Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck welcome a boy! (Update: Samuel Garner Affleck)


Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have welcomed their third child together, a boy! I’m surprised that Garner had her baby, as I honestly thought she had a couple more weeks left to go. She’s been looking ready for some time, though. This is the third child for the Afflecks. They also have two daughters together: Seraphina, 3, and Violet, 6. It’s thought that dad Ben was hoping for a son, although Jennifer has said that he seemed open to another daughter, too. There’s no word yet as to the baby’s name. Here’s more, from US Weekly:

The couple of seven years welcomed their third child, a baby boy, in Santa Monica, Calif., a source confirms to Us Weekly.

Garner and Affleck’s new little one joins older daughters Violet, 6, and Seraphina, 3.

Announcing her pregnancy in August 2011, Garner, 39, managed to stay mum on the gender of her family’s third baby, and while she admitted she’d be thrilled to have another girl, said Affleck was excited either way.

“I would have thought [he wanted a boy]. At first…I really thought so,” the Arthur actress told Jay Leno in January. “And then [Ben] kind of said, ‘Well, we have girls. We know how to do girls. My girls love me. I’m the big guy in the house.’ So, now I’m not sure.”

[From Us Weekly]

Aw, congratulations to Jennifer and Ben on their new arrival! They’re one of my favorite Hollywood couples and they seem so solid lately. Their girls have such nice names that are unique without sounding too experimental or strange. I bet they’ll go with a traditional name for their boy, but we’ll see. I’m actually excited to hear what they named the little guy.

Update: US Weekly reports that the baby’s name is Samuel Garner Affleck. That’s such a great name for a boy! I like that they used Garner’s name as his middle name as well. They didn’t do that with their daughters’ middle names. Kaiser mentioned to me that the old Testament names are getting very popular lately. Oh and little Samuel was born on February 27, so he’s definitely not a leap year baby. Ben wrote on his FacebookWe are happy to announce on February 27, Jennifer gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Samuel Garner Affleck.” Congrats!

Garner and Affleck are shown out together on 1-9-12. She is shown out with Violet on Friday, 2-24-12. Credit: Pablo/FameFlynet Pictures

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112 Responses to “Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck welcome a boy! (Update: Samuel Garner Affleck)”

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  1. iloveretro says:

    Congrats to them both. Can’t wait to find out the name.

  2. BK says:

    Congrats to them! Hope all are healthy and happy. Glad they had a boy to help mix things up a little. I think secretly, most men really do want at least one boy. I hope the lad doesn’t have to wear any hand-me-downs though. 🙂

    • Gradstudenteatinghotpockets says:

      I think I believe that….or that it’s partially true. My dad thought I was a boy when I was born (even though the doctors said I was a girl)….because of the umbilical cord. Go Dad.

  3. brin says:

    Yay….so happy for them! Hope they don’t name hime Dumbo or Goofy! lol

  4. the original bellaluna says:

    Congrats to them! I bet the little guy is adorable; can’t wait to see him!

    I wish I could have another baby. (Even though I’ve been up all night with a sick toddler.)

    • mia girl says:

      Long nights with a sick toddler… I so know the feeling
      Sending you a virtual hug 🙂

      Hope your little one feels better soon ,

    • MorticiansDoItDeader says:

      @bells, if I had known you were up too we could have chatted 😉 My little one has another ear infection and was up all night. Hope your little guy gets well soon!

    • Kate #2 says:

      My 3 year old was up all night too! On antibiotics – it’s that time of year.

      And I so, so want another. I’m really happy for the Afflecks, but it would be nice to be able to have kids without any financial considerations, wouldn’t it? Think I’d have four then!

    • the original bellaluna says:

      Thank ladies. I hope your little ones feel better soon too. I finally fell into bed at almost 6 this morning – and when I got up a few hours later, I got sick. (Little ones, their favourite things to share are germs!) 😉 At least it’s a short-ish flu.

      Mort, that would have been fun. And may have helped me stay awake longer. 😀 Ear infections suck, poor baby.

  5. atlantapug says:

    Ooooh, did they have a Leap Day baby?

    Congrats to them.

  6. mel2 says:

    Congrats to them. Really happy Ben got his boy.

  7. GoodCapon says:

    Congratulations to the couple!

    Lucky kids. I have two older sisters and I’ve always wanted a brother…

  8. Bite me says:

    Yay for the simple parade crew

  9. dorothy says:

    A boy? What a wonderful surprise for them. Congrats.

  10. Samigirl says:

    Ooooh, I hope he gets those Garner dimples! So exciting! Congrats to them! 🙂

  11. Nessa says:

    Violet looks so much like her mom. They really are a beautiful family. Congrats to them!

  12. di elepha beth says:

    congratulations! wow, super happy for them and their family.

    3 kids. time flies!

  13. mia girl says:

    Congrats to the family and welcome to the little lad!

  14. Zimmet says:

    Congrats on Baby Affleck!

  15. Ell says:

    Happy news, I can’t wait to find out the baby’s name either. I can never get enough of the Afflecks, my favourite Hollywood family.

  16. Cathy says:

    Congratulations to them. I wish them nothing but the best with the addition of their son.

  17. Agnes says:

    Congrats to them! I bet the baby will be freaking cute. 🙂

  18. HadleyB says:

    As much as Ben was a douche in his 20’s I really like them as a couple.

    Yeah she isn’t a beauty but she is brave and confident enough to go out a lot w/o makeup and she carried her pregnancy fashion nicely .. not over the top, casual,comfy and realistic. I bet she whips back into shape fast, I just hope she doesn’t go as thin as she was before.. it was a tad too thin and showed in her face with her cheek fillers too much.

    • Belle says:

      Not a beauty? I have to disagree… I think Jennifer Garner is gorgeous! Natural and pretty without make up and fancy clothes… and stunning when she is all glammed up(; Love her! I guess beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

      • Ell says:

        I’m with Belle, I think JG is stunning. Not only is she a natural beauty, she’s also ageless. Personally I prefer her looks to such stars as Angelina, Gwneth, Reese and so on.

      • duncecap says:

        I don’t think Garner is beautiful, but she is rather pretty, and approachable, which can sometimes be better. And she’s one of those people actually who look better when they’re not wearing makeup. She even seems to understand she looks better without all that stuff so she only wears it on the job. I admire that about her.

      • Esmom says:

        Agree, she’s the anti Gwen Stefani, the celeb mom who doesn’t seem to go anywhere without a full face of makeup!

  19. Darlene says:

    So so happy for them. I think she’s a great mom.

  20. MorticiansDoItDeader says:

    I love hearing about couples having a different sex baby for their third pregnancy. Gives me hope that I may someday have a little girl (although I’d truly be happy either way, it would be nice to have a female in the house).

    Congrats to the Afflecks!

    • Jayna says:

      There’s hope. My mom had three boys before two girls. So my sister had two boys and was pregnant again. She just knew it was a boy, because she wanted a daughter so. But she was a beautiful little girl.

      • MorticiansDoItDeader says:

        @Jayna, I’m going to give it one more try when my 10 1/2 month old is 18 months. I think three is the most I can manage. So, boy or girl, I’m done after three. I read up on “the shettles method” which offers tips to increase the chances of having one sex or another, so maybe that will help.

        BTW, Your mom is a brave lady having 5!

      • fabgrrl says:

        @Mort: Shettles worked for us! Also, look into dietary modification — a calcium rich diet for girls and a potassium rich diet for boys (or something like that). Maybe it’s all bunk, but who cares? Good luck!

      • MorticiansDoItDeader says:

        @Fabgrrl, oohhh! Thanks for the tip, and I’m glad to hear it worked for you!

      • Isa says:

        I was totally going to try the Shettles method when I decided to go for a second child. But I didn’t get a chance. I hope it works for you!

  21. ella says:

    Awe I can hope he has those cute dimples!

  22. Dea says:

    Nice for them to have a little boy and happy and healthy life to him buy still can’t stand this manipulative bitch.

    • FeverDream says:

      LOL wtf?

      The only baby threads that deserve that sort of firepower are Beyonce’s.

      • Tapioca says:

        I think Dea might be referring to the swirling rumours that Jen conveniently “forgot, oopsie!” to take her Pill just as her hubby was packing his bags ready to make a run for it.

    • Onyx XV says:

      I’ll bite – what did she manipulate? (Just curious cuz I’m not a fan.) One thing I have noticed about them is that every time rumors start swirling that they’re growing apart, or that Ben might be straying (remember Blake Lively, anyone?) that’s when Jen decides to pop out another baby. This boy ought to keep Ben in line for a little while…lol

      • Dea says:

        Yes that is exactly right! And Tapioca that is what I meant. On top of that i see her as completely selfish in all her previous relationships. I have said it before and keep saying it again the she is just lucky that Ben did not leave her when he was going to (oh these pregnancies) She left her first husband Scott and oobviously did not care that he really loved her. She left Michael Vartan as soon as she met Ben and of course she really did not give a damn that this guy really loved her. I dont need any more proof to say she is just a selfish bitch and always will be but she is obsessed with Ben and never will leave him even if he cheats on her every day.

      • Feebee says:

        Ha, if he was stepping out on her yet still sleeping with her and she gets pregnant I think that’s called checkmate!

        Regardless, baby boy is awesome news for them. A boy after two girls is great fun (well so far)…

      • Kate #2 says:

        “She left her first husband Scott and oobviously did not care that he really loved her. She left Michael Vartan as soon as she met Ben and of course she really did not give a damn that this guy really loved her. I dont need any more proof to say she is just a selfish bitch and always will be but she is obsessed with Ben and never will leave him even if he cheats on her every day. ”

        Dea, I don’t really understand what you are so angry over here. It’s sad if her exes still loved her, but if she didn’t love them and there were no kids involved, why is it evil to leave? I think she seems happy, has a beautiful family she seems very hands-on with, and he certainly seems very smitten too from latest photos. Obviously you’re completely entitled to hate who you want, but I don’t get why it’s a terrible thing to leave someone you don’t love, if there are no children involved. One-sided relationships are toxic for everyone.

        As for rumours that she got pregnant to stop him leaving – that makes no sense. Firstly because he has to have been sleeping with her for that to happen, secondly because he looks completely loved up in all the photos the last few months, and finally because they already have two little girls – if those children weren’t enough for him to stay, why would a pregnancy be?

        I’m absolutely happy to concede that I don’t know her and she could be a raging psycho, but tbh the reasons given so far look more than a little sexist. She has no right to leave a man she doesn’t love, and yet Affleck is trapped and has every right to leave the mother of his children and she is evil to plot a pregnancy and steal his semen while he sleeps? Huh? How is his leaviing his wife and kids something he has a right to, when you simultaneously attack her for walking out on childless relationships? It’s just contradictory, and as I say, sorry but it also looks sexist to say she uses her fertility to “trap” him. he doesn’t look terribly heartbroken about the new child to me. And if he was that unhappy with Garner he shouldn’t have been getting her pregnant at all.

      • duncecap says:

        Kate2, thank you for that! All the arguments against Garner that have irked me but I could never get my counters gathered up in a cogent way. The way the media paints women and damns them whether they leave or stay in a relationship or not is nothing short of misogyny!

      • Day says:

        @Kate #2…Excellent. You saved me so much time because I was about to say the same exact thing. TY!!!!!!!!!

      • Belle says:

        @Kate #2… well said, thank you(;

  23. Dawn says:

    Congrats! I love Ben to pieces and I like Jen. They have a sweet little family going here and I hope they keep it together.

    • Dea says:

      Kate: it depends how you see it. The way I see it is what I wrote and to go after your argument this is what I can say: She never loved the previous too. If she had loved either of them she could not have ended up with Ben, correct? She got married just for the sake of being married or for whatever reasons and got involved with Vartan just to be on a relationahip at the time or for whatever reasons. Or the main reason i think is that she just felt ‘safe’ because these two men really loved her (much more than Ben does, you can tell a lot the way how he looks at her and the way how her previous husband looked at her) and she thought it was enough but when at both times she ran out of love (if there was love) she just left. That is what I mean selfish.

      • Kate #2 says:

        Erm, what? What do you mean, if she left them she could never have loved them? I loved a couple of exes very much, but people change and not always in compatible ways. Sometimes you love people but no longer romantically, sometimes you don’t love them at all. It doesn’t mean for a moment that you never did. Life is long and people and relationships are complex. Of course people love the person they are with, almost all the time. It doesn’t mean they always will, or that they’re suited.

        You’ve also not addressed the issue that her leaving is selfish, but her wanting her husband to stay is also selfish. Why? Why is it always the woman to blame?

        You’re absolutely entitled to your opinion, but mine is that it has more holes than a colander. And I don’t pretend to know what happens in other people’s relationships, but nobody is holding a gun to his head as he snuggles to his heavily pregnant wife and beams at her that I can see.

      • Snowpea says:

        Um Dea?

        I think you are maybe paying WAAAAAY to much attention to JG’s life.

        When I was 19 I went out with this guy who was 32. I left him for a guy I fell madly in love and we stayed together for ten years.

        Then I was single for about 3 years before running away and getting married to my oldest friend of 25 years. The we separated a month later…

        I’m a really good decent person. I’m a great mum and I love my kids and have a clean house and I make yummy dinners and help them with their homework.

        But if you judged me on my LOVELIFE you may draw harsh conclusions right? We all do crazy shit – who cares? Methinks you may need to step away from the vehicle, a little ; )

  24. normades says:

    I bet they’re so happy!! Congrats!

  25. Jayna says:

    How sweet. This always seemed to be a joyous time for them during this pregnancy. I knew when she slipped on Letterman or Leno it was a boy, when Letterman said since she kissed Hugh Jackman during a film and she got pregnant she should name the baby Jackman and she said joked she should or something like that. Whatever she said her face showed she knew she slipped as Jackman would be a boy’s name and tried to gloss over it.

  26. Ana says:

    Yayyyyyyyy!!! Congratulations to their family.

    Ben must be on Cloud 9!

  27. The Original Mia says:

    Congratulates to them! I hope they name him after SpyDaddy. Victor Affleck isn’t a bad name. Right?

  28. spinner says:

    Congrats to them. Hoping for more dimples. Dimples all around!!

  29. cmc says:

    I’m not gonna lie, I squealed with delight when I read the headline. I didn’t even realize I cared about them! Congratulations to their happy little family!

  30. Lindy says:

    Aww… Congrats to them.

  31. Obvious says:

    so exciting for them! But would you get a load of Violet? That girl is gorgeous. I think the Affleck girl’s are my all time favorite celebrity munchkins, they genuinely seem very happy and well adjusted (judging solely of the photos from the constant pap parade surrounding them). And they are adorable to boot!

    • Lady D says:

      They do always look happy especially compared to the Sheen girls. Denise and Charlie’s 2 daughters always look so very miserable. I have seen 1 picture in 6 years of the older one smiling.

    • Brigitte says:

      Violette has the worst baby “jack o lantern” teeth ever. Hope her big girl teeth come in better.

  32. Amanda says:

    Congrats! I was hoping they would have a boy after two girls. I wonder what they will name him?

  33. rachel says:

    cutest fam ever

  34. Tweakspotter says:

    Yeaaaa! Congratulations!

  35. AffleckFAN says:

    I LOVE this family, they seem so down to earth and family oriented. I am so happy for them. Judging by his parents and his sisters, he is going to be so freakin cute. Can’t wait to see the pics!

  36. Ravensdaughter says:

    I know Ben adores his girls (and will be closely vetting any young man who tries to court them when they are older), but I know how men are about their sons. My ex and I have two, and he is joined at the hip to them. All the guy time and sharing sports, etc., etc. So, you know when this baby boy is about six months old Ben will be buying a baseball glove.
    Added bonus for Jennifer-mini nannies! Oh, I wish I had that kind of help when my boys were knocking me around in their younger days. Boys are very physical, and my older son was very strong (as in Hercules) and willful. I had the bruises to show for it.
    Now my boys are 10 and 12, so they are taking it easy on the Old Lady. In fact, they are even helping around the house (something that girls do almost intuitively form the time they are about 5 years old…)
    The deal is sealed. There is no way that Ben would risk screwing up his family. Ben and Jennifer 4ever.

  37. lucy2 says:

    Congrats to them! Hope the name is a good one.

  38. Kinsei says:

    Ben Affleck has just posted the name on his facebook site- its SAMUEL GARNER AFFLECK

    • Obvious says:

      Was just about to post that lol!

      I like it. Especially if they keep him a Samuel not a “Sam” or “Sammy”

    • Belle says:

      Just saw that post as well…lol

      Really love the name Samuel!!

    • Lisa says:

      I like Sammy (for a little kid) and Sam (for a big kid), good choice.

    • MsCatra says:

      Love the name! Samuel was my choice for our upcoming munchkin, but DH wasn’t a fan, mostly because of the Sammy thing (which I love on a little one!).

  39. DemoCat827 says:

    I think the name should be “Duck” (as in “Aflac/Affleck”). I always thought Ben should do Aflac ads. “Aflac!” “No, AfFLECK!” “Aflac!”

    • JM says:

      Having Ben do AFLAC commercials would be genius!

      Love the name Samuel! Congratulations to the whole Affleck clan!

  40. Sue says:

    According to People they named him Samuel Garner Affleck. Nice name!!

  41. texbrook says:

    I can’t with the third photo of her in the glasses. She looks…awful.

    • Brigitte says:

      At the risk of being ostracized, I am going to go against the tide of happy a little. Not about the baby, glad he is healthy, but about Mrs. Affleck. I have read some really intriguing stories about her over the years, and I get a desperation vibe about her regarding Ben. I think he is a bit of a restless soul with some issues (gambling, drinking, maybe cheating on wife) that still rear their ugly heads once in a while. She comes across as being rather nerdy and insecure because she is average in the looks dept., more of an everywoman, and not a glamorous star. I mean have you seen pictures of her in high school? Super nerd. (Coming from a fellow nerd who also cleans up well LOL, by the by.) She does seem comfortable not getting all dolled up for photo ops; good on that. I have read that she does indeed time the ‘oops I’m pregnant’ to coincide with Ben’s acting out, and also that she has told him that she will never give him a divorce, she is never leaving, he is free to act out but she is hanging onto him with a falcon grip, etc. This is what gives me the desperation vibe. She is very content with child rearing, but I see no spark in their personal relationship, just mostly a sense of duty on his part because she keeps popping out the kiddies. One other thing I read about her is that she took some college classes when first seeing Ben to come across as more intellectual to him. All this being said, I just can’t have as much respect for her, she just comes across as a little too insecure and desperate re:Ben. Of course everybody has insecurities, I certainly do, but after reading all these little tidbits, her willingness to put up with mediocre, half-love from Ben is palpable to me. This is all my opinion based on what I have read and my observance of their personal interactions in photos, so please don’t jump me. JMHO that I wanted to express because I seem to be a distinct minority. Feedback is welcome. ;o)

      • Jo says:

        My opinion is they are doing fine. You only have to look at their daughters. Children pick up on their parents’ happiness or turmoil; there is just no way to hide it. Their daughters always look so full of happiness and joy. I just have to think it starts with the happiness and joy of their mom and dad.

  42. Dibba says:

    Thank God they gave the kid a normal name.

  43. Camille (The original) says:

    Aww, a little dimpled boy this time. I wonder if he will look more like his Dad. Anyway, congrats!

  44. RocketMerry says:

    Awww, congrats!

  45. lucy2 says:

    Cute name!

  46. Jezi says:

    Awww. My son’s middle name is my last name as well. Boys names are so hard to pick that we were stuck on a middle name for the longest. It just made sense to use my last maiden name.

  47. brin says:

    Love the name too…it’s not a weird name and I love that her maiden name is his middle name!

  48. buell says:

    I wish they would have named him Garner Samuel instead of Samuel Garner. Using the wife’s maiden name as a first name is cute.

    • Belle says:

      I think it is cute when the name itself is cute, and when everyone doesn’t necessarily know it is the mother’s maiden name. In this case… I do like Garner as a name… but since she still uses her maiden name professionally, it would be kind of odd, and confusing!

      “Jennifer Garner, and her adorable son, Garner, enjoy a day at the park.”

  49. Tiffany says:

    I love this family! They seem so sincere, I wish them all the best.

  50. SolitaryAngel says:

    Congrats!!!! I love this family, Jen seems to be a wonderfully caring hands-on mother and the girls look so happy all the time. I’m really glad they got their boy–bet he’s a gorgeous little dimpled guy and his name is AWESOME. I’m smiling so big!!

  51. beanie says:

    Congrats to them!

  52. chloew says:

    I was shocked when BlindGossip named them the other day, that he was getting ready to take off when she got preggers?
    that seems pretty risky, no?

  53. Newtsgal says:

    Thank god for a normal name and not one of those stupid hollywood names that is going to cause nothing about heartache once the kids goes to school.
    That being said I think the coolest middle name I have ever heard (besides mine….mother’s maiden name) is Bainstock…..it’s original and I have only heard it used this way once.

  54. Leah says:

    Super cute name!! Congrats to them!

  55. Carol says:

    My fourth boy has my maiden name as his middle, and I have a nephew named Samuel so completely love the name. Congrats to the Afflecks!

  56. Ana says:

    Beautiful name, especially with Garner in the middle. I agree with Bible names catching on, I have two little cousins with Bible names, and one of them is also called Samuel.

  57. xploxite says:

    I’m so happy for them I really wanted him to have a son, congrats.

  58. aprayerforthewildatheart says:

    Congrats to the Afflecks! I needed to read about two obviously good parents, after reading about LiLo. These two seem so down to earth, and protective of their kids. Yay for Samuel!

  59. Jen34 says:

    Hooray for traditional names. Congrats to them.

  60. BerMan says:

    Mazel Tov and blessings to the home of Ben & Jennifer Afleck. Samuel Garner , great name. : )

  61. Hootie hoo says:

    Awesome!!
    I wonder if this baby will have cute dimples too.

  62. THGfan says:

    I love the name Samuel and Biblical names are great but his initials (at least at my university) stand for SGA, or student government association. I think that’s a bit unfortunate like having PTA or PTO for your initials. Or at least I can’t get that idea out of my head!

  63. What Would Brian Kinney Do? says:

    Matthew Damon Affleck or Damon Matthew Affleck (first option sounds better).

    I reall like the name regardless.

  64. original sandy says:

    congratulation to the entire family, nice name.

  65. Snowpea says:

    Um, note to Beyonce believers:

    That is what a pregnant woman ALWAYS looks like just prior to giving birth. My mother, who has been a midwife for thirty years said, “If that woman Beyonce was pregnant, then the Pope’s not a Catholic’…

    Regardless of whether you put on 10 kgs or 50 kgs, a woman’s face always gets a softness about it just as she’s ready to go into labour.

    Beyonce’s jawline was distinct and hard and her face NEVER showed ANY sign of pregnancy.

    And that, gentle reader, is the truth of the matter.

  66. Amanda says:

    Love the name! My oldest is Samuel, so I may be a bit biased 🙂

  67. Isa says:

    Garner sounds more like a male middle name than a female so it doesn’t surprise me they gave it to the boy and not their daughters.

    I was really excited when I found out she had her baby. I don’t normally care for them but I got sucked in!!

  68. Kosmos says:

    I agree, and think Garner is very attractive naturally, and I like her hugely as a person, too, but I wish she would dress in a more becoming way. Her jeans are always dragging on the ground and she looks sloppy much of the time wearing casual clothes. Can’t she throw on just a little eye makeup? However, I have seen her glammed up in a beautiful dress and wow, she’s over the top! Anyway, she remains one of my favorites because she’s extremely likable and is not consumed with herself.

  69. Dees says:

    A normal baby name… How wonderful, finally a human who is not named after a fruit