At least 70 babies were born, on January 1, from four major hospitals in Kigali. The New Year deliveries were higher than those recorded on Christmas Day, which was celebrated a week earlier. ALSO READ: 57 babies born on Christmas On New Year's day, 12 babies were born at Muhima Hospital, 10 at Nyarugenge Hospital, 26 at Kibagabaga Hospital, and 22 at Kacyiru Hospital. Parents interviewed expressed delight at giving birth on such a memorable day. “My baby came two days early. I’m so happy because we are starting the New Year with him,” said Francine Mahoro, a 27-year-old who gave birth to her first child. ALSO READ: What’s in a name? The evolution of naming newborns and why it matters In what has long been an unspoken tradition in Rwanda, babies born on days such as Christmas and New Year's are given names that correspond to the occasions that coincide with their births. The trend of child naming seems to be, generally, changing in the country. ALSO READ: Child naming: Is the trend changing for Rwandan names? Growing up, we used to hear people who were born on a date like this were given names like 'Bonane' to emphasize that they were born on a special day. But that's outdated; a name should be more meaningful than that, Mahoro explained. She named her baby Killian, which means 'little warrior'. Aime Niyigena, who was present when his wife gave birth, also shared the significance of their baby's name. She was not only born on the first day of the year but also on the day we celebrate the solemnity of the virgin mary. So we went with a cute but meaningful name, Maeve. Despite the changes, most Rwandan children still get two or more names. One Kinyarwanda name, as the family name (or surname), and another name chosen for various reasons such as religion, among others.
