At 12:14 a.m., in the maternity ward of Haguenaua little boy won the symbolic title of first baby 2026 born in France. Throughout the country, this birth on January 1 attracts attention every year, like a small barometer of hope for parents and caregivers. This time it’s a Italian first name in the very protective sense that was chosen for this newborn.
This little Alsatian is called Alessio. The choice of Dorian and Chloé, his parents, is part of the wave of first names from Italy which are attracting more and more families in France. Alessio is the Italian form of Alexis, from the Greek alexeîn, often translated as to defend or protect. A way to offer this child who arrived with fanfare a first name that carries the idea of support and kindness.
Birth of Alessio in Haguenau: a chaotic New Year’s Eve
Originally, Dorian and Chloé had planned to celebrate the New Year as a family. “We had to go to our parents’ house to celebrate the New Year together, and finally we ended up with this little man“, Chloé told BFMTV. The young dad summed up this upheaval: “I was already happy with two, now with three, it’s even better“, confided Dorian. Their son Alessio was born at 12:14 a.m., transforming a simple New Year’s Eve evening into a suspended moment, in the heart of the Haguenau maternity ward in the Bas-Rhin.
The births continued that night. Between December 31 and the early hours of 2026, around ten babies were born in Haguenau. Maternity is also experiencing sustained activity: according to Latest News from Alsace, it recorded 1,188 births in 2025 compared to 1,207 in 2024, a slight drop of 1.6%.
What does the first name Alessio mean, this protective Italian choice
The first name Alessio comes directly from Italy. It is the Italian form of Alexis, itself derived from the Greek alexeîn, a verb which refers to the idea of defending and protecting. Behind these few letters hide very gentle values: protection, kindness, spirit of justice. Many name guides describe little Alessios as thoughtful and generous boys, which resonates with many future parents.
INSEE lists the first names given in France from 1900 to 2024 and specifies that its numbers are rounded to the multiple of 5. According to this data from the INSEE first name file, approximately 880 little boys received the first name Alessio in 2024. The choice of Dorian and Chloé is therefore no longer rare, but it retains an original touch, especially with its feminine variant Alessia.
Alessio, a first baby in 2026 who also marks the city of Haguenau
Every January 1st, the first baby born in France becomes a little star for a day. In Haguenau, Alessio embodies this tradition, creating a strong link between motherhood and a population very attached to its families.
This birth with a protective first name comes at a time when births are declining slightly, in Haguenau and nationally. It reminds us, in a very concrete way, that behind each statistic there is a precise story, with parents, a place, a date and a carefully chosen first name.