Celebrities
Lily Collins and Husband Charlie McDowell Introduce Their Baby with a Scandinavian Name
Lily Collins, the star of Emily in Paris, recently shared the joyful news that she and her husband, director and screenwriter Charlie McDowell, have welcomed their first child via surrogate.
“Welcome to the center of our world,” Collins posted on Instagram, expressing their deep gratitude. “Words will never express our endless gratitude for our incredible surrogate and everyone who helped us along the way.”
While the exact birthdate was not disclosed, Collins did reveal the baby’s name: Tove Jane. The name has Scandinavian roots, and here’s a closer look at its significance:
Tove
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: Beautiful (according to http://Nameberry.com )
- Similar Names/Variations: Tuva
- Famous Namesakes: Swedish pop star Tove Lo
- Peak Popularity: Tove is considered a unique name and has never appeared on the SSA’s top 1,000 baby girl names list.
Jane
- Origin: English
- Meaning: God is gracious (according to http://Nameberry.com )
- Similar Names/Variations: Jayne, Jana, Jenne
- Famous Namesakes: Novelist Jane Austen, actresses Jane Fonda and Jane Lynch, and primatologist Jane Goodall
- Peak Popularity: Jane has remained a popular name over time, first appearing on the SSA’s top baby girl names list in 1900. It was ranked as the 281st most popular name in 2023.
While the couple’s baby announcement brought much excitement, they also faced some negative reactions regarding their decision to use a surrogate. Although the reasons for choosing surrogacy were not shared, many commenters on Collins’ post quickly made assumptions.
In response to the criticism, McDowell addressed the issue directly in the comments: “In regards to the unkind messages about surrogacy and our path to having a baby…It’s OK to not know why someone might need a surrogate to have a child. It’s OK to not know the motivations of a surrogate regardless of what you assume. And it’s OK to spend less time spewing hateful words into the world.”
