Geri Horner – formerly Halliwell - has welcomed her first child with Formula 1 star Christian Horner.

And she’s paid tribute to her close friend George Michael, who passed away just last month, by naming the newborn after the Careless Whisper singer.

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The former Spice Girl delivered her baby boy on the morning of Saturday 21 January, and she took to social media a short while later to share the news with fans, as well as confirm his name.

“Montague George Hector Horner arrived this morning, a beautiful little brother for Bluebell and Olivia,” she wrote alongside the black-and-white photo.

The name Montague, of course, is famed for being the family name of Shakespeare’s Romeo. According to Nameberry, it has “an effete, monocle image”.

George, meanwhile, has often been tied to royalty, but its most traditional meaning can be translated to that of “farmer”.

However, for Horner, the name is a far more poignant choice; The Mirror reports that the middle name is a nod to the late music icon, with whom Horner was close friends.

“Geri wanted George to be a part of Monty’s life, so she felt it only fitting that her newborn have a middle name after the star,” a source told them.

Horner's 10-year-old daughter, Bluebell Madonna, also has a link with the late star, as she is the goddaughter of Kevin Goss, George's ex-partner.

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Just hours after George's tragic death on Christmas Day was confirmed, the former Spice Girl took to social media to pay her respects to her close friend.

“So, so sad,” she wrote, adding: “R.I.P George, a dear friend, the kindest, most generous and talented person.

“My thoughts are with his family."

As well as sharing her son’s first photo on Instagram, Horner also confirmed news of his birth on Twitter, writing: “Christian and I are delighted to announce our baby boy was born this morning weighing 7lbs 8oz.”

Fellow Spice Girl Emma Bunton, who now shares a birthday with Monty (she turned 41 on the 21 January), was one of the first to congratulate Geri on her new arrival.

The former Baby Spice wrote: “Amazing news, so happy! Birthdaytwins, birthdaymade.

“Love you all.”

Read more: Celebrities pay tribute to the late George Michael

Meanwhile Geoffrey Kenyon May, who became Horner’s uncle-in-law when she and her husband tied the knot in 2015, told the press that he was overjoyed to have a new nephew.

 “I'm delighted they are both happy and the baby is fine,” he told The Mirror. “Montague is a good English name but we have none of those names in the family, they're all new ones.

“I'd have thought he would have kept one of the family names.”