Lord, please let this man get what he wants…’”
Senior News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.