The baby was born on an overcrowded migrant dinghy traveling from Africa to the Canary Islands this week, Spanish coastguards say.
They published a picture of the boy who was rescued together with his mother and many other migrants.
The crowded inflatable raft was first spotted on January 6 near the island of Lanzarote.
Rescuers believe they reached the vessel shortly after the baby was born on a day when Spain celebrated Epiphany, a Christian holiday where children are traditionally given gifts.
The captain of the rescue ship said they knew there was a pregnant woman on board, but were surprised to find “a completely naked baby that had been born 10, 15 or 20 minutes earlier”.
Domingo Trujillo said when they reached the boat, the mother was lying on the floor of the crowded raft while the baby was being held by another passenger.
On medical advice, the baby and her mother were taken by helicopter to a hospital in Lanzarote. Authorities have not reported any other complications.
“Since it’s Three Kings Day, this is the best gift we could have received,” the helicopter’s commander, Álvaro Serrano Pérez, told the Reuters news agency.
Crossing the ocean from Africa to the Canary Islands is notoriously dangerous.
More than 46,800 undocumented migrants passed through last year to reach the island, Spanish government figures showed this month.
The Christian holiday of Epiphany, when observers celebrate the visit of Jesus by the Magi – known as the Three Kings, or Wise Men – is widely celebrated in Spain.
Children shine their shoes ahead of the event known as “El Dia de los Reyes” (Day of the Kings) and leave them ready for the Three Kings – Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar – to place their gifts.
