Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany Welcome Daughter Agnes Lark

Jack Shea/Meet the Famous

It’s a girl for Jennifer Connelly and husband Paul Bettany!

The actress, 40, welcomed daughter Agnes Lark on May 31 in New York City, her rep confirms to PEOPLE.

The actress had a home water birth only three days after strolling with her family in New York.

Their new addition joins big brothers Stellan, 7½, and Kai, 13, Connelly’s son from her previous relationship with David Dugan.

The couple, who first met while filming A Beautiful Mind and later wed in Scotland in 2003, confirmed the pregnancy in December.

– Anya Leon

Comments

Aww, Agnes Lark! Such a nice name.

Congrats big brothers, Ma and Pa!

- Jen DC on June 8th, 2011

oh my! how exciting! i love the name agnes, so classic and lovely.

- rebekah on June 8th, 2011

Agnes is mother Teresa’s real name…

- Ana on June 8th, 2011

Congrats!
Thats my mothers name. Nice to hear of another baby in the world.

- Dona on June 8th, 2011

awww congrats! love the name

- Tamara on June 8th, 2011

Agnes Lark…I like it. At least it’s an “old name” and not some made-up ridiculousness like a lot of Hollywood is doing nowadays.

Bet she’s gorgeous!

- Jean on June 8th, 2011

Love the name Lark! Congrats

- AmandaC on June 8th, 2011

Lark is cool. Agnes, I’m not feelin’ so much but, good for them!

- Indira on June 8th, 2011

Yay a girl! But I hate the name Agnes, and all Ag- names in general. Just sounds so unattractive.

- dahliadivingbell on June 8th, 2011

I absolutely love this name…..Agnes Lark has a wonderful ring to it.

- Brooke on June 8th, 2011

Always loved Jennifer Connelly. Congrats!!!

- Jessica on June 8th, 2011

Sweet name-I like both Agnes and Lark! I am curious (and only asking out of curiosity if anyone knows-no criticism!) how to have a scheduled home water birth? You’d have to be induced, right?

- mamaoftwo on June 8th, 2011

I love the old fashioned names. I have to admit that I am not crazy about Agnes…but I adore Lark. Kai, Stellan and Lark is so cute. I’m with Jean and glad it’s not a ridiculous made up name. And I also agree that I bet she’s gorgeous….tough gene pool to work with there Cheers!

- aurora mia on June 8th, 2011

Congratulations! Love to hear celebrities having home births!

But how do you have a “scheduled” home birth? Do they mean planned home birth? Scheduled makes it sound like an induction.

- Allison on June 8th, 2011

I usually love old names coming back, but Agnes, I do not like.

- Lacey on June 8th, 2011

Ugh….sorry, just not a cute name (in my book)

- Ashley on June 8th, 2011

mamaoftwo, I read it to mean it was a planned homebirth.

- Sasha on June 8th, 2011

Love the name. Congratulations to the Connelly/Bettany family!

- Corrie on June 8th, 2011

I find the name Agnes to be one of the most unattractive names I’ve ever heard, but it does sound nice with the middle name Lark. Congrats Paul, Jennifer, Kai, and Stellan!

- Taylor on June 8th, 2011

I really dislike the name Agnes. It’s so ‘ugly’ sounding. That being said, I’m sure she’s a beautiful little girl and congrats to the family!!

- Allegra on June 8th, 2011

I’m not a fan of the name Lark, but maybe that is because i’m just a simple Dutch girl. I don’t really get it.
I like Agnes. Reminds me of the Disney movie the “Despicable Me” in which the character Agnes was the most adorable Disney kid ever!

- Chantal on June 8th, 2011

I like Agnes. Lark, not so much, doesn’t sound like a girl’s name to me. Agnes Bettany sounds so classy!

A home water birth! Beautiful. I suspect the “scheduled” part is just sloppy writing. Somehow, I don’t think that people who go for a home birth are fans of medical interventions. But who knows…

- Mira on June 8th, 2011

I do not like the name Agnes AT ALL!! I like Lark though. It reminds me of Lark Voorhies from Saved by the Bell. However, I think it’s nice that Mother Teresa’s real name is Agnes! What a great name to live up to!!

- Crystal on June 8th, 2011

Congrats to them! But for God’s sake, let’s hope they call her Lark.

- kendrajoi on June 8th, 2011

They seem to have an attraction for Swedish names.

- Elle on June 8th, 2011

I love the name Agnes. We pronounce it much softer in Swedish than you do in English.

- Hea on June 8th, 2011

Wow, that’s a throwback kind of name. I’m not a fan of Agnes, but at least it’s a proper, normal name. Good for them.

- Tess on June 8th, 2011

Congrats to Jennifer and Paul on their new baby girl! I love the name Lark. Maybe the name Agnes will grow on me. But, hey, at least Agnes is a normal name(if a bit old-fashioned)and not something made up or just plain bizarre. Wonder if Agnes is a family name?

I’m sure Stellan and Kai will be great big brothers! They seem to have such a nice family. Best wishes to them!

- AllisonJ on June 8th, 2011

I predict the name Agnes will now start to make a comeback. I for one like it. Maybe they’ll call her Aggie? Congrats to both parents and to Kai and Stellan too!

- Viv on June 8th, 2011

Obviously they meant a planned home water birth. If you are choosing a home water birth you aren’t scheduling it. And I find it sort of ridiculous that anyone even needed to think about that, since it is so obvious.

I really don’t like the name Agnes. It just doesn’t have a pretty ring to it at all. But to each their own and congrats to the family.

- Shawna on June 8th, 2011

Agnes reminds me of Angus Hamburgers

- Natasha on June 8th, 2011

Aggie Bettany – so sweet! Its on my list of girls names, strong, unusual and classic x

- Olivia on June 8th, 2011

Gorgeous name.

- Sydney on June 8th, 2011

Awe!! Congrats to them!

- jessicad on June 8th, 2011

Congrats! I love this couple and I know new baby is a beauty. I do not like the name Agnes but hopefully they’ll call her by Lark instead.

- KLS on June 8th, 2011

Agnes is absolutely horrid! Honestly, that has got to be one of the least attractive and horrific baby names. I like Lark though. I sure hope she goes by her middle name.

Anyway, congrats to them!

- abcdef on June 8th, 2011

i like them both a lot and i am so thrilled for them! a girl after two boys is so special! maybe i should try for another one, i have two boys…

- trulli on June 8th, 2011

I also think the name Agnes is about to make a comeback. Agnes Lark is a very quirky combo, but it’s appealing. They must be interesting people with this name pick.

- Stella Bella on June 8th, 2011

Congrats to them. Obviously they are free to name their baby anything they want. It’s better than Apple. It does remind me of an old lady when I hear the name Agnes. Aggie for short is cute.

- stacy on June 8th, 2011

I think it’s a really sweet name

- Elle on June 8th, 2011

I like “old lady” names. Agnes isn’t my favorite of them but I prefer it to the bizarre, trendy names. My great-aunt’s name was Clara and if I ever have a daughter I would love to use that name.

- MissMel on June 8th, 2011

How do you pronounce Agnes in English? It’a a french name too but i imagine you don’t pronounce it like us.

- ceji on June 8th, 2011

Agnes= YUCK
Lark= very pretty

- Paula on June 8th, 2011

abcdef – Well it won’t be a baby name forever.

To me, as a person who does not have English as her mother tongue, I think Lark sounds weird to say. It’s pretty, sure, but if I said it in a sentence in my language it would sound strange.

- Hea on June 8th, 2011

I think Agnes is sweet and I hope she goes by Nessa.
It makes think of the Bronte novel Agnes Grey or David Copperfield’s wife in the Dickens novel. Lovely.

- Julie on June 8th, 2011

@Ceji, I’m British (like Paul) and we say it “Agg-nuss”. The last syllable may be said slightly differently in the US, probably “Agg-niss”. Personally, I would love it if they called her “Aggie”.

- Viv on June 8th, 2011

Don’t like name Agnes at all – was my grandmother’s name, so it reminds me of a some old lady. Like her boys’ names so was surprised at this one to be honest. Nice for her to have a girl too, experience both genders. Congrats to her big brothers, mum and dad!

- Sam & Freya's Mum on June 8th, 2011

Lark is very pretty.

Agnes? Not my cup of tea, but also not my daughter. It’s too old-fashioned and does not go well with her sons’ names.

At any rate, congratulations on the baby!

- Amber on June 8th, 2011

Great!!!!! I’m so happy for them!!!! Congratulations!!!

- Simona on June 8th, 2011

@Viv: thanks, in french you pronounce “gn” like in “mignon”

- ceji on June 8th, 2011

Aww congrats! I cant believe people like the name Lark more than Agnes! Lark is a type of bird, and also in England “larking about” means messing around and wasting time, so it would be really odd to hear a baby girl called Lark to me!

I do agree Agnes is a somewhat old name, and yes I only know little old ladies whom are called Agnes, but that was the same for Ava, Lily, Violet and Daisy, (my great-aunts and grandmothers names!)However, Saint Agnes is one of the most beauitful places in the world, so if your going to be names after something, I do see the appeal of Agnes!

And it does kinda match the boys names, particularly Stellan, kitch but not too out there. I wonder if its after someone special like Stellans name.

- Georgina on June 8th, 2011

I don’t have strong feelings about either name…I do think it’s interesting they put those two together. Agnes Bettany sounds lovely to me. Congrats to them, Jennifer’s such a talented actress.

- soph on June 8th, 2011

I agree with Millie. I much prefer Agnes over Lark. Sure, I can’t imagine a cute roly-poly baby being called Agnes, but I think it will be great for a little girl and older. I agree with others, I think it will become popular, like a lot of classic girls names are.

- Allison on June 8th, 2011

aww, it is cute. Aggie is a cute nickname- I approve

- mary on June 8th, 2011

Congratulations to them!! Agnes is old school, but I like the flow Agnes Bettany. Old school names seem to be a pretty cool trend that I like.

- Lyoness on June 8th, 2011

I’m happy they had a healthy baby girl!

But Agnes….yikes!! That was my grandmothers name whom if she was alive would be almost 80 and she was super grouchy!! So everytime I think of that name I think of an old mean lady lol

Maybe they’ll call her Agie which isn’t so bad. But still not that cute for a baby girl in 2011!!

- JMO on June 8th, 2011

I have to admit I’m so excited they had a girl. Agnes does fit in with the trend of “old lady” names. As others have said, I have a feeling this baby will give the name a bump, like Jennifer Garner’s Violet did. Aggie is a cute nickname.

- Stacey on June 8th, 2011

I like the name. Ines is my little one’s name and most people tell me it’s great.

Congratulations and enjoy this new baby!

- Maritan on June 8th, 2011

omg its a girl!! and she was born on my birthday!!! And i’m so happy for them! they are two of my favorite actors!! Kai, Stellan and Agnes are so cute together. Agnes is actually on my baby name list! So i love it!!!!!

- Zoey on June 8th, 2011

Love Jennifer Connelly! Awesome news. The name is certainly reminiscent of another era or two ago, but, I’m sure the name will grow on me, although admittedly, it reminds me of 80+ women. Friends named their latest Agnes too, which goes well with her sisters Jane and Frances, which I now also love.

- Grace2 on June 8th, 2011

I like the name Agnes, my grandmothers, Nessie for short. I love the name Lark though. Very pretty name.

- Skyona on June 9th, 2011

I’m not a fan of the name Lark, but maybe that is because i’m just a simple Dutch girl. I don’t really get it.
I like Agnes. Reminds me of the Disney movie the “Despicable Me” in which the character Agnes was the most adorable Disney kid ever!

- Chantal

Despicable Me isn’t Disney. It’s Universal. I agree that in that movie Agnes is very cute though!

- Hoopla on June 9th, 2011

So happy they had a girl but hate the name.

- Emily on June 9th, 2011

Congratulations on the baby and on a home water birth – it’s the best!!

- thekeoghfamily on June 9th, 2011

I love the name Agnes Lark. And to those who say it’s not a name for a baby, well, they can just call her Aggie, or Nessie, or Pumpkin, or Sweatheart, or Sissy or whatever they like until she grows into her name, they could even call her, gasp, Agnes because she loves that name.

I’m still a bit miffed Jennifer Connelly married Paul Bettany though, he was supposed to be mine!

- MiB on June 9th, 2011

Georgina – I’d hardly say that Stellan as a name is kitch.

- Hea on June 9th, 2011

I love the name! Agnes it’s so cool and I think it’s gonna be more and more popular anyway I’m so happy for Jennifer and Paul as they are both awesome actors and ones of my favorites and wish them all the best

- Lyl on June 9th, 2011

I love the sound of the name…Agnes is very traditional and the familiar name of Agy (or Aggie) is very sweet…I agree in the UK it is said with a much softer tone than elsewhere, maybe why so many are not fans! I like it paired with Lark, too…the image of a little bird that has a beautiful song is lovely for a little girl.

- Kate on June 9th, 2011

love the name!

- liz on June 9th, 2011

I wonder, is Agnes more popular in Britain, with Paul being British? Isn’t there a British model names Agnes Deyn? I don’t think she spells it like that though.

- Stacey on June 9th, 2011

Stacey, Agyness Deyn’s real name is Laura Hollins. Wikipedia says “Deyn’s name was apparently coined to further her modelling career after she consulted her mother’s friend, a numerology expert who advised her of the most ‘fortuitous’ way to spell the name ‘Agnes’.[8] It was reported that her mother Lorraine and sister Emily have both changed their surname to Deyn, while Lorraine has changed the I in her first name to Y.[9]” – and I’d always imagined it was a play on Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).

I’m British too and yeah Agnes seems like an old lady name, but it’s not completely horrible and Aggie is cute. Plus it fits in with the revival of old names that seems to be in fashion at the moment.

- RachelJane on June 10th, 2011

Finally a girl…I am so happy for them. I am guessing it has Jennifer’s hair and Paul’s eyes….either way, I am certain she is lovely and a delightful welcome to the brood. Heartfelt Congratulations!

- Tag-me on June 10th, 2011

Agnes? Really?

- Mama on June 10th, 2011

Wow she has a child whose name is Kai as well…my sons name is Kai and I just 3 articles in the baby section where the kids name was Kai. Not such a popular name in the “normal world” but seems like a very popular name for celebs…I never heard that name before my mom actually suggested it and I liked it.

- sheri on June 10th, 2011

When I hear the names Agnes or Agatha they make me think of crabby old ladies. I could never name a sweet baby girl, Agnes.

- Kresta on June 11th, 2011

LOVE THE NAME AGNES..VERY…VERY NEW TRENDY FASHION LIKE!!! WHAT GOES AROUND…COMES AROUND…I’M 61 & MY MIDDLE NAME IS AGNES…MY MOTHER’S
NAME…SHE WAS 88 YRS. YOUNG!!

- Geri on June 11th, 2011

Rachel Jane, that’s a pretty interesting way to come up with a moniker, wow.

And Sheri….it’s funny, because Jennifer Connelly is the reason the name Kai is popular in the first place. The name was nowhere on the US charts and started climbing after his birth, and even more so when she got all the attention during the Oscars and mentioned him frequently. And then Naomi Watts’s son, and Coleen Rooney’s son helped it along. Watts is friends with Connelly so I do wonder about the naming influence there!

Can you tell I’m a baby name nerd? LOL!

- Stacey on June 11th, 2011

lol Georgina that was exactly my first association. “Larking about” i just think it makes the name sound ridiculous. and i don’t like Agnes at all.

just my opinion, i am happy they are all healthy and good with their precious little one.

- JM on June 11th, 2011

I don’t like the name Agnes, but I do think Aggie is kinda cute! I’m pretty sure they will call her Aggie for short, or maybe even Lark!

- Sunny on June 11th, 2011

So happy for them! Love the name. Our daughter is named Agnes after her great-grandmother. It is pronounced much softer in Swedish and quite popular.

- AMH on June 12th, 2011

I think it’s hilarious how so many posters are saying Agnes is an old lady name. Sophie is one of the most popular names right now, yet for a long time whenever I heard that name, I thought of the old lady on the Golden Girls. Now it’s a name for tons of little modern girls. Madeline sounds old too, but it’s been huge. If those fuddy duddy names can get trendy, why not Agnes?

- Lucy on June 12th, 2011

I like that name. It’s traditional and different at the same time.

- Terri on June 13th, 2011

WHO CARES ABOUT THE NAME ! WHATS AMAZING IS THAT SHE HAD A HOME WATER BIRTH !!!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOO BRAVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Anonymous on June 14th, 2011

>>When I hear the names Agnes or Agatha they make me think of crabby old ladies.<<

Kresta–

Agatha is my cat's name (after Agatha Christie) and she is a pretty crabby cat, come to think of it.

Can't say I really like the name Agnes very much, and I generally like "A" names. But I wouldn't be surprised if it became the newest old-lady name that becomes popular.

- Pencils on June 19th, 2011

Goodness so many bashings on the name Agnes. My name is Agnes and I am 25, but I have always gone by “Aggie.” I have always had compliments on my name. Agnes is such an old-fashion name, and I love it!

- Aggie on June 20th, 2011

my first name is Agnes; always hated it; go by my middle name. Didn’t change it legally since it’s both my Mom and Grandmom’s name. Ugh, why saddle a baby with this name…travesty

- enoco1 on June 24th, 2011

Why did no one mention the name “Hazel” when Julie Roberts named her baby this? Agnes has more history although neither name is attractive.

- angela on June 28th, 2011