Mel B. names baby after Eddie Murphy

Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown is determined to make it official that Eddie Murphy is the father of her newborn baby. First, she put his name on the birth certificate. And now she’s given the infant his last name.

In a statement, Mel B. cleared up mixed media reports on her daughter’s name, Angel Iris Murphy Brown, and explained the choice: “Angel, as she was my little angel through my pregnancy. Iris, as it’s my grandma’s name. Murphy, because he’s the dad. And Brown, because I’m the mum!”

Though Eddie has publicly expressed doubt about the child’s paternity, Mel steadfastly maintains he’s the dad, telling OK! magazine, “I look at the baby and she has his big smile and dimples. … She has taken the best bits of both of us. He will always be a part of my life. I will always love him. I couldn’t hate Eddie.”

The former Scary Spice also urged her ex-beau in the interview to “step up to the plate and be responsible.”

Eddie’s spokesman reportedly had — wait for it! — no comment.

Kim’s Defense

Actress Kim Basinger is blasting back at her ex-husband, Alec Baldwin, over his notorious voicemail rant. The actor has pointed fingers at her for allegedly leaking it to the media — in violation of a court order sealing evidence in their custody battle.

“Kim Basinger did not release the voice mail,” her rep asserted in a statement Monday. “Additionally, the voice mail was not sealed under a court order.”

The “30 Rock” star had apologized for calling his daughter Ireland, 11, a “pig” on the tape — but claimed his outburst was triggered by “parental alienation.”

The statement went on to claim the rage-filled recording illustrated why the bitter custody battle still drags on: “The issue is not about Kim or the alleged alienation that Alec constantly refers to; it is about his ongoing aggressive behavior.”

“Kim’s sincerest wish is for him to finally address his unstable and irrational behavior so he, at some point, can potentially create a relationship with his daughter.”

Carrie’s New Guy?

Country sweetheart Carrie Underwood recently insisted she’s single. And Dallas Cowboys star Tony Romo recently insisted he and the “American Idol” champ are just friends. But at his birthday party Saturday, the two reportedly looked a lot like a couple.

The singer and the quarterback arrived at Dallas hot spot Ghostbar together to celebrate his 27th, reports People. A source told the magazine’s Web site, “Carrie and Tony were having a great time in the DJ booth. They were laughing, singing together, holding hands, and their arms were around each other all night.”

Although a rep confided to the site that “they have recently been spending a little time together,” she qualified that the couple is “definitely not boyfriend/girlfriend. It’s very casual at this point.”

Hmm … but it sounds like there’s potential!

Lindsay: Looter?

Did Lindsay Lohan really steal $10,000 worth of designer merchandise from an estranged friend’s house? A report on Star magazine’s Web site Tuesday claimed the “Mean Girls” star convinced a housesitter to let her into a former pal’s L.A. pad — where she made off with loads of clothes and accessories she claimed were hers.

A source allegedly told the site that the girl, model Lauren Hastings, “sent Lindsay a text message threatening to go to the police and press charges.”

“Lindsay just told her she was delusional and claimed Lauren didn’t know what she was talking about. She insisted the items weren’t stolen because they did belong to her. Then she’d laughed to her friends about it. She thought the whole thing was hysterical.”

Lindsay’s rep told the site the scandalous story is “totally untrue.” Sounds pretty outlandish to us — we all know the girl can afford her own clothes!

Five Quick Takes

– Sharon Stone hosted Saturday’s “Class of Hope Prom” to provide underprivileged girls with prom gowns.

– “Tudors” star Jonathan Rhys Meyers has checked into a treatment facility for alcohol addiction.

– Conservationist Sheryl Crow says advocating “one square of toilet paper” was a joke.

– Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes threw daughter Suri a first-birthday luncheon April 18 in L.A.

– Milla Jovovich and director-fiancé Paul Anderson expect their first child in the fall.

Kitty Raymond is an entertainment writer who has a celebrity astrology blog at www.celebastroblogy.com.

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