Niki Taylor Welcomes Daughter Ciel

George Holz for PEOPLE for use on CBB

Supermodel Niki Taylor, who celebrates her 34th birthday tomorrow, received a very special early present this morning — her baby girl! Ciel Taylor Lamar arrived at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 4th, in Nashville, TN. She weighed in at 7 lbs., 8 oz.

Ciel is the first child for Niki’s husband, NASCAR driver Burney Lamar, and the third for Niki, who is mom to 14-year-old identical twins, Hunter and Jake.

The couple announced the pregnancy in October, sharing in January that they’d be welcoming a daughter. Check out her CBB/PEOPLE exclusive interview here! Niki’s due date was this week.

Source: PEOPLE

Comments

How is that name pronounced? like Celia? without the ia? anyway congrats to her!

- elle on March 4th, 2009

Aww congrats to her, after 2 sons she has a daughter and right before her birthday too. How very special to share your birthday, near your daughter.

- gianna on March 4th, 2009

I wonder how the name is pronounced?

See-l
Kyle

but anyway it if so wonderful for her to start this new chapter in her life. AFter so many tragedies, she can revel in motherhood with her first baby girl!

- Elizabeth on March 4th, 2009

Elle-
I think it’s pronounced “See-Elle”.
Not the kind of name I was expecting but I like it. Congrads to Nikki, Burney, and big brothers Hunter and Jake. I’m sure she is gorgeous.
I hope that the delivery went smoothly and all is well.

- Jazz on March 4th, 2009

It is French. You say it like see-elle, almost. It’s hard to write out phonetically. It means “sky” and “from heaven” so very appropriate given her fertility struggle. Congratulations and much love.

- Brandi on March 4th, 2009

I’m pretty sure you’re right Jazz… it would be pronounced “See-elle” and it is French for Sky. Very pretty!

- Andrea on March 4th, 2009

I think it’s pronounced the French way too. At least that’s the only pronunciation I can come up with.
It’s a beautiful word, but I don’t know if I like it as a name.
But that’s not important, as long as they are happy with it that’s all that matters
Congrats to the family on their daughter/sister.

- Philippa on March 4th, 2009

Congratulations Ciel Taylor is a lovely name

- aubrey madeline on March 4th, 2009

Well, it’s the french word for Sky, so I guess it is pronounced See-Elle. Weird, especially for a french girl like me, but I don’t dislike it.

- Solène on March 4th, 2009

Ciel is so pretty! Congrats!

- Ariana on March 4th, 2009

Congrats to Niki and her husband!!!

- Jade on March 4th, 2009

Congrats to Nikki! I thought the baby would be 6lb because she was pretty small.

- chowchowpug on March 4th, 2009

What a beautiful name! Love it! I am surprised she chose the masculine version of the french noun though. I would have thought she would have chosen the feminine “cielle” instead.

- Min on March 4th, 2009

Congrats to the happy family!!! LOVE the name too!!! Just gorgeous…as I am sure baby girl is too!!!!

- tink1217 on March 4th, 2009

Glad to hear they both seem well, especially since Nikki announced before that she couldn’t get the epidural because of her operation.

- Alice on March 4th, 2009

Poor kid is going to be called seal. Not the name I expected – but glad the baby is healthy.

- Pam on March 4th, 2009

congratulations, but how is the name pronounced? kyle or seal or something different. Not that I follow her, but I thought she would have possibly included her late sisters name in there somewhere. But congrats!

- mom of 3 boys on March 4th, 2009

i was thinking ‘seal’ which i love but ‘c-elle’ is pretty too. congrats!

- brannon on March 4th, 2009

I love the nam; it is “sky” in French, and with the last name, it really has a nice flow to it. I bet she is such a beautiful baby. I have always liked Nikki Taylor. She seems so real, albeit drop-dead gorgeous.

- Heather on March 4th, 2009

Congratulations to Niki, Burney, Jake, and Hunter!

Now I can’t wait for Burney to run another race. He better have baby pictures to share with ESPN.

- Paige on March 4th, 2009

I wonder if she had a C-section or had her naturally because of her problems from the car accident. Weren’t they hoping it would be natural because it would be less dangerous? The name Ciel kind of grows on you. I just read Niki’s birth name is Nicole Renee.

- Marilyn on March 4th, 2009

Awwww, I have been waiting to hear an announcement about Niki! Love her! Ciel Lamar sounds really pretty when you say the whole name together! It almost sounds like the name of a perfume or something….lol It is lovely though.

- HeatherR on March 4th, 2009

What a beautiful name!! I’m sure she’s beautiful and we share the same birthday!!

- OnyxJones on March 4th, 2009

I wonder if she’ll have any more?

- Diane on March 4th, 2009

Congratulations Nicki from South Florida. With so much tragedy in her life it’s nice to know she has been blessed with a beautiful girl. I have followed her story since she started her modeling career with her sister who died tragically. Thanks CBB for following her story as she was very low key for a while, I believe in a farm in TN.

- Evy-Miami on March 4th, 2009

Oooooh! I’ve been waiting to hear her news!
I SO hope her L&D went well as she could not have any medication nor a c-section due to the scar tissue from her accident.

Can’t wait to see her beautiful girl!

And I agree that it is most likely pronounced See-elle.

- Christine on March 4th, 2009

Aw, congrats. I was wondering how to pronounce the name. Ciel, its pretty. Very happy for the whole family.

- Mia on March 4th, 2009

What a gorgeous name! I’m sure the baby is beautiful too. That poor girl will have a time of it correcting pronunciations all her life!

- Kate on March 4th, 2009

I really like the name. Ciel is a great name. I am from a French speaking country and I have never hears that name but it is a word that is used often. I means ‘sky’ and is pronounced See-Elle very fact, in French or See-El (like in Kal-El) and (Ci is like in PronounCIation

- Stéph on March 4th, 2009

congrats!!!

- moviefan on March 4th, 2009

What fabulous news!

- eternalcanadian on March 4th, 2009

Congrats to the entire family! I’m sure she’s beautiful just like her mom.

- Lily on March 4th, 2009

Congrats to Nikki, Burney, Hunter and Jake!!!!

What an awesome (early) birthday present. I’m sure she’s just as gorgeous as her mother.

But I was wondering, how do you pronounce her name?

- jashmom on March 4th, 2009

lol jashmom i have to ask: did you just scroll past all the other comments to write in the box? your question has been answered at least seven times already. genuinely wondering!

congratulations to niki and burney. love to watch him race and i agree with paige, i hope he brings some photos to the track this season.

- April on March 4th, 2009

Yay! Her daughter is going to be gorgeous like her I think. Interesting name. I hope she reveals how its pronounced.

- Heather on March 4th, 2009

Congratulations Niki, Burney, Jake and Hunter! I love the name…so pretty! I wonder if she’ll have the nickname-Elle? What a beautiful family!

- Lyn on March 4th, 2009

I’m happy for Niki and her family and glad to everyone is healthy. I expected she would name her daughter after her late sister or give her daughter the middle name Krissie.

- jones on March 4th, 2009

aww what a sweet name! congrats!

- jasmine on March 5th, 2009

Christine- Actually, Niki never said that she COULDN’T have a C-section, just that it would be very risky due to all her scar tissue.

- CelebBabyLover on March 5th, 2009

Lovely! It means sky in French. The French pronunciation is “SEE ELLE” so I wonder if that is how it is pronounced? Pretty name.

- Manon on March 5th, 2009

Oh, and I just read that Niki had Ciel in Nashville. I wonder if she gave birth at the same hopsital that Nicole Kidman had Sunday at?

- CelebBabyLover on March 5th, 2009

It’s See-elle! That is such a beautiful name! Congratulations!

- babyboopie on March 5th, 2009

Hey, I’m here to answer the big question on how to pronounce Ciel.

It is indeed pronounced like See-elle. Good job!

Min: There’s no such thing as the masculine/feminine form of a noun. The word is le ciel. There’s is no la cielle.

I agree with everyone else. It is absolutely beautiful.

- Mallory on March 5th, 2009

Very pretty name.Congratulations and happy birthday,Nicky you’ve just received the best birthday’s gift.

- SARA on March 5th, 2009

To answer your question April, when I click on “comments” to make my comment my computer automatically went down to the comment box. So, I did NOT read all the comments before I submitted mine. I did not mean to offend or make anyone mad by asking the question. I honestly didn’t know it was answered 7 times prior.

- jashmom on March 5th, 2009

What a beautiful name! I never would’ve thought of it myself, but that is so pretty! Congrats to Niki and her lovely family, I’m sure little Ciel is gorgeous!

- Alex on March 5th, 2009

Congratulations to Niki and her family! I am so glad their baby arrived safely. I can’t wait to see a picture of Ciel. I’m sure she is as beautiful as her mom.

- Christina on March 5th, 2009

I love the name! Ciel means sky in French.

- Alecia on March 5th, 2009

Ciel, from heaven. Isn’t that sweet?

- Nina on March 5th, 2009

I’ve heard the name Ciel a few times, and I love that Niki named her daughter that. Very pretty. Congrats to her and the rest of her family!

- FC on March 5th, 2009

Ciel is a name that grows on you. Having said it out loud a couple of times, it really is beautiful. But until I clicked on the comments, I wasn’t sure how to pronounce it either. I was thinking ‘Seal? Well that’s an interesting name!’ Lol. Congrats to Nicki, Burney, Hunter and Jake!

- Maddie on March 6th, 2009

What a pretty name! I’m 33 and I remember being about 18 or 19 and thinking Nikki was so beautiful, and she still is!

- Sara on March 6th, 2009

I don’t know it for a fact that Ciel was born there, but being from Brentwood, TN (just outside of Nashville and in Williamson County where Niki lives) I would say most non-celeb and celebrity mothers choose Baptist Hospital for their fantastic Childbirth Services. They are top-notch!

http://www.baptisthospital.com/index_hospitalservices.php?bd=1&title=Childbirth%20Services&pth=aG9zcGl0YWxzZXJ2aWNlcy9jaGlsZGJpcnRoc2VydmljZXMvaW5kZXgucGhw&nav=aG9zcGl0YWxzZXJ2aWNlcy9jaGlsZGJpcnRoc2VydmljZXMvX2JvZHluYXYucGhw

(If we knew the password, we could look at their online nursery. LOL!)

I love the name Ciel, but I would have spelled it in the feminine form, Cielle, but that’s just me. I am ecstatic for Niki and family at the birth of this precious gift after so much pain and loss in Niki’s life. Enjoy your little girl, Niki!

- SouthernBelle on March 6th, 2009

Congratulations!! What a lovely name, I knew immediately it’s meaning. She was born on my 74th birthday. I shall remember her birthday and her lovely Mama.

- Virginia on March 6th, 2009

That is so wonderful for Niki, Burney, Jake, and Hunter. I bet you that baby will be the darling of everyone in the household.

Ciel is an unusual name, but I can certainly see why her parents chose it — she is a miracle baby, who came from the skies, or the “heavens.”

I’m a little surprised that Niki didn’t include her sister Krissy’s name, but the oldest Taylor daughter, Joie, named her baby girl Erin, which was Krissy’s middle name. Niki loved Krissy tremendously, but she doesn’t need to name a child after her to prove it.

- SAR on March 7th, 2009

I think that Ciel is her way of naming the baby after Krissy. “The skies” or the “heavens” probably makes her think of her sister. It is a beautiful way of honoring her sister, yet still giving the baby her own identity.

- HeatherR on March 8th, 2009

Min and SouthernBelle, as Mallory already mentioned, there is no “feminine” form of Ciel, because in French a noun is EITHER masculine OR feminine, and does not adapt to its subject like an adjective does [e.g. le beau ciel…la belle femme). Sorry to harp on this, but I had to say something on behalf of us language nerds!

- Amie on March 10th, 2009

hey did you know that Niki Taylor’s mom does all the photography for Baby Ktan ? check it out: http://www.babyktan.com/info.html
interesting they don’t mention it.

- tammy on March 16th, 2009

Wow thats fantastic. My name is Ci’el and i have never heard anybody else by that name. To clarify it is pronounced C-L, simple as that, it is the french word for sky which is said c-el-eh.
How cool.

- Ci'el on August 11th, 2009

Sorry forgot to mention that yes the poor kid will get called Seal, and Kyle, and many other variations, i am forever pronouncing and spelling my name for people to unterstand what im saying. Feel free to Look me up on facebook if you think im kidding about my name being Ci’el.

- Ci'el on August 11th, 2009

My daughter, age 5 , is named Ciel. She is a jewel and her name is a treasure! I thought she would be the only one

- Tam on July 22nd, 2010

Hi Ci’el–love your name! Is than an accent or apostrophe? Is that traditionally French?

- Andee on August 22nd, 2011