A New Chapter for the Rhodes Family: Welcoming Leilani Ella Runnels

1. The Surprise Arrival That Touched Hearts

Cody and Brandi Rhodes have remained silent about the birth of their second daughter, Leilani Ella Runnels, whose name is filled with cultural beauty and family significance. The news was announced through a personal Instagram post, where Brandi posted a cute image of her with the tiny hand of the newborn, and a very welcoming caption:

“Welcome to the world, Leilani Ella Runnels. We are in love. Thank you, God, for answered prayers. Cody + Brandi + Libby + Lani = ❤️” Parents

This heartfelt moment instantly resonated with fans, adding a chapter of joy and connection to the Rhodes’ ongoing story.

2. The Name: Leilani Ella A Tapestry of Meaning

Leilani (Hawaiian) translates to heavenly flower, and it feels beautiful, gracious, and mystical. In 2024, it was ranked the 66th most popular girl name, and there is an increased interest in rich and meaningful names ParentsWikipedia.

Ella, the German / English name meaning all, completely, or fairy maiden, is in itself an elegant and powerful name. It was the 30th most popular in 2024, showing its generational-wide popularity among Parents.

Combining cultural resonance with universal appeal, poetic, evocative, and personal, Leilani Ella.

3. A Journey Marked by Advocacy and Resilience

In the background of the celebration is a story of perseverance. Brandi shared her story about being diagnosed with endometriosis, a painful and poorly understood health condition that impacts the health and pregnancy of women. It took several years of her feeling dismissed by medical professionals before a heartfelt post to social media, by fellow WWE star Maryse, had her take the initiative to seek appropriate care. She has a loved one, and it all happened because she had a timely surgery, which eventually changed everything. Her campaign, moving speech, and the birth of Leilani have demonstrated the critical aspect of women’s health awareness and speaking up, Parents+1.

4. A Growing Family Roots Itself in Love

Cody (real name Cody Garrett Runnels) and Brandi have been married since 2013, crossing decades together through career changes, personal triumphs, and shared milestones. Their first child, Liberty Iris, arrived in 2021. Now, three years later, the couple embraces a more complete family of four, New York PostWikipedia.

Cody’s reflection on fatherhood captures the transformation: “Wrestling is selfish… for so long I wanted it for me. Having a daughter… it was more about the life I could give her,” New York People.com.

5. Keeping Joy Under Wraps: A Privacy Triumph

Fans and media were surprised by the announcement; many hadn’t known Brandi was expecting. The pregnancy was kept mostly private, with speculation that Cody may have been away filming in Australia for “Street Fighter” during the birth. The decision to stay low-profile speaks to their desire for privacy, especially given Brandi’s medical history and the timing near their 12th wedding anniversary. The Times of IndiaCageside Seats.

6. From Wrestling to Family: The Rhodes Journey

• Cody Rhodes: Born June 30, 1985, he’s the son of legendary Dusty Rhodes and has an acclaimed wrestling career with WWE, AEW, ROH, and more. He’s a multiple-time champion Undisputed WWE Champion, Royal Rumble winner, King of the Ring, and a fan-favorite whose story transcends the ring Wikipedia.
  
• Brandi Rhodes: A former competitive figure skater and broadcast-journalism graduate turned trailblazing woman in wrestling. She broke barriers as AEW’s EVP and chief brand officer, and post-wrestling, remains a public voice for women’s health and wellness. People.comWikipedia.
  

7. Why This Moment Matters Beyond the Ring

• Visibility for Women’s Health: Brandi’s openness about her endometriosis journey brings much-needed awareness to a condition often ignored.
  
• Parenthood Perspective: Cody’s comments reflect a shift from career-centric ambition to deeply rooted family prioritization, a narrative that resonates widely.
  
• Cultural Richness: Choosing Leilani introduces a beautiful embrace of diversity and meaning in baby naming trends.
  
• Narrative Continuity: For wrestling fans, each personal milestone for Cody and Brandi adds layers of human relatability to bigger-than-life personas.
  

8. The Look Ahead

As the Rhodeses navigate life with two daughters, Liberty and Leilani, their public journey may soften, but the love and values they share continue to inspire. Brandi’s advocacy could expand to include broader health education, while Cody may further intertwine fatherhood into his role as a top WWE figure.

Quick Summary

It is not just a birth announcement like made by celebs, but a story of health survival, family love, cultural identity, and family heritage. I can tell you whether you would like to further explore the name trends, Brandi’s advocacy, or the impact this would have on the Cody wrestling storyline.