Community Corner
First Babies Of 2026 Help Families Ring In New Year
While some folks were watching the ball drop in Times Square, these babies were making their entrance into the world.
While people were watching the ball drop in Times Square, curled on their couches or celebrating with friends, a handful of families across New Jersey 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 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.
Find out what's happening in Across New Jerseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Read more: First Baby Of 2026 Born At Newark Hospital
In Monmouth County, Vallego Velazquez and Lezama Hernandez welcomed Elliot 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.
Find out what's happening in Across New Jerseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Baby Nova 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.
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
In Mercer County, Noah Robert Bogdan made his appearance at 1:45 a.m. at Penn Medicine Princeton Health. He was born to Erin and Robert Bogdan of Bordentown.
Read more: First Baby Of 2026 Born At Penn Medicine Princeton Health
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
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
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