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The Oscar-winning actress and her fiancé, choreographer Benjamin Millepied, have named their first child - who was born last month - after the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet.
According to Israeli TV show Good Evening with Guy Pines, the Jewish actress decided to pay homage to her motherland with the moniker, which also means the "oneness of God".
Meanwhile, the couple - who met on the set of Black Swan - have decided their son will adopt both their last names with the surname Portman-Millepied.
Prior to the birth of baby Alef, who is yet to be seen in public, Natalie admitted her Jewish ancestry had caused her to be "superstitious".
She explained: "I think it's a Jewish thing to be kind of superstitious. You don't do any of the baby stuff before the baby arrives."
Throughout her pregnancy Natalie paid tribute to her parents Avner and Shelley Hershlag, saying she hoped to look after her child in the same way that she was brought up.
She said: "If I am a shadow as good a parent, an echo, then I will be the best in the world, so thank you."
