I would like to know what the heck they’re thinking. I don’t like the name, but I could maybe get behind it if there was some really significant meaning behind it. Maybe. Or maybe not. Nesta? Rock? –shakes head–
Quite possibly one of the worst baby names ever. It makes me wonder, were they not celebrities would they still give their child the same awful name, or is it because they are celebrities the feel the need to come up with something unique and original? Isn’t being the kid of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale unique enough?
Geez. And after they used a decent name the first go-round. This second kid is going to wish he’d been born first so he didn’t get stuck with the crappy name.
I think the name choice sounds like something you might think was cool and clever when you were 13, but then you grow up and are like, “Thank goodness I didn’t have a baby when I was 13 because the name Zuma Nesta Rock would have been so embarassing!”
Mayberry, Zima was the first thing I thought of too.
Growing up in Southern California, you would hear surf reports for Zuma Beach all the time. It is a great surfing beach near Malibu. I think it is a fine name, a place name, a little sporty and surfer-ish. Perhaps other regions of the country have place names others might perceive as strange?
I HATE it like poison. I was so disappointed when I heard the name, because I just KNEW Gwen was going to give her second kid a fabulous name. I mean, Kingston is a wicked cool name, so I had high hopes.
I hate it. I agree with daycare girl – it’s not a name, it’s a string of words.
Zuma has infinite brand associations to me: Zima, Puma, “zoom zoom zoom” (from the Mazda commercials), etc. It is brand-namey, not at all baby-boy-namey.
I also agree that it is feminine, but I would hate it for a girl too. Kingston James is soooo cool! Zuma? Ick.
I also assumed it was a girl’s name. Perhaps they thought they were having a girl and then didn’t want to think of another name when it turned out it was a boy.
Here’s what Celebrity Baby Blog has on it: http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/08/zuma-nesta-rock.html (Sorry, I don’t know how to make the link work.) P.S. I don’t care. I’ve given up trying to figure out why celebrities do anything they do.
It has been mentioned twice on here that Zuma is a beach in California, where Gwen is from. I dont think it is that strange to name your child after a place that has personal relevance to you. Same goes for Nesta Rock; we all know that both Gwen and Gavin are heavily into music so why is it so bad for them to honor an inspiration through their child?
I think it is an amazing name and kudos to them for sticking with it even though so many people will speak negatively about them.
I’m sorry, but it sounds like a sports drink or energy drink to me. Regardless of the inspiration, I don’t like the name. Maybe Kingston got to name his baby brother?
Growing up in Mississippi, you heard about the Chickasawhey River all the time, but I don’t know anyone who named a child Chickasawhey.
Zuma would be a good name in a teen sci-fi novel, but not so jolly to live with. And despite celebrities’ perception, their children DO have to live in the same world as the rest of us.
I say “rock on” Gavin and Gwen. Maybe I’m just getting desensitized, but when I hear a celebrity has named their child something boring and normal I think “what a cop out! Push the envelope.” Besides, name trends are shifting so much. I think it’s completely acceptable to name your beloved child after something that inspires you or makes you happy. Why do you have to stick to a list of acceptable names?
Disclosure: I am completely biased though. My beautiful daughter’s name is Cousteau. Most people thought it was SO weird when they first heard it, but now they say it suits her so much, and they LOVE the name. :)
Ugh! And that poor kid. Think about what he’ll grow up to be with a name like that. If he wants to be a rock star, awesome! But if he turns out to be an accountant…uhh…not so much.
ugh.
I would like to know what the heck they’re thinking. I don’t like the name, but I could maybe get behind it if there was some really significant meaning behind it. Maybe.
Or maybe not. Nesta? Rock? –shakes head–
I’m glad to hear that I am not the only one who wasn’t thinking that was not a great name choice.
To each their own, I suppose.
Quite possibly one of the worst baby names ever. It makes me wonder, were they not celebrities would they still give their child the same awful name, or is it because they are celebrities the feel the need to come up with something unique and original? Isn’t being the kid of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale unique enough?
knew a poor little girl named zuma. (zuma lillian if you’re interested. no, i don’t think those go together.)
her parents named her after a beach in cali where they used to go when they were dating.
doesn’t mean i’m going to name my kid charleston! geesh!
Geez. And after they used a decent name the first go-round. This second kid is going to wish he’d been born first so he didn’t get stuck with the crappy name.
What IS the firstborn’s name? I am not up on my celebrity gossip.
It’s too bad, because Gwen and Gavin and both such great names. Zuma is bad enough without all the additional nonsense behind it. Poor kid.
El-e-e- First son’s name is Kingston.
Does anyone else automatically think ZIMA? What a horrible association.
why, YES, I would like to share, hee!
Gwen said “Nesta Rock” is in tribute to Bob Marley. This does not improve the name in my opinion.
I don’t think Zuma goes with Kingston AT ALL … and when I hear Zuma, I think GIRL.
Here’s what I think happened (and I have NO factual evidence to back this up AT ALL): Gwen got to name the first son and Gavin got to name the second.
It sounds like some sort of landmark.
“Over summer vacation my family and I took a trip to see Zuma Nesta Rock. It’s right before you get to the Grand Canyon.”
I think the name choice sounds like something you might think was cool and clever when you were 13, but then you grow up and are like, “Thank goodness I didn’t have a baby when I was 13 because the name Zuma Nesta Rock would have been so embarassing!”
Mayberry, Zima was the first thing I thought of too.
I guess he’ll grow up knowing how to throw a punch. As if life wasn’t hard enough.
Zuma is that little msn game where you shoot the balls out the frog’s mouth.
And after Kingston James? That’s nice. Zuma Nesta Rock is a string of words, or a landmark, but not a baby!
I like that theory about how Gavin must have gotten to name this one. The names certainly don’t match, that’s for sure.
Im so disappointed. I’ve been so excited for Gwen and Gavin’s new baby name because I thought the first one was so great.
Zuma Nesta Rock…ugh. Zuma sounds like a girl’s name.
Zuma Nesta sounds like a sleep aid to me!
I also thought it was for a girl.
I think it sucks.
Growing up in Southern California, you would hear surf reports for Zuma Beach all the time. It is a great surfing beach near Malibu. I think it is a fine name, a place name, a little sporty and surfer-ish. Perhaps other regions of the country have place names others might perceive as strange?
Allyson- HA!
I heard the name before I knew the sex of the baby and I, too, assumed “girl.”
Good news, though, is that he can go by “Rock” when he is older and is able to choose. “Hi, I’m Rock Rossdale” sounds kind of cool.
really?! wth? is that a girl or boy, cause i cant tell but either name :)
really?! wth? is that a girl or boy, cause i cant tell but either name :)
I HATE it like poison. I was so disappointed when I heard the name, because I just KNEW Gwen was going to give her second kid a fabulous name. I mean, Kingston is a wicked cool name, so I had high hopes.
And they were summarily dashed.
Neil Young put out a great album in 75 named Zuma.
daycare girl, I too keep thinking “ZUMA” in that Jamaican voice that the MSN game has. Ridiculous!
It totally makes me think of that sleep drug, what’s it called? Lumanesta?
Otherwise, it’s not too terrible.
I hate it. I agree with daycare girl – it’s not a name, it’s a string of words.
Zuma has infinite brand associations to me: Zima, Puma, “zoom zoom zoom” (from the Mazda commercials), etc. It is brand-namey, not at all baby-boy-namey.
I also agree that it is feminine, but I would hate it for a girl too. Kingston James is soooo cool! Zuma? Ick.
I totally thought of Zima, too.
And, I missed the “second boy” part, and was completely assuming poor Zuma was a girl. Not that it’s any better for a girl. Sheesh!
I also assumed it was a girl’s name. Perhaps they thought they were having a girl and then didn’t want to think of another name when it turned out it was a boy.
Sometimes I wonder if celebrities release fake names just so people don’t know what their kid’s real names are.
I’ve always tried to like Gwen, but she always seemed like she was trying WAY too hard to be cool.
The name, I’m afraid, confirms my theory…
Here’s what Celebrity Baby Blog has on it:
http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/08/zuma-nesta-rock.html
(Sorry, I don’t know how to make the link work.)
P.S. I don’t care. I’ve given up trying to figure out why celebrities do anything they do.
It has been mentioned twice on here that Zuma is a beach in California, where Gwen is from. I dont think it is that strange to name your child after a place that has personal relevance to you. Same goes for Nesta Rock; we all know that both Gwen and Gavin are heavily into music so why is it so bad for them to honor an inspiration through their child?
I think it is an amazing name and kudos to them for sticking with it even though so many people will speak negatively about them.
I’m sorry, but it sounds like a sports drink or energy drink to me. Regardless of the inspiration, I don’t like the name. Maybe Kingston got to name his baby brother?
Growing up in Mississippi, you heard about the Chickasawhey River all the time, but I don’t know anyone who named a child Chickasawhey.
Zuma would be a good name in a teen sci-fi novel, but not so jolly to live with. And despite celebrities’ perception, their children DO have to live in the same world as the rest of us.
I say “rock on” Gavin and Gwen. Maybe I’m just getting desensitized, but when I hear a celebrity has named their child something boring and normal I think “what a cop out! Push the envelope.” Besides, name trends are shifting so much. I think it’s completely acceptable to name your beloved child after something that inspires you or makes you happy. Why do you have to stick to a list of acceptable names?
Disclosure: I am completely biased though. My beautiful daughter’s name is Cousteau. Most people thought it was SO weird when they first heard it, but now they say it suits her so much, and they LOVE the name. :)
Ugh! And that poor kid. Think about what he’ll grow up to be with a name like that. If he wants to be a rock star, awesome! But if he turns out to be an accountant…uhh…not so much.
Nesta reminds me of Nestea – the drink. And Zuma defiantly sounds like a girl’s name.
I saw the name on the E! ticker the other night and just assumed that they’d had a girl.
Ugh.