Comic Relief 2015: Lenny Henry Meets Newborn Twins Named After Him In Uganda

Having one baby named after you must be a pretty incredible feeling, but having a set of twins share your full name has to be the ultimate compliment – as Lenny Henry has experienced.

The comedian travelled to Eastern Uganda to officially open the newly refurbish Iyolwa clinic and met the twin boys named after him.

Clearly overwhelmed with emotion as he was introduced to the tiny toys and told they were called Lenny and Henry, he exclaimed, “What am I supposed to do with that? That’s extraordinary.”  

Nurse Martha, the twins’ mum, was pregnant with her sons when Lenny first visited the clinic in November. After the comedian told her he would transform their lives forward, she chose to name her tots after him.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think a baby in Uganda would be named after me, Lenny from Dudley, never mind two!” says Lenny (the adult one).

“Welcome to the world Lenny and Henry. It is fantastic that these two, and all the other residents of Iyolwa now have a fully functioning clinic to rely on when they are sick, and or in need of medical care.”

The comedian was part of a team who transformed the run down clinic into a completely restored medical facility, with running water, a maternity clinic, solar panels and light switches – none of which it had before.

Lenny’s not the only the celebrity who’s had a baby named after him. Although now a celebrity herself, Keira Knightley has previously admitted that she was meant to be named after a Russian ice skater – although her parents had a mix up with the correct spelling of the name so it didn’t go exactly to plan...

In 2013, baby name site Nameberry.com revealed that almost 2,500 girls were named after Reese Witherspoon.

And after the birth of Prince George, also in 2013, the name George was propelled into last year’s top 10 baby names list.

Would you ever name your child after a celebrity? Or are you named after one? Let us know in the comments.

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