Katherine Heigl and her husband, singer-songwriter Josh Kelley, have welcomed their third child.

Speaking to People, a rep for the couple revealed that they became a family of five just in time for Christmas, as their baby boy arrived on 20 December 2016.

They also revealed that Heigl and Kelley have selected a meaningful for the newborn; Joshua Bishop.

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The name Joshua is a Hebrew moniker, meaning “the Lord is my salvation” – while Bishop is an English occupational name, originally referring to an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian Clergy.

Heigl and Kelley, who have been together for almost a decade, are already parents to two daughters, Naleigh, eight, and Adelaide, four.

Both little girls were adopted – and Heigl has previously spoken about how important it was for her to adopt before having any biological children.

Speaking to Scholastic about her family in 2010, she said: “[Josh and I] talked about having biological children as well, but we decided to adopt first. I just wanted to be a mom. So however we do that, it’s fine with me. I’d like to adopt again.”

She added: “My mother had biological children and an adopted child and said it made absolutely no difference. They’re yours. You love them the moment they’re put into your arms.”

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News of Heigl’s pregnancy broke in June last year, when they revealed the news to People magazine.

“The Kelley clan is thrilled to announce that we are expecting a third addition to our family,” they said.

“Naleigh and Adalaide could not be more excited to welcome their new sibling into the fold, and Josh and I are overflowing with joy and gratitude.”

Heigl has also been sharing regular pregnancy updates with her followers.

In an essay penned to her blog, the actor wrote: “It was totally unexpected but thrilling none the less... the whole pregnancy thing is new to me but the thrill of having a baby is not.”

She added: “Seeing as I have never been pregnant and as my OB/GYN reminded me last year, I'm of advanced maternal age, I wasn't sure pregnancy was even in the cards for us. Turns out it was very much in the cards!”

From her long stint as Dr Izzie Stevens in Grey’s Anatomy, to her bevy of rom-com roles (think The Ugly Truth, 27 Dresses and Knocked Up, to name but three) Heigl is one of the most instantly recognisable actors in Hollywood.

She’s been tirelessly working on her next big role in Doubt – a TV show which has already gotten people very excited, despite the fact it’s not out until later this year. In it, Heigl plays a successful defence lawyer, who becomes romantically involved with a client who may or may not be guilty of a brutal crime.

Doubt is set to premiere on CBS on 15 February.