Rebecca Butts

rebbutts@enquirer.com

Two days before David Bowie died following a battle with cancer, the Cincinnati Zoo named it's first baby of 2016 after the music icon in honor of his birthday.

The 69-year-old musician died late Sunday night, according to a tweet from his son, Duncan Jones. His birthday was on Friday, a date he shared with a newly hatched blue penguin named the zoo later named "Bowie."

David Bowie dies at 69 after cancer battle

The penguin hatched at 6 a.m. Friday and the zoo spread the news over social media, asking for name suggestions.

Cincinnati Zoo officials said the names Elvis and Bowie were popular suggestions because Friday was both men's birthdays. However, the zoo already has a king penguin named Elvis, so Bowie was the final pick.