The past twelve months have seen storks arriving at some of the very best addresses in the land. But while many celebrities reined in their creative instincts when choosing a name for their little ones, a few stars were still happy to throw caution to the wind...!

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Compared to previous years, 2005 wasn’t exactly what could be called a vintage year for celebrity baby names. Back in 2004, A, B and C-lister mothers opted for flowery, frou-frou names for their sons and daughters – Tallulah, Rose and Coco being just three that spring to mind. But this year’s celebrity parents have been more considered and much more serious, picking old-fashioned, conservative monikers like Gracie, Alasdair and Matilda.

Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane? No, it's...
Happily, just when things looked like becoming rather boring for those of us who love celebrities and their usual no-holds-barred approach to baby naming, along came Nicolas Cage. The actor already has a son, Weston, with former girlfriend Kristina Fulton, but he celebrated the product of his latest marriage with Alice Kim, in true Hollywood fashion by calling his son the superhero name of Kal-El. For those of you ignorant of superhero mythology, that’s the Kryptonite name given to Superman by his parents.

Explaining his choice, Cage said; Alice and I wanted to have a name that was exotic and American and which stood for something good, because our son is exotic and he's American and we both think he's good. But having said that, I always liked the sound of the name. It has kind of a magical ring to it: Abracadabra Kal-El Shazam!’

We can see years of expensive therapy ahead for the poor wee chap!

2005 Celebrity Births:

Anna Friel and David Thewlis – daughter Gracie
Jordan and Peter Andre – son Junior
Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart – son Alastair
Dolores O Riordan – daughter Dakota Rain
Victoria and David Beckham – son Cruz
Stella McCartney and Alasdhair Wilis – son Miller Alasdhair James
Heidi Klum and Seal – son Henry Gunther Ademola Dashtu
JK Rowling & Neil Murray - daughter Mackenzie Jean
Eric Clapton & Melia McEnery - daughter Sophie
Bridget Fonda & Danny Elfman - son Oliver
Frankie Dettori & Catherine Dettori - son Rocco
Charles & Sarah Kennedy - son Donald James
Emmerdale's Lucy Pargeter and Rudi Coleano- daughter, Lola Grace
Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor- son Quinlin Dempsey
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner - daughter Violet
Jerry Seinfeld and wife Jessica - son, Shepherd Kellen
Ronan and Yvonne Keating - daughter, Ali
Britney Spears and Kevin Federline - son Sean Preston
Benjamin Bratt and Talisa Soto - son Mateo Bravery.
Nicholas Cage and Alice Kim - son, Kal-El
Jamelia and Darren Byfield - daughter, Tiani
Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams - daughter, Matilda

...and the very best news of all 2005 - to Benoit and Abigail Witchalls, a son Dominic Adrian.

• Baby Naming Feature: Main Page

  • Baby Naming Tips
  • Celebrity Baby Names 2007
  • Ask Our Expert: We Can't Agree On A Name!
  • Top Baby Names - England and Wales 2007
  • Top Baby Names - Scotland 2007
  • Top Baby Names - Ireland 2006