Country music star Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren, welcomed their fifth child and first son in February 2026. The couple chose a unique name for their little boy: Brave Elijah.
In a sit-down interview with Katie Neal on the country radio show, “Katie & Company,” Rhett opened up about the meaning of his son’s unique name. Read on to discover what the country music star shared.
Thomas Rhett Explains How He Came Up With His Son’s Name
When asked how he and his wife came up with the name Brave, Rhett explained that it took forever to find one because the couple was so used to naming girls. The country music star then revealed that part of him wanted to go with something that had a musical connection or a really rugged outdoor theme.
“I had names like Canyon or Lyric,” Rhett shared, noting that Lauren quickly vetoed those options.
He went on to explain how the name Brave ultimately came to him. “One of my favorite wines in the world is called Mt. Brave,” he said.
He continued, “We were drinking it one night at the farm, and I don’t know for some reason when I passed that bottle, and I saw the name Brave, and I was like ‘Man, I don’t know anybody named Brave.’”
Right then, something just clicked for Rhett, as he loved the meaning behind the name. The country music star continued, “I didn’t know how Brave was gonna roll off my lips. And now it comes off just as natural as all my other kids.”
Thomas Rhett Is Also the Proud Father of 4 Girls
Along with baby Brave, Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren, share four daughters. The host asked him, “Do you ever look at Lauren and you’re like, ‘How do we have five children?’”
To that question, Rhett quickly responded, “Every day.”
The country music star and his wife adopted their oldest daughter, Willa Gray Akins, from Uganda, Africa. Willa was born in November 2015, and the couple brought her home to Nashville in May 2017.
Following Willa’s adoption, the country music star and his wife welcomed three more daughters into the family.
Lauren gave birth to Ada James Akins in August 2017.
The couple’s next daughter, Lennon Love Akins, was born in February 2020.
Their youngest daughter, Lillie Carolina Akins, joined the family in November 2021.
Fans Show Support for Thomas Rhett’s Name Selection
After a clip about how Thomas Rhett chose his son’s name was posted to social media, country music fans soon flooded the comment section with supportive comments.
One fan wrote, “I love that name !!!!”
Another fan added, “Braven would sound neat too.”
Mt. Brave Wines even joined in on the conversation, writing, “’Brave’ has always carried deep meaning for us. Rooted in the land, the people, and the strength it takes to endure. It is incredibly special to see it chosen in such a personal way.”
With a full house of five kids and their first son finally here, it’s clear that Thomas Rhett and Lauren have found a name that feels just right. And, judging by the fan response, baby Brave’s name is already making a strong first impression.
