Nikki Sanderson and Anthony Quinlan have announced the name of their newborn baby son, revealing it carries a 'very special' meaning. The couple, both former Hollyoaks stars, have named their firstborn Anthony James Quinlan.
A Heartfelt Tribute
Anthony Jr was born on April 19, weighing a healthy 7lbs 9oz. Speaking to OK! magazine, Nikki, 42, explained the significance behind the name: 'He's named after his dad and my brother James. Two very special men.' The couple will refer to their baby as Anthony, though they affectionately called him 'Mini Quinny' before his birth.
Anthony, 41, added: 'Different members of our family and friends have all started calling him different things. A couple of people call him AJ, some Tony. I used to get called Toe, so he's little Toe as well. I love the fact that he's got my name.'
Baby Shower Celebrations
Before their son's arrival, Nikki hosted a baby shower at the Barca bar in Manchester, complete with a blue balloon arch, cake, and dancing. The soap star wore a pale blue dress, while Anthony also dressed in blue to match the theme. During the party, Anthony surprised Nikki with a Louis Vuitton handbag, an emotional moment she later shared on social media.
Nikki wrote: 'Before our little man arrived there was a baby shower… and it was EPIC. Being surrounded by all my loved ones celebrating our son and his upcoming birth was a dream. I am so lucky and grateful to have such wonderful people in my life. He… and I.. were spoilt rotten. Thank you to my amazing partner, baby daddy, best friend Anthony Quinlan for spoiling me. Having you pop in to see us all made my day… then you go and make me cry (happy tears) by gifting me the most beautiful bag. I’m one lucky lady and I love you.'
Announcing the Birth
The couple announced the birth of their first child on Instagram last month, sharing a photo of their baby boy. They wrote: 'Happy due date little man. You blessed our lives a few days earlier than expected and filled our world with so much joy. Daddy and mummy love you so much son.'
Nikki, who quit her role as Hollyoaks' Maxine Minniver last April, previously told The Mirror they were 'over the moon' when they found out they were expecting. She said: 'We're happy to say it's going to be a lovely little spring baby.'
Their Love Story
Nikki and Anthony have been dating since the start of 2022. Anthony confessed to The Sun: 'I’ve always fancied her. She’s mega hot, right?' He added: 'We’ve known each other for years... There were rumours we met at the gym, which we had a bit of a laugh about. I slid into the DMs and that was it. I was lucky enough to get a date and the rest is history. All I can say is I'm really, really happy and she's a very special girl. She's lovely.'
