Cricket Captain Ricky Ponting Welcomes Emmy Charlotte

An "absolutely thrilled" Ricky Ponting, the 33-year-old captain of the Australian cricket team, has welcomed his first child with wife Rianna. Their daughter, Emmy Charlotte, was born Saturday morning in Sydney. In a statement, Ricky said both mom and baby were doing well and that Emmy is "the most gorgeous little girl."

Ricky and Rianna — who were married in 2002 — announced the pregnancy in February.

Source: Herald Sun; Photo by Snapper Media / Splash News.

Thanks to CBB readers Freya and Kate.

Comments

Congratulations to them!

There seems to be a trend starting of giving children nick names (Maddie, Emmy, Peanut) as first names. It will be interesting to see where it goes.

- Gabrielle on July 29th, 2008

When they announced the birth, they gave a late August due date, I guess the baby came a month earlier.
Hope everyone is doing great

- Max'sMom on July 29th, 2008

I agree that Emmy is more of a nickname..why not Emma, Emma is a pretty name but atleast they didn’t name her Peanut. Congrats to them !

- Natasha on July 29th, 2008

I think it’s funny when people dismiss a name as being a nickname. If you give your child a certain name, it’s a name, end of story, as far as I’m concerned. To be honest, I find it harder to understand people who give their child a ‘proper’ name that they don’t like themselves, just so that they can use an abbreviated form (and an entirely different word) as a nickname. Emmy is one of my favourite names for a little girl; I’ve never actually liked the name Emma all that much. No offense intended to anyone.

And having said that… did someone actually name their child Peanut? I’m hoping that’s a joke. Even I have my limits.

- Laura on July 29th, 2008

I think Emmy Charlotte is a gorgeous name. I agree with the whole nickname thing… why give your child a specific name just so it can be shortened to something else?
I think nicknames develop over time!

And yes, Ingo Rademacher named his son Peanut Kai. That’ll be cute for about 5 minutes!

- Laura on July 29th, 2008

I don’t know who this couple is, but i had to comment on the name, which i love. My niece is named Emmy, and yes, it’s her real name, not a nickname. Her mom hates it when someone assumes her name is Emily or Emma. I don’t have a problem with people naming their kids a name that is traditionally a nickname. I really don’t like to see a child named one name and called something else. Anyway congrats to them and love the name.

- Mia on July 29th, 2008

I think Emmy is a beautiful name (Jennifer Lopez named her daughter that as well, but spelled “Emme”)! I don’t see anything wrong with Emmy as a full first name. Some “nicknames” can also serve quite well as stand-alone full names (i.e., being a full name instead of a nickname for another name). My mother has a “nickname” first name, and it’s just as beautiful as a stand-alone name as a nickname! (and she’s living proof that kids will tease you about your name no matter what it is: Part of the reason her mother chose her name was so kids couldn’t nickname her. Nice try, but it didn’t work!)

I think Emmy also sounds beautiful as a stand-alone name! And why call her Emma, Emaline, Emily, etc. if they’ll just be calling her Emmy all the time?

- CelebBabyLover on July 29th, 2008

Love the name

- Catu on July 31st, 2008

Hey Ricky and Rianna,
big congrats!!!!! You guys will make first rate parents. Hope you will have many more little treasures. Luv from your number 1 fan

- cricket fan on August 7th, 2008

my best friend is called emmy, thats her real name not a nickname and her mum gets frustrated when she is signing her up for horse events and the judges just assume Emmy is a nickname and enter here as Emily….I love the name emmy…its gorgeous congrats ricky and rianna

- lily on January 4th, 2009

emmy is a cute name.she is georgeous too.the baby looks like a little doll,punter sure is lucky

- shirin on December 11th, 2009