Elton John and his partner have become the proud parents of a son born to a surrogate in California on Christmas Day, US Weekly reported on Monday.

The boy, named Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, is the first for the British rock star and Canadian filmmaker David Furnish, who have been together since the early 1990s.

"We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment," US Weekly quoted the pair as saying. "Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents."

A spokeswoman for John was not immediately available to verify the report.

The boy's middle name is a possible nod to John's 1971 song "Levon," whose lyrics were written by the rocker's longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin and inspired by Levon Helm, the drummer and singer for The Band.