Actor Mekhi Phifer, 32, and his fiancée Oni Souratha welcomed a son early this morning. Mekhi Thira was born at 6:47 a.m. in Los Angeles, weighing in at 5 lbs, 4 oz. Oni had been due in November. In a statement, the couple said,
We are really happy and excited. He is beautiful.
Baby Mekhi joins 8-year-old Omikaye, Mekhi’s son from his first marriage to actress Malinda Williams.
Source: People
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Natalie on
awww congrats!! 
he’s an amazing actor!! 
SharonP on
I love Mekhi…but I can only imagine what it’ll be like trying to call the right person into the room or something.. when they have Mekhi, Mekhi, and then another sons name that looks like it is pronounced Mekhi with an O in front!
morgan on
Congrats! Im sure he is an adorable baby, but i just don’t get the naming process. Im very opposed to naming a child after oneself. It seems that it can get very confusing, i would have a hard time calling a child by my name! Maybe he will go by his middle name?
Anka on
Congratulations! They seem like such a happy couple.
Chicki on
Hey SharonP and Morgan: Ever heard of “Juniors”? Not such an outlandish concept here in America!
clair on
my uncles called Stephen and his son is called Stephen. My uncles was always known as Stephen and my cousin known as Stevie.B growing up. Now my cousin is 26 so Stevie.B is a bit childish. We call him Stephen and it’s not really confusing at all, they’re used to it. I think it’s nice naming a child after his father or mother etc.
SharonP on
Hey Chicki: Never said it was an outlandish concept, just said that it must be hard getting the name right with 3 names being basically the same. I think it is nice to name someone after a father, but I wouldn’t do it myself as I believe that individuals deserve their own name.
morgan on
I too live in America and yes i have heard of “juniors” but i agree with Sharon P. Everyone deserves their own name. I find naming a child after yourself is odd. Its like “i am SO great that i must name my child after me”
In this case its almost funny! Can you just hear Oni yelling “Mekhi, Mekhi, omikaye dinner’s ready!!” its just silly..
FC on
I really don’t see the problem with naming children in honor of someone, be it mother, father, or whomever. And telling them apart wouldn’t be hard, they could go by some shortened version, nickname, or whatever.
My younger cousin is named after my uncle, his father (not a Junior,either), and he goes by an abbreviated version of his name at school and a nickname he’s had since birth at home and around family and friends. He’s not confused, nor is anyone else in my family. Everyone’s different on what name they want names they give their children, and for what reasons.
Omikaye and Mekhi…I don’t see how you’d get that mixed up. Seems like it’s pronounced “Oh-mee-kaye”… And, he may go by “Omi” for all anyone knows… Only ones I might get mixed up would be Oni and Omikaye, if he went by “Omi” for short around the house, since “Omi” and “Oni” actually do sound the same, but that’s about it.
But, congrats to Mekhi and his wife on their new son, Little Mekhi.
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