Ashanti has revealed the meaning behind her son’s name, Kareem Kenkaide.
Ashanti and husband Nelly welcomed their son on 18 July.
Now, the singer has talked about how they chose his name. Kareem Kenkaide, who will be known as KK, has special meaning for both parents.
“Kenkaide is my dad’s name, and obviously my dad has only girls,” she told Entertainment Tonight. Kareem is of Arabic origins and means “generous, kind and dignified,” she added.
The 43-year-old admitted that Nelly made the final decision about Kareem’s name. “His dad named him with a lot of pride” and thought the name was “really, really dope.”
She also revealed that Kareem arrived earlier than expected, and Nelly had to fly in at the last minute to be there for the birth.
“Having all of us in the delivery room and seeing his face for the first time, I cried it was just so emotional and spiritual at the same time,” she said.
The Only U singer admitted her priorities have changed since becoming a mum. “My son definitely dictates everything now, he is the priority overall and I don’t care what it will take, what I have to do, I’m just going to give everything and my all to my son,” she said, adding, “this little boy has my entire soul wrapped around his finger.”
Ashanti and husband Nelly got married in December last year. They had previously dated in the early 2000s but split up and reconciled in early 2023.
Kareem is Ashanti’s first child. Nelly has four other children; son Cornell Hayes III and daughter Chanelle from a past relationship, as well as the two children of his late stepsister Jaqueline Donahue, who he adopted in 2005.
