Gwen Stefani ‘stole’ the name Zuma from bandmate


For Sex and the City devotees, this story is straight out of Season One, an episode called “The Baby Shower”. Remember when Charlotte had her future daughter’s name already picked out (“Shayla”) , and then the girls went to a baby shower in Connecticut and their pregnant friend had already “stolen” Charlotte’s baby name? Well, that totally happened to Gwen Stefani and her No Doubt bandmate Tom Dumont, only not really. This story just reminded me of that episode.

Gwen has revealed that she got her second son’s name “Zuma” from Tom and his wife Mieke. Tom and Mieke had first chosen then rejected the name “Zuma” for their two sons, eventually names Ace and Rio. Gwen claims Mieke “didn’t want” the name, so the name wasn’t really stolen. PR Inside has more:

Gwen Stefani looked to an unusual source when deciding what to call her new son – she named the baby Zuma after her No Doubt bandmate suggested the moniker.

It was reported that Stefani and Gavin Rossdale named their seven-month old tot after the couple’s favourite California beach.

But the singer has revealed her second son’s unusual name actually came from the band’s guitarist Tom Dumont, whose wife Mieke rejected it for their two sons, Ace and Rio.

Stefani tells radio show Mojo in the Morning, “I kind of stole it from him. I didn’t steal it, I mean his wife didn’t want it. It was just one of those things that just happened. I just wanted Zuma to have a little bit of a quirky name.” The couple also has a two year old son, Kingston.

From PR Inside

I actually really like the name Kingston, I think it’s really cute for a little boy. Zuma’s a bit harder to like though, even though he seems to follow in his big brother’s cuteness footsteps. How couples name their babies is always fascinating to me, probably because I spent a large part of my childhood wishing I had a different, more normal name. Gwen’s story is really cute, but Zuma’s going to feel bad when he realizes his name was someone else’s reject.

Gwen, Zuma and Kingston are shown at a park on 2/28/09. Credit: Fame Pictures

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21 Responses to “Gwen Stefani ‘stole’ the name Zuma from bandmate”

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  1. Dingles says:

    Only celebrities with insane egos could name their kid something as hideous as “Zuma” with complete seriousness. It sounds like a drink I would buy at the ghetto Family Dollar down the street.

  2. ER says:

    People get oddly possessive over their choices in baby names. We had a family member who wouldn’t reveal the baby’s name beforehand for fear that someone would steal it. Weirdo!

  3. morgs says:

    That baby is too cute!

  4. vale says:

    What’s your name?? My name is normal where I’m from but prone to lots of mispronunciations overseas, which is where I spent the majority of my life. Frustrating at first, now I’ve learned to love it.

  5. HEB says:

    Who cares if its someone else’s reject if its your mother’s first choice! I’m sure all of our names have been rejected by other people drrrrrrrrrrr

  6. javelin says:

    I too am fascinated for the same reason, and when I turned 18 I changed my name. It felt great.

  7. Kaiser says:

    Vale – It’s an Indian name, and I grew up in a very homogenized, white community with lots of Jennys & Jessicas. I just wanted to fit in when I was little, but now I love my name!

  8. barneslr says:

    How does one “steal” a name? Even if her bandmate had used the name and she did as well, how is that “stealing?” Is there some sort of law I haven’t heard about that 2 people cannot have the same first name? How odd. I mean, we’re talking about people who aren’t even related to each other.

    In my family, for some reason, Katharine/Kathy is very popular. I have one niece and two cousins that share this name. And you know what? No one died from it!

  9. IvyMades says:

    Kingston looks just like Gavin. However, Zuma doesn’t look much like Gavin or Gwen. Odd how genetics work out. I guess he probably resembles an uncle or grandparent in their family.

  10. KateNonymous says:

    When I saw the headline, I thought of that SATC episode! Although choosing a name that your friend didn’t is hardly stealing it, regardless of how one feels about “stealing” names.

  11. Aud says:

    Its nice to see a celebrity doing something with their own children without a nanny.

    I would have just said I stole the name Zuma from the game lol

  12. Ryo says:

    I love Kingston’s name and am a Gwen fan but Zuma is just ugh. Seriously. I wouldn’t name my kid like Riverside or Peoria or Bondi (after Bondi Beach in Oz.)

  13. Nony says:

    We had a family member who wouldn’t reveal the baby’s name beforehand for fear that someone would steal it. Weirdo!

    Where I live it’s the done thing to not reveal the chosen name until the baby’s named. Some people share the names they are considering, but I would find it really weird to hear a name before the baby was there.

  14. Judy says:

    So sad that a grown woman would put a name tag on her child like Zuma or Apple..these people dont care if the kids get teased by other kids they only care that they get attention from the media for naming their kids freaky names.,

  15. janey says:

    Zuma: Puma, Dooma, Pooma, Sooma, Schlooma

    I really hope the baby can handle that /z/ phoneme or else all the kids will take the mickey

  16. Thetvhangman says:

    The important thing is you love the name!

  17. Michele says:

    I’ve actually known two women named Apple. That name actually seems pretty normal to me now.

    And also, the name Zuma still isn’t as wretched as Bronx Mowgli.

  18. Ana says:

    I really wanted my daughter to be named Everly but when she came out she didn’t look like an Everly. She looked like her name which is a very popular one right now.
    I really hate baby name thiefs although this one was up for grabs. I love the name Kingston but I really dislike the name Zuma. But it is HER baby.
    I actually had a woman who couldn’t have any more children give me her baby name: Paige Alexandria. Pretty name but not my taste.

  19. jessica says:

    Kaiser-I was one of those little Jessica’s running around-I would have traded for a more unique name in a heart beat. There were 3 of us in my first grade class alone!

  20. judithjetson says:

    God, NOTHING this trannie drag queen does is original! Geez, give me a break.

  21. cc says:

    zuma is the name of the ANC leader in south africa, he is generally regarded to be a future mugabe. this kid is going to HATE his name when the anti-zuma protests break out all over the world!!