It sounded better than 'Ramses'

Moses Martin, the first-born son of actress Gwyneth Paltrow, was delivered in a New York City hospital over the weekend.

By NATHAN BURSTEIN
gwyneth paltrow 298.88 (photo credit: AP)
gwyneth paltrow 298.88
(photo credit: AP)
Just in time for Passover, the world has a new Moses. Moses Martin, the first-born son of actress Gwyneth Paltrow, was delivered in a New York City hospital over the weekend, Paltrow's publicist reported Monday. No other information was provided about the 33-year-old Oscar winner or her new baby boy, but fans suggested that his name had been taken from a song written by Paltrow's husband, Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin. "Moses," which appeared on the band's Live 2003 album, was reportedly written by Martin as tribute to his wife's father, Bruce Paltrow, the well-known television producer who died in the fall of 2002. Paltrow has spoken repeatedly in the intervening years about her despair following her father's death, and the song includes the line, "Like Moses has power over the sea, so you've got power over me." A 1999 Oscar winner for her role in Shakespeare in Love, Paltrow is closely associated with characters defined by their regal bearing and high society background. But the actress, a former model for companies like Dior and Estee Lauder, has also happily discussed the Russian Jewish heritage she received from her father. The Proof star joked earlier this year in England's Guardian newspaper that her lineage included "like, 17 generations of rabbis - you see, I really am a Jewish princess!" A close personal friend of pop singer Madonna, Paltrow has also been the subject of rumors suggesting she had adopted her friend's well-publicized interest in kabbala. In January, a spokesperson for the actress denied reports that Paltrow had called a rabbi to perform a spiritual cleansing of her home, which she allegedly believed was "haunted." Should baby Moses eventually find himself the target of schoolyard taunts inspired by his uncommon first name, he'll have an ally in his older sister, Apple. (Full name: Apple Blythe Alison Martin.) Following Apple's birth, Paltrow told US talk show host Oprah Winfrey she didn't understand the bemused public response to her daughter's name, saying it was "lovely and clean" and carried biblical associations. The actress appears not to have been slowed down professionally by her recent pregnancy. The Oscar winner has an impressive six films scheduled for release by the end of this year.