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The Express Gazette
Saturday, January 24, 2026

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Praying for a Girl Ahead of Third Child

Rocky says the couple hopes for a daughter as Rihanna's pregnancy progresses; name speculation centers on 'Rebel'.

Culture & Entertainment 4 months ago
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Praying for a Girl Ahead of Third Child

Rihanna is pregnant with her third child, and A$AP Rocky says the couple is praying for a girl.

Rihanna first confirmed the pregnancy at the 2025 Met Gala and is already a mother to two sons, Riot and RZA.

In an interview with ELLE magazine, Rocky said he and Rihanna are hoping for a girl this time around. "I hope it's a girl. I really do. We're praying for a girl," he said. "Our first time, we wanted to know the sex of the baby. The second time, we didn't want to know. Third time, we don't want to know until, you know. I feel like it's going to be a girl. This pregnancy is so different from the other two. You can tell from the experience. I hope it's a baby girl, man. I need that," he added.

Fresh off a creative streak that spans taking on the role of creative director at Ray-Ban and a fall Puma collaboration, Rocky also discussed prioritizing his acting roles in Spike Lee's crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest and If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. "I don't f**k around," he said. "I can't be making music decisions and being on tour. I have to be in one place. I have to embody this character. And unfortunately, you gotta sacrifice certain things to follow your calling. These films don't pay you a trillion dollars. This is more so my destiny. I'm a man of the arts."

A VegasInsider study has revealed that Rebel is currently the top contender for Rihanna's next baby name. "Rihanna and A$AP Rocky didn't go subtle with their first two baby names — RZA, a nod to Wu-Tang Clan, and Riot, a bold, in-your-face choice that fits perfectly in hip-hop culture," a spokesperson told the outlet. "Both names are short, punchy, and carry serious cultural weight. No surprise, then, that the odds for Baby #3 are starting to center around another name that fits that same mold. Based on a full analysis of Rihanna's lyrics, we're talking thousands of words across dozens of tracks, one name keeps showing up with the right mix of edge and meaning: Rebel."

When asked which "R" name scream cool, powerful, and maybe a little dangerous, Slagen didn't hesitate to share her best guesses. "I wouldn't be surprised if they picked a name inspired by A$AP Rocky himself…either a play on his real name (Rakim) or one of his songs," Slagen said.

Slagen also suggested Rihanna could draw from her Caribbean roots, offering options such as "Raeni," meaning queen, or "Requiem" as possibilities. "Rihanna could flip something traditional, maybe Ricki or Robbie, or even a biblical name like Ruth — but I still think she'll go unexpected," Slagen added.

Slagen and the VegasInsider data team both agree that Rihanna won't settle for anything ordinary. "I don't think you will know someone with this name," Slagen insisted. If past choices are any indication, she may be right.

Rihanna is due to give birth this fall, sometime between September and November.


Sources