New Girl star Zooey Deschanel welcomed her first child, a daughter, back in August, but the star has kept her darling little girl’s name under wraps – until now!
At the red carpet premiere of her new film Rock the Kasbah, Zooey told a reporter for People that her daughter’s name is Elsie, and her husband Jacob Pechenik followed up with the second part of the name – Otter.
In a later appearance on the Today show, Zooey explained the inspiration behind their daughter’s unusual name. As it turns out, both she and Jacob are fascinated by otters!
“We just really liked the name Elsie and then we both love otters – they’re very sweet and they’re also smart,” she told the hosts.
“There’s so many amazing things about otters. They’re wonderful animals.”
Since revealing her daughter’s name, the star has already gotten at least one friendly response from the Monterey Aquarium, which tweeted their congratulations along with a picture of two otters hugging.

Zooey and her producer husband met on the set of Rock the Kasbah, and the pair kept their subsequent engagement and marriage very low-key. The actress’ rep broke the wedding news in the same statement announcing the birth of their daughter in August this year, by referring to Jacob as Zooey’s husband for the first time.
“I am thrilled to confirm that Zooey Deschanel and her husband, Jacob Pechenik, are new parents to a beautiful baby girl,” Zooey’s rep said at the time.