Jay-Z, Beyonce's daughter Blue Ivy almost named Brooklyn

April 2024 · 2 minute read

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Come again? Jay-Z and Beyonce shocked the world when the singer announced her pregnancy at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. And they were again taken aback by her unique name when she arrived five months later on January 7, 2012.

Now, the proud dad is revealing what the couple initially were going to name the 11-year-old.

“It was supposed to be Brooklyn,” Jay-Z, 53, told Gayle King during a “CBS Mornings” clip, which was released on Friday.

The moniker would have been a special nod to the New York City borough where the record producer was born. The pair, however, ultimately went for Blue because they called her “Blueberry” when the “Drunk in Love” musician was still pregnant.

“You know, it was like a nickname,” he told King, 68. “It was just natural. We just took the berry off and called her Blue.”

Gayle King and Jay-Z. CBS News

Jay-Z and Beyonce went on to trademark Blue Ivy’s name in 2013 and welcome twins Sir and Rumi, now 6, in June 2017.

Despite having very famous parents, it took years until Jay-Z earned cool points with his eldest daughter.

“Blue, she be frontin’ on me a little bit,” he said during the teaser. “But I catch her. I catch her in the corner, you know? Now she asks me, you know, if this is cool, if her sneakers [are cool]. She’s come back.”

“But there was a time where she was like, ‘Daaaad,’” he added, doing an impression of Blue’s voice while covering his face in embarrassment.

The father-daughter duo attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers in March 2020. Getty Images
Jay-Z and Blue Ivy sat courtside at a NBA Finals. game in San Francisco, California, in June 2022. NBAE via Getty Images

“‘I’m cool. I don’t know what you sayin,'” he added of what he told her. “‘I’m cool! You got cool parents! At your house, your parents [are] cool.'”

Blue Ivy and Beyonce performing in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 11, 2023. WireImage for Parkwood

Blue Ivy is pretty impressive herself. She’s performed alongside her mom on countless occasions during the Renaissance World Tour since it kicked off in May.

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