Ed Sheeran is arguably the biggest pop star on the planet, but if you ask him, he's basically just a guy who gets yelled at by toddlers. It's wild. You’d think the man who sold out Wembley multiple times would have a home life filled with serene lullabies and soft lighting. Honestly? It's the opposite. He’s previously joked that his eldest daughter used to just cry when he sang his new material. Tough crowd.
The world knows him for "Shape of You," but at home, he’s just a dad to two girls: Lyra Antarctica and Jupiter.
Becoming a father didn't just change his sleep schedule; it completely flipped his perspective on why he even makes music. We’ve seen him go from the "party all night" vibe of his early twenties to a man who gets excited about porridge and vinyl records at 4 a.m.
The First Arrival: Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran
In August 2020, while the rest of the world was stuck in lockdown, Ed and his wife Cherry Seaborn were secretly preparing for a massive life shift. They managed to keep the pregnancy almost entirely under wraps. It was a rare feat in the age of paparazzi. Then, on September 1, Ed posted a photo of tiny navy socks on a colorful blanket.
Lyra Antarctica.
The name definitely turned some heads. People immediately started theorizing. Was it a travel thing? A book thing? Turns out, it was kinda both.
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Why the name Lyra Antarctica?
- The Literary Connection: Ed is a massive fan of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. The heroine is named Lyra Belacqua. He’s called the series "the greatest love story ever told."
- The Travel Connection: The "Antarctica" part is widely believed to be a tribute to a trip the couple took to the continent about nine months before she was born. It’s a "conception name," essentially.
- Uniqueness: Ed has been open about the fact that he was one of many "Eds" in his class. He wanted his kids to have names that felt entirely their own.
Lyra is now five years old, and according to Ed, she’s a fan of "Shape of You" because of the marimba sound, but she’s not into the "belt-y" stuff. Imagine being a multi-platinum artist and your kid tells you to pipe down. That’s peak parenting.
Baby Number Two: The Secret of Jupiter
If you thought keeping one pregnancy quiet was hard, they did it again with their second daughter, Jupiter. She arrived in May 2022. Again, the announcement came via a pair of socks on Instagram.
But this time, the backdrop was much heavier.
During the pregnancy with Jupiter, Cherry was diagnosed with a tumor. It was inoperable until after the birth. This period was, quite frankly, a nightmare for the family. Ed has spoken about "spiraling" through fear and depression during that year. It’s why his album Subtract feels so raw and stripped back—it was written while he was watching his wife fight for her life while carrying their child.
The Meaning of Jupiter
The name Jupiter isn't just about the planet, though Ed is a known space nerd with an observatory at his Suffolk estate. Sources close to the couple mentioned they loved what the name stands for: "brave and bold." After the health scare the family endured during her pregnancy, that feels pretty fitting.
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The "Girl Dad" Shift and "Sheeranville"
Ed has gone on record saying he could have "many, many, many" more daughters. He loves it. He’s even mentioned that he thinks the happiest families are often the ones with two girls.
The family spends most of their time at their massive estate in Suffolk, often dubbed "Sheeranville" by the press. It’s a literal playground. There’s a treehouse, a pond, and even a private pub. But despite the luxury, Ed tries to keep things grounded. He’s been spotted walking through London with Lyra in a standard baby carrier, looking like any other tired dad.
Moving to America?
Recent reports from late 2025 and early 2026 suggest the family is making a bigger move to the United States. While Suffolk will always be home base, the "girl dad" lifestyle is moving stateside for a bit. It’s a big jump, especially with kids who are now reaching school age.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Parenting
A lot of fans think Ed is this "always on" creative who is constantly writing songs for his kids. While he did write "Welcome to the World" for Jupiter and "Visiting Hours" has links to his feelings on family, he’s actually quite strict about his boundaries.
- Privacy is King: You won't see their faces on Instagram. Ever. He’s admitted it’s impossible to totally shield them from his fame, but he refuses to use them for "content."
- The 4 A.M. Club: He traded 6 a.m. bedtimes for 4 a.m. wake-ups. He’s said this shift made him feel "human" for the first time in his career.
- The "No Expert" Rule: Ed’s best advice for new parents? Nobody knows what they’re doing. He’s read the books and called them "bollocks." You just learn by making mistakes.
Actionable Takeaways for Parents (The Sheeran Way)
If you're looking at Ed's approach to fatherhood, there are a few things anyone can actually use, regardless of how many Grammys you have on your shelf.
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First, protect the "Sacred Zone." Ed treats his home like a fortress where the industry isn't allowed. Even if you don't have paparazzi, setting a boundary where work talk doesn't cross the threshold is huge for kids.
Second, embrace the routine. He found that structure actually gave him more freedom, not less. Getting up early to be with the kids before the world starts screaming for his attention saved his mental health.
Finally, don't force your passions. He doesn't care if his girls like his music. He just wants them to find their own "Cherry" or their own "music." Whether it's Black Sabbath (which Lyra apparently likes) or something else entirely, let them lead.
Ed Sheeran is a different man than he was ten years ago. He's quieter. He's more focused. And honestly? He seems a lot happier being a "failed" singer in his own living room than a superstar on a stage.