Beyonce, Jay-Z welcome baby girl

NEW YORK: Music royalty Beyonce and Jay-Z are the proud parents of a baby girl named Blue Ivy, media reports said Sunday, breaking the news of one of the biggest celebrity births in years.

Pop diva Beyonce, 30, gave birth by caesarian section on Saturday night in a private wing of the Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan with rapper Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, by her side, E! Online reported.

Initial reports had the baby's name as Ivy Blue, but those close to the couple confirmed later it was the other way around. The Houston Chronicle, Beyonce's hometown paper, was alone in spelling it Blu Ivy, without the "e".

The Twitterverse was abuzz as celebrities and fans alike delighted in news of the star couple's first child.

Beyoncé: 'I'm having so much fun being pregnant'

Beyoncé has said that she is enjoying her pregnancy.

The '1+1' singer announced that she is expecting her first child with husband Jay-Z at this year's MTV Video Music Awards.

She has since confessed that she is happy she does not have to hide the fact anymore.

"I am having so much fun. It has been the most fun time now that it has been announced," Beyoncé told CNN UK.

The singer, who was rumoured to be pregnant in November 2010, went on to say that she is especially enjoying shopping for maternity wear.

"It was really difficult to conceal," Beyoncé said. "But now... I can be proud and excited about it, I'm having so much fun shopping - it's great!"

Jay-Z is said to be overjoyed that his wife is pregnant with the couple's first child.