Pitt-Jolie Child Name Means "Messiah"

Nothing was normal about the birth of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's child — so naturally, neither was their baby's name.

The child — whose pending arrival created a frenzy of hyperbole — is named Shiloh, which fittingly means "Messiah" or "Peaceful One."

Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt was born Saturday evening — via Cesarean section, according to People magazine — in Namibia, where her famous parents had withdrawn for the birth, aided by considerable protection from the African country's government.

As of Tuesday, the baby reportedly was in good health, though the family was yet to make a public appearance. The couple also has two adopted children, 4-year-old Maddox and 16-month-old Zahara.

In a statement to People magazine, Jolie thanked the staff of Cottage Medi-Clinic Hospital. Jolie's obstetrician from Los Angeles, Dr. Jason Rothbart, told People that he delivered the child, weighing seven pounds, by Cesarean section "due to breech presentation," and that the birth went "flawlessly."

A Hebrew name, Shiloh is "generally understood as denoting the Messiah, 'the peaceful one,"' according to Easton's Bible Dictionary, the 1897 work of biblical definitions.

A Web site babynames.com lists Shiloh as a name that can apply to either a boy or girl. It also points out the famous Battle of Shiloh in 1862, a pivotal battle in the Civil War fought in southwestern Tennessee near a church named Shiloh.

The child's middle name, Nouvel, most obviously translates from the French, meaning "new." If one were to take a literal approach to analyzing the entire name, Jolie and Pitt could appear exceedingly bold in dubbing their daughter the "new Messiah."

The government of Namibia says to celebrate the birth of their daughter there, Jolie and Pitt have donated $300,000 to help other babies in the impoverished African country. It says they've also pledged $15,000 for a school and a community center.

An official says the money will contribute significantly to the health of Namibian babies.

Government officials say she could get Namibian citizenship.

Pitt's brother Doug in Springfield, Mo., told a local newspaper by e-mail that the family is delighted.

In the meantime, police in Namibia formed a ring around the hospital when Shiloh was born to keep the news media out of the building.

Pitt's publicist announced the birth and said no other information or photographs would be released.

The couple retreated to Namibia last month to avoid media attention while awaiting the birth. The government has rallied around them, putting tight security around their hotel and the hospital. Authorities are arresting photographers and confiscating film.