Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer Love Hewitt is planning to name her baby after her mother.

The 34-year-old actress is expecting her first child with her partner of 15-months Brian Hallisay and she wants to pay tribute to her late mum Patricia - who died in June 2012 aged 67 from cancer.

If they have a girl, the tot will share her grandmother's moniker, and if they have a boy they will call their son Patrick.

A source told National Enquirer magazine: "The loss is the only thing casting a shadow over her baby joy."

Jennifer is believed to have promised her mother she would find a good man to settle down with and raise a family to her mum before she passed away.

Earlier this month, Jennifer and Brian announced their pregnancy news and that they had got engaged which would have delighted Patricia.

The source said: "Jennifer has made her mother's fondest wish come true. She just wishes Patricia could be here to see her baby being born."

Jennifer and Brian, 34, first met on the set of NBC series 'Love Bites', and they reconnected when they were both cast in 'The Client List'.