“We took some time to settle into our new rhythm before sharing this sweet news.”
Hannah Ann Sluss and Jake Funk chose the perfect name for their newborn baby boy.
The 29-year-old reality star, who rose to fame as the winner of season 24 of The Bachelor in 2020, took to Instagram to reveal more details about her newborn baby — whom she shares with husband Jake Funk.
According to the post, she gave birth to a baby boy named Lucas James on Nov. 20.
“Lucas James, you are a dream come true. We’ll cheer you on for the rest of our lives. We love you, big boy!!” she wrote in the caption alongside a carousel of photos of the newly-minted family of four.
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This is the couple’s first child, but they also welcomed a Bernedoodle named Dash into the family in August 2022 — and Dash made several appearances in the newborn photoshoot.
In the caption, Sluss explained the meaning behind Lucas James’ name.
“Lucas was chosen in Cabo San Lucas, the place where we got engaged,” she wrote. “James is for Jake’s dad — a piece of him now gets to live on through our son.”
“His name lived in our hearts long before we ever met him,” she added.
The couple, who got engaged in January 2023 and tied the knot in Italy at a castle in Tuscany in June 2024, opened up about the baby-naming process after announcing their pregnancy on June 22.
"We've started talking names and love the idea of choosing one that's meaningful and tied to family in some way,” Sluss said in an interview with People, published that same day.
Lucas, which is believed to derive from the Latin word lux, meaning “light,” is the most popular name meaning “light” in the United States today.
In fact, it was the ninth most popular boy’s name in 2024 and has been in the top-10 every year since 2018, according to the Social Security Administration.
Lucas James’ middle name honors Hannah Ann Sluss’ father-in-law
As she mentioned in her Instagram post, Hannah Ann Sluss’ baby was named after her father-in-law.
James William Funk, the father of Hannah Ann Sluss’ husband Jake Funk, passed away suddenly on July 7, 2023, according to his online obituary, via the Thibadeau Mortuary Service.
“Watching Jake as a member of the LA Rams as they made their Super Bowl Run was one of his proudest moments,” the obituary read.
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On July 11, 2023, Sluss took to Instagram to open up about the grieving process.
“Losing a parent is something you are never prepared for. You grow up thinking your loved ones are invincible, but they aren’t,” she wrote in the caption, alongside a photo of her with Jake’s family.
“There’s just some moments in life you can’t ever put into words. We are choosing today and everyday to smile and think about all the things we have to be grateful for!” she continued.
Two weeks later, a staff member at Montgomery Blair High School, where James worked as a school business administrator for 17 years, created a GoFundMe in honor of his legacy at the school.
The proceeds went towards a memorial picnic table, which was placed in the staff courtyard.
“The purpose of this memorial is to recognize the contribution Jim made to the staff and students at Blair for the past 17 years,” the description read. “Jim unexpectedly passed away at school on July 7.”
On April 12, 2024, the organizer of the GoFundMe provided an update on its progress.
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“The memorial picnic bench for Jim Funk has been assembled at Blair and placed in the staff courtyard,” Leslie Baha wrote. “We will be hosting a dedication with his family and friends on Friday, April 26.”
