Meet the first northern New Jersey babies of 2026

As far as first babies of the New Year go, little Nova Nicole Norton didn't try to beat the clock nor did she take her time in ringing in 2026.

Nova came into the world at 1:05 a.m. at Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, weighing 6 pounds and 3 ounces. She is already living up to her name as the bright shining center of the universe for parents Naomi and Ezra Norton, of Somerset, who were resting at the Hackensack Meridian hospital.

Maternity wards all across New Jersey were busy New Year's Eve into New Year's Day.

There were babies who just couldn't let 2025 slip away and were born shortly before midnight. Some of the first babies of 2026 came quietly, some with fanfare. Some came shortly after midnight. Others took awhile.

Xolani Faith Camilo was born shortly after Baby Nova at 1:16 a.m. at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck.

Her mom, Samantha Tineo, arrived at the hospital so far along that there was no time for pain relief. She began to push and little Xolani made her debut within a few minutes at 8 pounds, 6 ounces in what one attending nurse called "a beautiful labor."

Xolani Faith Camilo was the first baby born at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck in 2026.

Xolani will soon be going home to Lodi with Tineo and her dad, Ankaury Camilo. It is their first child together.

But preceding Nova and Xolani was little Hellen who was born at 12:41 a.m. at Englewood Health's medical center.

Karen V. Duenas delivered baby girl Hellen at 12:41am at Englewood Health's medical center

Hellen weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces. Her mom, Karen Duenas of Dumont, was resting Thursday morning after an eventful night.

The first baby born at Morristown Medical Center was Cole Andrew Allaman who arrived at 1:25 a.m. to Danee and Steven Allaman of Lake Hopatcong. Cole weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces.

Cole Andrew Allaman was the first baby of 2026 born at Morristown Medical Center. His parents are Danee and Steven Allaman.

The one baby who appears to have gotten the jump on everyone is Bella Rose Santos. She clocked in at 12:37 a.m. at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey.

Bella Rose Santos was one of the first babies born in New Jersey in 2026 when she arrived at 12:37 a.m. at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital .

The 7-pound, 7-ounce girl will soon be heading home with parents Lesly Leonetti and Elvis Santos to their Newark home. She was the first baby born in the RWJ Barnabas network — one of the largest hospital chains along with Hackensack Meridian in New Jersey.

While Bella Rose may have been one of the first, another baby took her time at St. Joseph's University Medical Center.

Heba Beshay gave birth to a girl at the Paterson hospital at 10:47 a.m. Her parents were still deciding on a name.

One of the first babies of 2026 was born to Heba Beshay at St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson. The parents are still deciding on a name.

Check back here for more updates on the first babies of 2026.