Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough Welcomes First Child

Singer Howie Dorough and his wife Leigh, both 35, became first-time parents yesterday afternooon with the birth of their son, James Hoke Dorough, PEOPLE.com reports.

According to the article, the couple announced the pregnancy in January and said they were hoping for a boy who could carry on the family name.

James was born healthy, despite arriving about a month early. He weighed 4 1/2 pounds and measured 16 1/4 inches at birth.

Both Dorough and his fellow Backstreet Boys announced the news on Twitter.

1. 
   howie_d James Hoke Dorough was born at 2:30PM on May6th. He weighed 4.5 pounds and was 161/4 height. All the details at backstreetboys.com
2. 
   backstreetboys James Hoke Dorough was born at 2:30pm on May 6th, 2009. He weighed 4.5 pounds and was 16 1/4″. More are details at backstreetboys.com

BSB fans responded with congratulatory tweets about the newest little Backstreet Boy.

1. 
   JenifferAbelan @howie_d Heyyy Howie congratulations to you and your wife! James welcome to the world much health and peace !!!!!!Backstreet baby!
2. 
   kamylle @howie_d Congratulation daddy Howie and mommy Leigh!!! You have an angel in your lives now! God bless u all! CHEERS!!! :)
3. 
   pawy @howie_d ooo good! howie.. congratulations! my best whishes for little james =)
4. 
   eleane_kaos @backstreetboys Congratulations! specially Howie & Leigh, i hope we can see a picture soon :)
5. 
   NAYELI_CARTER @backstreetboys congrats to howie, the new generation of bsb is coming!!! the Backstreet's Babies!!! yeah!!
6. 
   AMBFabulous @backstreetboys Congrats Howie & Leigh! And welcome to the world, James! :)
7. 
   citrinebaby05 Congrats to one of my favorite boy band members, howie dorough of backstreet boys, on the birth of his baby boy yesterday :)