A YOUNG couple were so inspired by the story of the youngest survivor of the Titanic disaster that they have named their baby after her.

Millvina Dean, 91, was just nine weeks old when the doomed liner hit an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912. Her namesake, Millvina Ward, was born on January 27 this year.

Sanya and Adam Ward were delighted to come to Southampton to meet the original Millvina, who lives in Woodlands, and introduce her to little Millvina.

Sanya, 31, a training manager from Aldershot, said: "My husband Adam has always been interested in Titanic. It stems back to his great-grandfather who used to go past the docks every morning and saw someone painting a picture of the ship.

"He asked for first refusal on the painting and bought it. Adam always saw the picture hanging up when he was young and he eventually inherited it.

"He mainly collects books about Titanic and was in seventh heaven when the film came out because there were so many new ones to collect.

"When we found out I was pregnant we knew we wanted to choose an unusual name and because of Adam's interest in Titanic we decided on Millvina."

Millvina Dean's father was one of more than 1,500 people who lost their lives in the maritime tragedy and instead of embarking on a new life in America, she returned to her Hampshire home with her heartbroken mother and brother who also survived the sinking.

Millvina now travels the world speaking at Titanic conventions and attended one at the Hilton Hotel, Southampton last weekend.

"It's really very flattering to have a baby named after me. A close has been named after me in Woodlands but this is the first time a baby has been given my name so it's quite an honour," said Millvina.

"I've no idea where my parents got my name from. The closest anyone has ever come to having my name was a girl who went to the same Red Indian school as me in Canada but she was called Mellvina."

Baby Millvina, nicknamed "Milly" by her parents, is causing quite a stir with her unusual name. Her mother said: "People have been surprised by the name because most of them have never heard of it before but everyone has said that they think it's a lovely name."

- Originally published April 2003.