Kids & Family

Meet NJ's First Babies Of 2025 (And Their Parents)

Parents and families across the state are celebrating these bundles of joy born on New Year's Day, with one arriving right at midnight.

Michelle Rotuno-Johnson's profile picture
Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
|
Baby Boy Patel, born at 2:26 a.m. New Year's Day to parents Bhumika and Mehul Patel, is one of New Jersey's newest residents in 2025. He was delivered at Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Baby Boy Patel, born at 2:26 a.m. New Year's Day to parents Bhumika and Mehul Patel, is one of New Jersey's newest residents in 2025. He was delivered at Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick. (Courtesy of Hackensack Meridian Health)

NEW JERSEY — A new year means new beginnings — and several Garden State families welcomed new babies into the world on the first day of 2025.

Hospitals shared photos of these happy arrivals from delivery rooms around the state.

One little girl arrived right on the stroke of midnight at Jersey Shore University Hospital, as people along the East Coast rang in the new year, and became New Jersey's first baby of 2025.

Find out what's happening in Across New Jerseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Cataleya Lopez, weighing 6 pounds and 12 ounces, was born to Julissa and Manfer Lopez and is the fourth child of her family.

Baby Cataleya Lopez and her parents, Julissa and Manfer Lopez. (Courtesy of Hackensack Meridian Health.)

Several other new arrivals made their debuts in the early morning: Parlin couple Supal and Hinal Patel welcomed Baby Boy Patel, born 7 pounds, 8 ounces at 1:56 a.m. at JFK University Medical Center in Edison.

Find out what's happening in Across New Jerseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Supal and Hinal Patel of Parlin with their baby boy at JFK University Medical Center in Edison. (Courtesy of Hackensack Meridian Health)

Bhumika and Mehul Patel of Colonia welcomed Baby Boy Patel (pictured at top of article), born 4 pounds, 15 ounces at 2:26 a.m. at Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick. This is the third child for the Patels, who have two other children, ages 8 and 5, at home.

Morris County couple Kalliope and Anthony Caputo welcomed a baby girl, Noa Rose, at Morristown Medical Center at 2:39 a.m.

On New Year's Day, at 2:39 a.m., one of Morris County's newest residents was born at Morristown Medical Center. (Courtesy of Atlantic Health System)

Aidan Aziel Lopez Iboy became Somerset County's first baby of the New Year, making his debut at 4:18 a.m. to parents Heidy Iboy Mendoza and Adrian Lopez of Plainfield at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset.

Heidy Iboy Mendoza and Adrian Lopez of Plainfield with their newborn baby boy Aidan. (Courtesy of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset)

Mom Yeraldin Mercedes Castillo de Mendez of Perth Amboy welcomed her baby girl Isabella, weighing 7 pounds, 12.6 ounces and born at 4:55 a.m. at Raritan Bay Medical Center.

Yeraldin Mercedes Castillo de Mendez and her newborn daughter at Raritan Bay Medical Center (Courtesy of Hackensack Meridian Health).

Several couples welcomed their newborns a little later in the morning: Rafielys Baez and Robert Martinez Tavarez of Paterson said hello to their son Gabriel Raniel Martinez Abreu just after 8 a.m. Gabriel is their second child.

Parents Rafielys Baez and Robert Martinez Tavarez of Paterson with their second child, a boy named Gabriel Raniel Martinez Abreu. (Courtesy of St. Joseph's Health. )

One couple was enjoying a quiet evening at home when their son decided to arrive several weeks early. Maria Hernandez Tecuani and Eduardo Vargas Anastacio arrived to Community Medical Center around 1 a.m. and their firstborn child, Jehyden Ezequiel Vargas Hernandez, arrived just after 9 a.m.

Maria Hernandez Tecuani and Eduardo Vargas Anastacio welcomed Jehyden Ezequiel Vargas Hernandez at 9:03 a.m. at Community Medical Center in Toms River. (Community Medical Center)

At Trinitas Regional Medical Center, baby Matthew made his debut at 10:43 a.m. to parents Erika Olivo Chirinos and Deyson Guerra of Elizabeth.

Parents Erika Olivo Chirinos and Deyson Guerra with their baby boy Matthew. (Courtesy of Trinitas Regional Medical Center)

And Lesley Calle and Jonathan Garcia of Bloomfield welcomed their baby boy, Jayden Garcia, into the world at 1:22 p.m. at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center.

Lesley Calle and Jonathan Garcia of Bloomfield are the first parents of the new year at Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair.(Courtesy of Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center)

Babies born in 2025 also usher in a new generation, according to social researcher Mark McCrindle. With 2024 considered the end of "Generation Alpha," these New Jersey newborns are some of the first members of Generation Beta, which will last until 2039.

To read more about these bundles of joy, check out these stories from around Patch:

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Across New Jersey