Maria Bello Says Celtic Healer Inspired Son’s Name

Like many pregnant women, Maria Bello turned to her love ones for inspiration when it came to naming her baby boy seven years ago. The 41-year-old credits her son’s first name, Jackson, to Augustinian priest and professor Ray Jackson, who happened to be Maria’s college mentor.  Unfortunately, he passed away three years before her son’s birth.  As for Jackson’s middle name, the actress explains that a Celtic healer had revealed to her long before she was pregnant that she was surrounded by "blue energy." Quite simply, Maria says "So when I was pregnant, we thought Blue."

While Maria recently shared that while the family enjoys spending weekends surfing, Jackson’s "real bug", according to his mom, is basketball.  Calling her son "obsessed" with the sport, Maria admits that "one of his first words after ‘Mama,’ ‘Dada,’ and ‘dog’ was ‘basketball.’"

Jackson’s father is TV executive Dan McDermott. Maria’s latest film, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, opens Friday.

Source: Page Six Magazine; Photo by Anita Bugge/WireImage.