First Babies Of 2026 Help Families Ring In New Year

While people were watching the ball drop in Times Square, curled on their couches or celebrating with friends, hospital maternity wards across New Jersey were busy as several families were welcoming babies into the world, the first babies of 2026.

The first baby born in New Jersey was in New Brunswick, at St. Peter's University Hospital, NJ.com reported. Gabrielle Faye arrived six minutes after midnight, the report said.

As Gabrielle's family was celebrating, Bella Rose Santos was arriving at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children's Hospital. She was born at 12:37 a.m., a spokesman for the Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health network said.

Read more: First Baby Of 2026 Born At Newark Hospital

Jersey City Medical Center had two babies vying for the title of first of 2026, just minutes after Bella Rose in Newark, RWJ Barnabas Health officials said.

Loris Saint Jean Marie arrived at 12:39 a.m., followed a minute later by Guerlanda Jean Marie, born at 12:40 a.m. Both families are from Jersey City, officials said.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick welcomed a baby at 12:40 a.m. as well, officials said. His name was not released, but he weighed in at 6 pounds, 7 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.

In Monmouth County, Jaqueline Vallego Velazquez and Arturo Lezama Hernandez welcomed Elian less than 30 minutes later, at 1:03 a.m. at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. He is the couple's third child, an RJW Barnabas spokesman said.

Read more: First Baby Of 2026 Born At Monmouth Medical Center

Baby Nova Nicole Norton was not far behind, joining the Norton family at 1:05 a.m. at Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair. She was the first baby of 2026 in the Hackensack Meridian Health system.

Read more: First Baby Of 2026 Born At Montclair Hospital

Eleven minutes later, at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, Samantha Tineo and Ankaury Camilo of Lodi welcomed Xolani Faith Camilo, born at 1:16 a.m.

Read more: Baby New Year: Bergen County Girl Arrives An Hour Into 2026

Half an hour later, it was an Atlantic Highlands couple's turn. At 1:44 a.m., parents Caterina Wulfing and Tim Wilt welcomed their baby girl at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank.

Read more: First Baby Of 2026 Arrives For Hospital In Red Bank

One minute later Noah Robert Bogdan made his appearance in Mercer County. He was born at 1:45 a.m. at Penn Medicine Princeton Health to Erin and Robert Bogdan of Bordentown.

Read more: First Baby Of 2026 Born At Penn Medicine Princeton Health

At 3:27 a.m. in Hopewell, Derek Kook-Miller brought a wave of joy to family and staff at Capital Medical Health-Hopewell. He is the rainbow baby of Rhiannon and Jordan Kook-Miller, whose daughter Mia died in 2024 shortly after birth.

Read more: 1st Baby Of 2026 A Rainbow Of Joy At Hopewell Hospital

In South Jersey, Ellie Rose was born at 4:33 a.m. to Victoria and Nick Rekosik at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Hackensack Meridian Health officials said.

Read more: Ocean County's 1st Baby Of 2026 Born In Manahawkin

At Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Elian Samir arrived as the sun was still coming up. He was born at 6:55 a.m. to Aida and Manuel, the hospital said.

Read more: First Baby Of 2026 Rings In New Year At Livingston Hospital

An hour later, Kaleb joined the baby party, arriving at 7:44 a.m. for mom Jaelyn of Rahway, at Raritan Bay Medical Center. She asked that her last name not be released, a Hackensack Meridian Health spokesperson said.

Read more: First Baby Of 2026 Born At Raritan Bay Medical Center

In Somerset County, Jayden Mateo Ventura Dehesa let some folks have their morning coffee first. He arrived at 9:56 a.m. at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset and was born to Alondra Lizzeth Dehesa Flores and Isrrael Ventura Cortes of Raritan.

Read more: Meet Somerset County's 1st Baby Of 2026 At RWJ Somerset Hospital

In Burlington County, Enola Isabel Hale arrived at lunchtime. She was born at 12:18 p.m. at Virtua Mount Holly Hospital, the hospital system said.

Read more: BurlCo's 1st Baby Of 2026 Born At Virtua Hospital

A baby boy born in Ocean County waited until after lunch to make his debut. Jordan Ford arrived at 1:03 p.m. at Ocean University Medical Center in Brick for parents Kristyn and Doug Ford of Toms River.

Read more: 1st Baby Of 2026 Brings Joy To Ocean Medical Center In Brick