The 2023 champions chose an Italian name for their daughter.

The Block’s Steph and Gian Ottavio have announced the birth of their first child. Photos: Channel 9 / Instagram/stephandgian

The Block fan favourites Steph and Gian Ottavio have thrilled fans with news that they have welcomed their first child. The couple, who made history on the reality show in 2023 by winning $1.65 million, took to Instagram on Sunday evening to announce the birth of their daughter, Ilaria.

“You have changed our lives forever,” they wrote alongside a gallery of sweet snaps. The post included photos of their newborn in the hospital, as well as a video of Gian supporting Steph right before she gave birth.

Meaning behind the unique name

Ilaria is the Italian version of the name Hilary, meaning “cheerful” and “merry”.

It was the eighth most popular name for Italian baby girls born in 2006, and has had a global rise in popularity in recent years.

Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria, who was born Hillary, named their seventh child together Ilaria in 2022.

The couple named their daughter Ilaria. Photos: Instagram/stephandgian

‘Absolutely perfect’

Steph and Gian’s post has been flooded with supportive messages from their followers and fellow Block stars who said they “love the name”.

“Ohhh she’s just divine. Congratulations beautiful people! We can’t wait to meet her,” 2024 winners Maddy and Charlotte Harry commented.

“Congratulations guys. She’s absolutely perfect,” their co-star Kristy Beames shared, followed by Liberty Paschke, who said, “We love her already”.

“Congratulations family,” host Shelley Craft replied, while Foreman Dan Reilly added, “Amazing. Congratulations legends”.

Others said Ilaria is “so precious” and “absolutely perfect”, and that Steph and Gian will be “wonderful parents”.

Dan Reilly and Dani Wales recently announced that they are expecting a baby. Photo: Instagram/danreilly_official

The Block pregnancies

There has been plenty to celebrate within The Block community lately, as Dan Reilly recently shared that he and his wife, Dani Wales, are expecting a baby.

The sweet announcement came almost a year after they lost their daughter, Billie, at just 10 days old.

The couple posted a photo of themselves holding hands on a beach, with a rising sun illuminating Dani’s growing bump.

“As sure as the sun rises and sets each day, she is with us for this next chapter… Billie’s sibling coming 2026,” they captioned the post.

Meanwhile, 2025 contestants Emma and Ben recently announced the birth of their son, Bailey Colter Cox, and their co-star Mat revealed that he is expecting his first child in December.