AP Associated Press

February 9, 2009 9:11 PM EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Southern California mother of octuplets has chosen a Biblical theme for the babies' names.

Nadya Suleman's spokesman said Monday that the babies are named Noah, Jonah, Jeremiah, Josiah, Isaiah, Maliyah, Makai and Nariyah. They all share the middle name Angel and the last name Solomon.

The babies were born nine weeks prematurely on Jan. 26 within a span of five minutes, weighing between 1 pound, 8 ounces and 3 pounds, 4 ounces. All appear relatively healthy but are expected to remain in a hospital in Bellflower at least a few more weeks. Their mother lives in nearby Whittier, outside Los Angeles.

They are only the second set of octuplets in history to have survived more than a few hours. The United States' first live octuplets were born in Houston in 1998. The tiniest infant died of heart and lung failure a week after birth.