MUMBAI: Kanye West's father, Ray, thought the rapper was joking when he announced he was naming his daughter 'North'.

West stunned his father when he revealed the moniker he and wife, Kim Kardashian, had chosen for their baby girl, who is now 22 months old, but his family have since grown to love her name, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Brenda Bentley, who was previously engaged to Ray and is still a close friend of his, told Heat magazine: "The name North - he thought it was a joke at first. Ray likes it now, they all call her Nori."

West and Ray, who walked out on the 'Dark Fantasy' rapper's late mother Donda when the star was just three years old, have grown closer since North's birth and Ray is now a doting grandfather.

Brenda added, "Ray was over there for Christmas, he dotes on North. He bought her a bicycle, but she's going to have to grow into that."