New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday. Her partner Clarke Gayford and Jacinda have announced the name of their newborn daughter – Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford. Neve, derived from the Irish name Niamh, means ‘bright’ or ‘radiant’ and Te Aroha means ‘love’ in te reo Maori. The baby will be known as Neve Gayford for shot. Ardern is the first world leader in nearly 30 years to have a child while in office.

Ardern said she and Gayford had struggled to stele on a name before the birth and had shortlist prepared. “But we chose Neve because we just liked it, and when we met her we thought she looked like she suited the name,” said Ardern. She further said that the name Te aroha was chosen as a reflection of the support she’d received from New Zealanders during her pregnancy, especially the Maori community. “I though how do I reflect the generosity, particularly of all the iwi who gifted us names, and Te Aroha seemed to be a way,” she said. It is also a tribute to Te Aroha mountain on New Zealand’s North Island, near Ardern’s hometown of Hamilton.

The prime minister left the Auckland City hospital on Sunday, after arriving early on Thursday. Neve shares her birthday with Pakistan’s former prime minister Benazit Bhutto, who was the first female world leader to give birth during office. She also told media she hoped the ‘novelty’ of having a prime minister give birth in office would soon wear off.

Ardern became her party’s youngest leader and New Zealand’s youngest in 150 years after defeating former Prime Minister Bill English in last October’s election. It marked the first victory for the Labour Party in nine years. She led the group for three months before being elected Prime Minister. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is filling in for Ardern while she is on six-weeks parental leave.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 25, 2018 11:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).