Tina Fey Welcomes Daughter Penelope Athena

Amanda Schwab/Startraks

Tina Fey, already mom to 5½-year-old Alice Zenobia, has introduced a new addition to the family.

The 30 Rock star welcomed a healthy baby girl, Penelope Athena, on Wednesday, Aug. 10 with her composer husband Jeffrey Richmond, 51, her rep tells PEOPLE.

The Bossypants author, 41, first revealed her pregnancy to Oprah Winfrey in April.

Fey spoke about agonizing over having a second child – but explained how she and Richmond decided it was time to expand their family.

“My husband and I really decided that we felt rather than risk having 30 Rock end in several years and feeling like part of our family is missing that we were going to prioritize our family.”

– Blaine Zuckerman and Sara Hammel

Comments

Congratulations to Tina and her husband!

I absolutely love the name. It’s on my list of favorite celeb baby names now!

- klutzy_girl on August 12th, 2011

It made me smile to read that gorgeous name.

- Julie on August 12th, 2011

Love her! I’m happy for the family of four.

- showbizmom on August 12th, 2011

Love the name! Enjoy the kind of quirky yet normal names that family chooses.

- anonymous on August 12th, 2011

Penelope is becoming increasingly popular now-a-days.

- Adrienne on August 12th, 2011

Two girls! Congrats to her. Kinda like the name of her first daughter better. I love her comment about prioritizing her family, good for her.

- Indira on August 12th, 2011

Congratulations to Tina, Jeffrey & Alice on the new addition to their family. I love the name, it has a very classical Greek feel to it.

- Daniella on August 12th, 2011

What a pretty name, congrats!

- Rosy on August 12th, 2011

Does she have Greek heritage? If not, that name is a bit too Greek.

Congrats to the family. I think they made a great choice

- Mira on August 12th, 2011

LOVE Tina Fey!! Congratulations!! Not a fan of Penelope but ADORE Athena! Congrats again!!

- Crystal on August 12th, 2011

Alice and Penelope – those names fit very nicely together! They are both more old-fashioned names.

- Shawna on August 12th, 2011

Tina’s Mother is Greek, for the pp Mira.

Beautiful name. Congratulations to Tina and her family.

- MommytoanE on August 12th, 2011

@Mira: Yes, she is of Greek heritage. Her mother is from Greece.

- Alyssa on August 12th, 2011

Absolutely love her! Congratulations or as they say in Greek “Na Zisete”! God bless Tina, Jeff and their beautiful daughters. Xox

- Irene on August 12th, 2011

Mira – yes, Tina is half-Greek, hence the Greek names. (Alice has a Greek middle name, as does Tina).

Anyway, many congratulations to Tina and her family!

- Liz on August 12th, 2011

love it! congrats to tina and family!

- amw on August 12th, 2011

Yes, Mira, her mother is from Greece I believe. Tina’s real name is Elizabeth Stamatina Fey.

- jen on August 12th, 2011

Mira, I remember reading somewhere that she is of Greek heritage

- SadieA on August 12th, 2011

I was just thinking about her today, wondering when she would have the baby! Congratulations to her and her family! I am glad it is another girl- sisters are so sweet and it seems like so much fun to have 2 little girls! I like that her girls have different names, yet not weird.

- Erika on August 12th, 2011

Awwwwwwww I LOVE her!!! She is hilarious & sooooooooooo REAL! I adore the name too!!! Penelope is such a darling, lovely name. Congrats to her!!!! I had a feeling she was having another girl! Yay!!

- Ali on August 12th, 2011

Love the name!

- Stella Bella on August 12th, 2011

I love the girls’ middle names. Zenobia was a 3rd century Syrian queen of Palmyrene who lead a revolt against the Roman Empire and Athena was the Greek Goddess of Wisdom. Not common, but definately meaningful.

Congrats to the Fey/Richmonds.

- Cate on August 13th, 2011

Ah! Love Tina Fey, love 30 Rock, love her elder daughter’s name (my great-grandmother’s), and love her newest addition’s name.

Incredibly happy for the Richmond-Fey family, buuut . . . Penelope, while wonderful? Is totally what I’m going to name my coming baby if it turns out to be a girl. But now? Now all I’m going to be asked by everyone I know is if I named her that because Tina Fey did, as most people in my life know I love 30 Rock, because – as my grandmother puts it “you’re so incredibly picky about nearly everything so when you deem something even slightly passable it’s breaking news.”

So now I kind of need this kid to be a boy.

Still, though – congratulations to Tina, Jeff, and Alice! I’m sure your Penelope is beyond lovely. Also, Athena is awesome.

- Leigh on August 13th, 2011

Congrats! I love both of her girls names.

- Alli on August 13th, 2011

I think this is an adorable, quirky name!

- Mathilde on August 13th, 2011

Congrats Tina, Jeffrey and Alice on your baby girl.

I love love love the name. All of their names are on my list actually!

I love Tina Fey! She is one of my favorites!!

- Zoey on August 13th, 2011

Julie: agreed. Penelope Richmond sounds great.

- soph on August 13th, 2011

Alice Athena is on my list

Athena for the Greek goddess of wisdom and Alice because it’s sweet and feminine

- LEC on August 13th, 2011

Congratulations! I love the name.

- Corrie on August 13th, 2011

Congrats to them! I like how her name unique, but not odd or crazy. And love how her middle name is an homage to Tina’s heritage, and is something Penelope will have in common with both her mom and sister.

- mks on August 13th, 2011

Congrats to Tina! love the name!

- avamarcel on August 13th, 2011

Love the name, very cute! Congrats to Tina, her hubby and Alice on becoming a big sis! Tina seems like such a nice mom

- Nella on August 13th, 2011

Congrats to her & family! Tina is one of my favorite actresses and I love the name, too!

- ClaireSamsmom on August 13th, 2011

How is a name “too Greek”? What does that even mean? Even if Tina were not of Greek heritage, why should she not be allowed to give her daughter a Greek name? What a bizarre comment.

- sara on August 13th, 2011

Leigh… If you love the name go for it. My son is Paxton and when he was 3 months Brad P and A.J adopted Pax… So I know your frustration. For a bit I got.. Oh you named him after blah blah blah… But I bet once you have your baby TF’s daughter will be abit older and no one would really care. Not like your having your daughter tomorrow.

- Ashleigh-Faye on August 13th, 2011

Congratulations to Tina and her family! I’m pretty partial to the name Alice of course, and it’s also my niece’s middle name, and my sister’s top girl name is Penelope so hopefully I’ll have one in the family one day.

When I saw this announcement I had totally forgotten that Tina was pregnant, so this was kind of a shock!

- alicejane on August 13th, 2011

Leigh it doesn’t have to be that deep lol. I doubt people will ask if you named your daughter Penelope after Tina Fey’s daughter! The only way I stop with a name I like is if it becomes overly popular. Penelope in 2011 is not overly popular so go for it! And don’t worry people will always find a way to spin a name. All you have to say is that you liked it…end of story

- JMO on August 13th, 2011

Oh, I know. I have no problems sharing a baby name with Tina Fey. Victoria Beckham might have been another story.

It’s just, yes, I live in New York now, my husband’s family is Awesome with a capital a, but my family? Ninety percent of them believe every word printed in grocery store gossip magazines. Also, my mother is currently in the process of lobbying for me to name my baby (gender happily unknown!) Murphy (as in Murphy’s Deli, a small chain where I’m from) because “we’re franchise owners, honey. Think of the business! Why, I’ve already got the cutest signs in mind.”

Le sigh.

- Leigh on August 13th, 2011

I LOVE the name. As a greek woman, I would have named my baby (had it been a girl) Penelope after my yiayia. Our name was Penelope Lane as my husbund is a HUGE Beatle fan. Penny Lane, still love it but I’m done having kids.

- ang on August 13th, 2011

Congrats to Tina and her husband! Love the name. It goes well with Alice.

I totally thought Tina would have a boy – I was wrong! LOL

- AllisonJ on August 13th, 2011

love it, normal but a little kick to it

- Romy on August 13th, 2011

Congrats to Tina & her husband! I’m shocked shes in her 40′s! I honestly thought she was in her late 30′s.

- eribri on August 13th, 2011

Yay, Tina!! So happy to read this news – I’d been wondering for the past few days when she’d have the baby. I had a feeling it would be a boy but how lovely for her to have two little girls!

- Bella on August 13th, 2011

Aww, adorable! Love the name. Congrats, little family!

- Jen DC on August 13th, 2011

Congratulations! Love the name.

- Niche on August 13th, 2011

Leigh, if anything I’d worry more about people thinking you named your daughter (if it is a daughter of course) after Agent Garcia on “Criminal Minds”.

- Sabrina on August 13th, 2011

Oh I hate her(not really I adore her) but I had the girl name Athena Penelope picked out since I was like 12. And I still love it 14 years later if I ever had a girl. But I had two boys. I honestly dont think it flows the greatest either but both names are really really pretty that I dont think it matters. Congrats to the whole family

- Keli on August 13th, 2011

Don’t like the name.

- torgster on August 14th, 2011

Oh, congratulations to Tina, Jeffrey and big sister Alice! What happy news! I’ve been checking constantly because I was so sure the announcement that they’d had a baby girl was going to come through any day, and sure enough, here is little Penelope Athena

- Sophia on August 14th, 2011

Darn! There goes a name I was contemplating using My daughter was THISCLOSE to being a Penelope. She’s now an Ariel and we were gonna name this baby I’m pregnant with Penelope, but there goes that! I know of 4 other women trying to name their daughters Penelope. It’s increasingly popular.

- Robyn on August 14th, 2011

Leigh…sorry, this sounds horrible, but you are reading WAY too much into a name. Honestly, if anyone asked you if you named your DD after anything, it would be the movie “Penelope” that came out a few years back. Unless you plan to name your child some extremely outlandish name….there’s going to be some celeb out there with a family member, and possibly child that has the name you picked. Ignore everyone’s comments and name your baby what YOU want to name her.

I’m asked all the time if my DD was named for the queen….but alas, her name is a family name, and my favorite name ever, so that’s her name. I’m sure you’ll have your own story as to why your beautiful baby has his/her name. So ignore comments, stop reading into things so much and name what YOU want to name your baby.

- MommytoanE on August 14th, 2011

Tina Fey & her Hubby pick the best baby names. I love how they mix classic timeless names with really rich exotic names.

Alice Zenobia & Penelope Athena is hands down one of the best sibling name combos EVER!

- Brittany on August 14th, 2011

I had a feeling she was having another girl.

Pretty name, and definitely in keeping with Tina’s Greek heritage.

- SAR on August 14th, 2011

@MommytoanE

It sounds like I’m reading a lot into I know, but I promise I’m not.

For one, I was kind of just making an idle comment, just something that was rattling around in my brain immediately after reading this post.

Two, my family really is that crazy. Thankfully, I’ve finally learned to laugh at it all. Admittedly, that’s easier half a country away.

And three, yes, there is a reason I’ve loved and thought of naming any eventual daughter Penelope. I’m a self-professed poetry nerd, and the first poet I fell head-over-heels for was W.B. Yeats, *and* one of his earlier works was long my favorite poem and still ranks very high, indeed: Brown Penny.

The only two things I know for sure? Tina’s got great taste, and any child I ever have will NEVER be named Murray.

- Leigh on August 14th, 2011

It must really depend on the celeb as to whether these baby names suck according to some here. Some of the same people who rave over Tina Feys kids names poopoo other kids names that seem to be on the same level of uniqueness.

- J on August 14th, 2011

Examples, J?

- soph on August 14th, 2011

Congatulations to Tina and her Family! I’m sure Penelope is beautiful:)

- Jana on August 14th, 2011

Congratulations! I love the name Penelope ….

- Bancie1031 on August 15th, 2011

She has flawless taste in baby names.

- Jane on August 15th, 2011

Penelope is actually a Greek name as well, at least she is the name Homer gave Ulysses wife all those years ago…

- MiB on August 15th, 2011

Well Leigh I agree with the Murphy or Murray lol.

But as someone posted above undoubtedly someone will eventually have the name of your future child. I have a boy and girls name picked out. Both different, not popular or weird, but I know a few celebs who have the names and yes I stole it from them lol. I actually dont mind saying if someone asked oh named after so and so. I’d say well sure that’s how I found it first. I know two girls I graduate with that named their daughters Leighton which isn’t very popular (yet I guess) and everyone always asked oh like Leighton Meester. What are they to say, no? When clearly they liked the name when they found it on her first

- JMO on August 15th, 2011

Yay Tina!!! Well done!!

- Annachestnut on August 16th, 2011

JMO –

My very favorite girl name is actually one I came across because it was the name of the last wife of a very “old-time” movie star. I just fell in love with it the second I heard it, despite generally liking names that have natural nick-names and it most decidedly NOT having one. It’s what I would consider *very* unusual and, yet again, that’s something surprising for me as I grew up with a name my grandmother made up and hated my whole life, until I was old enough to change it legally.

My first girl, though, will be named Penelope because the middle name I have planned to go with it is my grandmother’s and I want her to have the best chance of getting to meet her namesake. My crazy name doesn’t work with it.

- Leigh on August 16th, 2011

Greek Heritage is one of the Eyes to our world !!!!! Penelope Athena is a great powerful name a lot of the celebrities select Greek names from all of our Mythology and Greek Gods of the past there all strong names. Congrats Tina & Jeff ( Oti Epethimimite ) measn what ever you wish for may it come true in life. Tina my full name is Stamatina also how interesting and a small world around us. Good Luck in your success !!!!!!!

- kakakoritsia1 on August 18th, 2011

Great names!!!!

- Laila on August 20th, 2011

That’s a pretty name. I’ll name my baby Penelope Athena 1 day

- Davida on August 21st, 2011

Congratulations to Tina and her husband!

I absolutely love the name. It’s on my list of favorite celeb baby names now!

- Daniel on August 23rd, 2011

Tina Fey fan, but those names she gave her girls are HORRIBLE, Penelope and Alice? Really? Old ladies names.

- tnbc on August 28th, 2011

Horrible names, Penelope and Alice. Old ladies names.

- tnbc on August 28th, 2011