In late February, Katharine McPhee gave birth to her first child. The child was her husband David Foster’s sixth child overall, but the baby boy is David’s first son after five (now adult) daughters. Katharine is 36 (almost 37) and David Foster is 71. They announced the birth pretty quickly but I didn’t even realize that they’ve kept quiet about the baby’s name. Well, McPhee was being interviewed on the Today Show this week and she revealed the child’s name. It’s a surprisingly good one, in my opinion.
Katharine McPhee is sharing the special meaning behind her and David Foster’s son’s name. In an interview airing Friday on Today With Hoda and Jenna, the Smash star revealed that the couple chose an “old family name.”
“OK, well, his name, we haven’t said anything, my husband hopefully won’t kill me for saying it, but his name is Rennie David Foster,” she told Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager during the virtual chat. “We picked Rennie because I had actually been in labor for a while, we didn’t have a name picked out.”
McPhee shared that Foster’s sisters actually suggested the name, which holds sentimental value for the music producer.
“It was his great-grandfather’s name, his great-uncle’s name,” she explained. “So it has a long history in his family. My husband said, ‘Hi, Ren Foster,’ and so we said, ‘That’s a good name. It’s a strong name.'”
I love the name Rennie, I can’t help it. It’s just a good name! It fits for kids or adults. It’s a name which is not everywhere right now, but it’s still familiar enough. Rennie David Foster might be one of my favorite baby names in a long time.
Katharine also showed off her green look for St. Patrick’s Day:
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.
The name itself is fine, but it does seem like all three of his names are about David Foster and his family. I get that if Katharine McPhee is okay with that then I don’t get to have an issue with it, but it does seem like it might be revealing about their relationship dynamic.
I think Katherine is well aware of the power structure and dynamics of the relationship. Everyone seems to be getting what they need right now, so I hope they all continue to grow happy and healthy well into the future.
I live in Louisiana where Remy is a familiar and lovely name for boys. But had never heard of the name Rennie.
I hope young Rennie is healthy, and i hope his elderly dad lives a long time.
Rennie is the name of a brand of anti-diarrhea medication here in the Netherlands. It’s the most widespread one, so I had to giggle at Rennie.
It’s a Celtic name meaning small and mighty
It makes me think of Footloose. Wasn’t Kevin Bacon’s character named Ren? Ren Foster has a nice ring to it.
I had to look it up, but you’re right. I like it more as Wren for a girl, but it’s definitely cute.
Isn’t Rennie a brand of heartburn medication? I remember using it when I was pregnant and had terrible heartburn.
Is it me or is it really selfish to have a child that’s only going to have a father for maybe 10 years knowing that’s the case? Like it just gives me a bad taste.
I can’t even believe a 71 year old had a kid. Just…. the kid is going to have to deal with the trauma of losing their dad as a teenager!
Given the history of boy child after 5 females one has to wonder was this IVF gender selection?
I am 35 and my parents are both 10 years younger than David Foster. Why the F would you bring a child into the world at that age? Whatever…