Atlanta zoo has ceremony to reveal names of twin panda cubs

December 13, 2016 at 1:00 a.m. | Updated December 13, 2016 at 4:05 a.m.

by Associated Press

This Dec. 9, 2016, photo provided by Zoo Atlanta, shows giant panda twins Ya Lun, left, and Xi Lun in Atlanta. The names were revealed at a naming celebration Monday, Dec. 12, their 100th day of life, in accordance with Chinese tradition. The zoo says Ya means elegant and Xi means happy. Lun is a reference to the cubs' mother, Lun Lun. (Adam K. Thompson/Zoo Atlanta via AP)
This Dec. 9, 2016, photo provided by Zoo Atlanta, shows giant panda twins Ya Lun, left, and Xi Lun in Atlanta. The names were revealed at a naming celebration Monday, Dec. 12, their 100th day of life, in accordance with Chinese tradition. The zoo says Ya means elegant and Xi means happy. Lun is a reference to the cubs' mother, Lun Lun. (Adam K. Thompson/Zoo Atlanta via AP)

ATLANTA - The new giant panda cubs at the Atlanta zoo now have names.

Zoo Atlanta announced that the twin cubs' names are Ya Lun (yah-loon) and Xi Lun (shee-loon). The names were revealed at a naming celebration Monday, their 100th day of life, in accordance with Chinese tradition.

The zoo says Ya means elegant and Xi means happy. Lun is a reference to the cubs' mother, Lun Lun.

The zoo offered online voting to let the public choose among seven sets of names supplied by a panda conservation center in Chengdu, China. Voting ran from Nov. 21 through Dec. 4, and more than 23,400 votes were recorded.

The cubs are expected to make their public debut in the coming weeks.

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