Metro Atlanta families welcome first bundles of joy on New Year’s Day
Welcoming the first babies born in 2026
We meet the newest humans, born on the very first day of 2026. Celebrate these January 1st babies with us.
ATLANTA - Thursday was the birth of a new year and the birth of several new lives in metro Atlanta.
Many see New Year’s babies as symbols of hope, renewal, and good fortune for the year ahead. While popular culture may see them as a positive omen, several families see them as their most treasured bundles of joy.
What we know:
To mark the start of 2026, hospitals across Georgia celebrated the arrival of their first bundles of joy on New Year’s Day.
Taisha McKinney and Donté Sewell welcome their daughter, Zenya Sewell, who was the first baby born at Piedmont Atlanta in 2026 arriving at midnight on the dot. (Piedmont Atlanta)
At Piedmont Atlanta, Zenya Sewell entered the world at midnight on the dot. Parents Taisha McKinney and Donté Sewell welcomed the baby girl as the very first arrival for the hospital system this year.
Danya and Dakota Cook celebrate the birth of their fourth daughter, Dakota Saige, born at 12:36 a.m. at Piedmont Fayette Hospital weighing 8 pounds 4 ounces. (Piedmont Fayette)
Shortly after, Dakota Saige was born at 12:36 a.m. at Piedmont Fayette Hospital.
Parents Danya and Dakota Cook welcomed the girl, who weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces, as their fourth daughter.
Zahkari Nymir Hardy, pictured here with Zantavia Armstead, was born at 12:41 a.m. at Piedmont Athens weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces and measuring 20 inches long.
In Athens, Zantavia Armstead gave birth to Zahkari Nymir Hardy at 12:41 a.m. Zahkari weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
Destini Harper and Clyde Williams hold their first child, Solani Alaina Williams, who was the first baby born in Columbus in 2026 arriving at 1:04 a.m. (Piedmont Columbus)
Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown introduced the city’s first baby of the year at 1:04 a.m. Solani Alaina Williams was born to parents Destini Harper and Clyde Williams.
Destini Harper and Clyde Williams hold their first child, Solani Alaina Williams, who was the first baby born in Columbus in 2026 arriving at 1:04 a.m. (Piedmont Columbus)
Solani, the couple's first child, weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces. Williams and Harper received a commemorative plaque and gift from the hospital to mark the occasion.
Lucas was born to parents Anna and Mike at 6:09 a.m. at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center to mark the family's first arrival of the new year. (Wellstar North Fulton)
Later in the morning, Wellstar Health System joined the celebrations. Lucas was born at 6:09 a.m. at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center to parents Anna and Mike. The family lives in Alpharetta.
Michael and Sarah welcome their daughter, Madelyn, who was born at 7:22 a.m. at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center in Austell weighing 6 pounds 8 ounces. (Wellstar Cobb)
At 7:22 a.m., Madelyn was born at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center in Austell. Parents Michael and Sarah welcomed the girl, who weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces.
Emory Healthcare also celebrated several arrivals across its network to start the year.
Naomi rests at Emory Decatur Hospital in Decatur, Ga., on Jan. 1, 2026. The girl arrived exactly at midnight as the first child for her mother, Morgan, who noted the birth coincided with the New Year’s ball drop. (Emory Decatur)
The first baby to arrive was Naomi, who was born exactly at midnight on Jan. 1 at Emory Decatur Hospital. Weighing 7 pounds 0.9 ounces, Naomi is the first child for her mother, Morgan. The family noted the newborn arrived just as the New Year’s ball dropped.
Blakely is pictured at Emory Hospital Warner Robins in Warner Robins, Ga., on Jan. 1, 2026. Born at 2:06 a.m. to parents Ashley and Brandon, she joins a large family as the couple's seventh child. (Emory Warner Robins)
At 2:06 a.m., Blakely was born at Emory Hospital Warner Robins in central Georgia. The girl weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces and is the seventh child for parents Ashley and Brandon.
Taylor is welcomed by his parents at Emory Johns Creek Hospital in Johns Creek, Ga., on Jan. 1, 2026. The 7-pound 14-ounce boy is the first child for Shamease and Taylor, who both celebrated the early 3:21 a.m. arrival. (Emory Johns Creek)
A third arrival occurred at 3:21 a.m. at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. Taylor, the first child for parents Shamease and Taylor, weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces. Shamease, who works as a labor and delivery nurse at Emory, said the early arrival was a great way to start the year.
Zaylon is shown at Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta on Jan. 1, 2026. Born at 7:36 a.m. to mother Synethia, the boy arrived ahead of his due date and now shares a birthday with his cousin. (Emory Midtown)
At Emory University Hospital Midtown, Zaylon was born at 7:36 a.m. weighing 7 pounds 5.5 ounces. Mother Synethia said the boy now shares a birthday with his cousin.
What's next:
FOX 5 Atlanta would like to congratulate the families on their new adventure and wish them all the best for this year and the years to come!
The Source: Piedmont, Emory, and Wellstar health care systems provided the details and photos for this article.