Zooey Deschanel explains bizarre baby name

New Girl star Zooey Deschanel has confirmed her place as one of Hollywood’s quirkiest, after revealing the rather odd source of her first child’s name.

Deschanel and husband Jacob Pechenik named their first child ‘Elsie Otter’ due to their love of otters, the starlet told USA TODAY.

“I love otters, my husband loves otters, she better love otters,” she said.

“We just really liked the name Elsie, and then we both love otters.

Deschanel also sung the praises of the couple’s favourite animal.

“They’re very sweet and they’re also smart, they use tools and they keep their favourite tools, they hold hands while they sleep – there’s so many amazing things about otters,” she said.

“They’re wonderful animals.”

She spilled the beans about her child’s name three months after the birth, which saw her take maternity leave from shooting New Girl.

Megan Fox stepped in to play another character on New Girl during Deschanel’s time off.

Deschanel, well-known for her role in 500 Days of Summer, will also appear in upcoming film Rock the Kasbah alongside Billy Murray.