Constantine Maroulis Welcomes Daughter Malena James

Mike Coppola/FilmMagic

Constantine Maroulis has someone new to idolize him – his brand-new baby girl.

The American Idol alum, 35, and his girlfriend Angel Reed welcomed their first child, Malena James Reed-Maroulis, on Thursday, Dec. 23 at 11:06 p.m. She weighed 6 lbs., 11 oz., and measured 19 inches long.

“Sometimes Christmas comes early and we’re so lucky to get the greatest gift a few days early,” Maroulis tells PEOPLE.

“Angel and I are thrilled to welcome our perfect baby girl into the world today. Mom and baby are healthy and I couldn’t be more excited to ring in 2011 this way.”

The new parents met last year while they were starring in the Broadway musical Rock of Ages.

Maroulis shared with PEOPLE his excitement over impending fatherhood last July.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” he said at the time. In preparation for being a dad, he said he was, “just living every day right now, trying to do good work and provide for family long term – so I’m looking forward to the road ahead, definitely.”

Maroulis is currently reprising his Tony-nominated role as rocker Drew in the Rock of Ages national tour.

– Sara Hammel and Ulrica Wihlborg

Comments

Congratulations to them on a sweet baby girl! I love seeing daddies with little girls! What a great Christmas present for them!

- Erika on December 24th, 2010

I wonder if it’s pronounced “Ma-Lee-Na” or “Ma-Lay-Na”. I much prefer Ma-Lay-Na

- KylieMarie on December 24th, 2010

Congrats!

- Melanie on December 24th, 2010

Ah man a celeb finally took a name off of my baby list. That has never happened before!!!

- JMO on December 24th, 2010

It’s an old Swedish name pronounced ma-LAY-na. Beautiful!

- bea on December 24th, 2010

Congratulations to them! I love the name.

And JMO – Brad and Angelina took Vivienne off my list, but I just recently put it back on. You can still use the name if you want!

- klutzy_girl on December 24th, 2010

Malena is a very common name here in Argentina. There’s also a tango called “Malena”. I wonder if their called their baby because of it?;)

- vanina on December 24th, 2010

Congrats! Malena is a very Pretty name.

- Nella on December 24th, 2010

Congratulations. Malena is a beautiful name … can’t get over their last name though (Marouli means lettuce in Greek :s )

- Allie-Rose on December 24th, 2010

is James her middle name? anyway, i think Malena is a lovely name. congrats to them.

- JM on December 24th, 2010

Awww, Constantine was my favorite on American Idol 4! Congratulations to him and his beautiful Angel on the birth of their daughter! I’m sure she’s as gorgeous as she sounds! ♥

- Paula on December 24th, 2010

Very pretty name! Not crazy about the middle name, but to each their own! Many congrats!

- Lola on December 25th, 2010

My little cousin’s name is Malena. I thus asked my cousin why she named her daughter because I had never heard the name before. She explained that she always like the name Melina but then spotted the name Malena in a baby book. When the girl was born, my cousin went with Malena ) She thought it sounded better. And the pronounciation is Ma-lay-na. Beautiful name!

- Nancy on December 25th, 2010

I don’t know who these celebrities are but the name is very cute.Where I come from,Malena is a nickname for Maria Elena.Never heard it was a formal name but I like it a lot.

- eva on December 26th, 2010

I thought she would get a Greek name

- tam on December 27th, 2010

Good luck to the baby. She’ll have a lifetime full of people misspelling and mispronouncing her name. Take it from a 40+ year old Malena!

- Malena Moser on December 29th, 2010

I wonder if her hair will be as long as her dad’s hair… [:
I have never heard the name Malena, but I think it’s pretty.
I’m surprised that the board isn’t blowing up with criticism for her middle name. After seeing nasty comments about the names Locklyn and Ryan, I thought for sure everybody would be screaming about James. What a lovely shock.

- Hi on December 30th, 2010

Eeesh…he’s so creepy looking.

- Alyssa on January 1st, 2011

James is Constantine’s dad’s name so I’m sure they picked that to honor him. I like it and so excited for both of them on little Marlena’s arrival!!

- K on January 3rd, 2011