Pop auteur Carly Rae Jepsen has officially unveiled the name of her newborn son, and television aficionados might recognize the subtle, charming nod hidden within it. The “Dedicated” singer-songwriter, who welcomed her first child with her husband, record producer Cole M.G.N. (Cole Marsden Greif-Neill), had previously kept details surrounding her growing family under wraps. However, in a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Jepsen shared both the sex of her baby and the television character that helped shape her choice.
Jepsen confirmed she gave birth to a baby boy named Ilya—a direct homage to Ilya Rosanov, the beloved character portrayed by Connor Storrie in Crave’s acclaimed queer hockey drama series, Heated Rivalry.
“It was an incredible show,” Jepsen remarked, discussing her affection for the series and the inspiration behind her baby’s moniker. “Ilya is the name of my son. Maybe, not maybe because of that show.”
The connection brings a heartwarming full-circle moment for fans of the show. Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney previously revealed that he had originally hoped to commission an original song from Jepsen for the show’s inaugural season, though budgetary constraints prevented the collaboration at the time. With Season 2 currently in active production, speculation is once again mounting that Jepsen might contribute to the series’ soundtrack, though no formal musical partnership has been finalized.
Parenting isn’t the only creative milestone on Jepsen’s immediate horizon. The pop visionary is also dipping her toes into the theatrical world, teaming up with auteur Lena Dunham to adapt the beloved 1999 romantic comedy classic 10 Things I Hate About You into a full-scale Broadway musical. Balancing a new baby and a high-profile stage adaptation, Jepsen continues to demonstrate her uncanny ability to find pop-culture magic in every corner of her creative life.
