Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's Son's Name Has Been Revealed, Months After She Secretly Shared It
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky managed to keep their firstborn son’s name a secret for almost a year. Yesterday, The Daily Mail obtained his birth certificate and shared that Rihanna and Rocky officially named their son, born May 13, 2022, RZA Athelston Mayers. Athelston is Rocky’s middle name; the outlet pointed out. The name is likely in tribute to RZA, the leader of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan.
Hello! reported that Rihanna actually shared her son’s name publicly in August when she wore a shirt with RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan and his name on it.
Rihanna hasn’t confirmed the news yet, although she and Rocky were photographed out in Los Angeles yesterday, all smiles amid the name unveiling.
Rihanna spoke to British Vogue earlier this year about how much Rocky wanted a son and how close he and RZA are. “Rocky wanted to know [our first baby’s gender]. 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…’”
Rocky got his son, with whom he is so close, that even Rihanna is a little jealous. “I’m just sitting on the sidelines when they’re together, “she said. “I’m literally the girl trying to get into the boys club, waiting for my turn. He is obsessed with his father. And I’m like: ‘Didn’t I give birth to you? What is going on?’ Their connection is undeniable. The second Rocky makes eye contact with him, he is on fire. The whole thing they say about sons and moms, it’s a myth. Sons and fathers is crazy. I realized that the validation that you really need as a boy is from your father.”
In an exclusive interview with ELLE.com in March, A$AP Rocky shared what it was like seeing his son for the first time: “It was amazing. It’s unexplainable. I can never describe what it’s like to be a first-time father. It’s like one of those clubs that you hope to get a membership to. And finally, the only way to explain it is to be a part of it. But it’s nothing like seeing your child for the first time.”
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.
