When Train’s frontman, Pat Monahan, and his wife Amber welcomed their new baby boy, the name was already decided in a rather unconventional way. It wasn’t a family name, nor was it chosen from a baby name book; instead, the moniker “Rock Richard” came directly from the dreams of Monahan’s sister-in-law, Summer.
According to Monahan, Summer experienced vivid and persistent dreams where his unborn son visited her, emphatically stating his name was Rock. Initially, the couple might have dismissed these dreams, but their persistence and intensity led them to pay closer attention.
“My sister-in-law was having these very intuitive, very intense dreams that [my unborn son] was visiting her and insisting that his name was Rock,” Monahan shared with PEOPLE, revealing the unusual story behind his son, Rock Richard Monahan’s name.
These weren’t just fleeting dream mentions. Summer reported that the baby boy was quite insistent, even communicating his frustration with his parents’ lack of awareness in their own dreams. In one particularly detailed dream, she saw him in a Colorado Rockies baseball uniform, pointing to the name ‘Rock’ on his shirt.
“She said that my son was coming to her and grabbing her face and saying, ‘Aunt Summer, my mom and dad won’t listen to me in their dreams. You need to tell them my name is Rock,’” Monahan recounted. “Then she had another one where he was wearing a [Colorado] Rockies uniform playing baseball. He was like, ‘Aunt Summer, look, my name’s on [my shirt].’”
Faced with such vivid and repeated messages from the unborn Rock, Pat Monahan and Amber decided to embrace the unusual suggestion. They humorously conceded to their son’s “dream-delivered” name, partly to grant Summer some peaceful nights.
“You just go, ‘Alright, this kid is going to get the name. Tell him to quit bugging you and get some rest!’” the singer joked about naming his son Rock Richard Monahan.
Despite the name “Rock,” famously associated with his profession, Monahan clarified that the choice was purely based on his sister-in-law’s dreams and not a nod to his music career. He emphasized that they wanted a “strong foundation name” for their son, Rock Richard Monahan.
Adding to the family joy, Monahan mentioned his 3½-year-old daughter Autumn’s positive reception of her younger brother. He described the growing bond between Autumn and the “sweet little guy,” Rock Richard, as the family adjusts to their new dynamic.
Around the time of Rock Richard Monahan’s arrival, Train also released their album, California 37, marking another significant event for the Monahan family.
In conclusion, the story of Rock Richard Monahan’s name is a unique and heartwarming tale of family, dreams, and a touch of the unexpected, giving this celebrity baby a truly memorable and distinctive identity.