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You won’t believe what the most popular nicknames for baby boys are

Here are the top picks for your boy

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A baby smiling while sitting up.
Pranav Kumar Jain / Unsplash

Nicknames have been around for ages. Literally. They date back the 1300s and history is full of them. Think Buffalo Bill or Billy the Kid. In your own life, your pet and partner have nicknames. You come up with a nickname for your favorite people, no matter who they are. Sometimes they are the silliest names that make no sense to anyone but you. Maybe a word is mispronounced one time, and it sticks as a new name. With your little one, the second he or she makes a funny little noise, the new nickname is “Little Squeaker” until it’s time to head off to college. Nicknames for baby boys are cute like that.

When it comes to your little, there are countless nicknames to bestow upon him. Have you wondered what other people call their precious little bundles? We looked up some of the most popular ways to reference your tiny human without ever using their real name. Check out our list of popular nicknames for baby boy and see if any will stick for your tiny tot.

Baby boy in bed with his eyes open.
Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash

What’s in a name, anyway?

As parents, we spend a lot of time obsessing over a name before the baby is born. It’s the same with nicknames. Nicknames are special because they create a cute bond while freezing an adorable moment in time.

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Why do we give our kids dozens of nicknames throughout their life? It seems like any little thing they do we come up with a new cute name. They get a nickname for any animal they start to imitate or any object they become obsessed with. If a baby doesn’t have at least a dozen nicknames from various family members, are they even loved?

Nicknames also come from various family members, like when a sibling doesn’t quite know how to pronounce the new one’s name yet. Nicknames for a baby are usually adorable and affectionate.

As baby gets older and learns to talk, nicknames should start to be more thoughtful. If you wouldn’t want your adult nickname to be “Chunky Monkey” then it’s best to stop using that one on your baby when he or she starts having play dates.

A baby playing outside surrounded by sports equipment.
Mike Cox / Unsplash

How to pick nicknames for baby boy

Just like choosing a name for your little guy, coming up with a suitable nickname for your baby boy can be a challenge. You do want a nickname that’s endearing and fits his personality. Since the nickname will most likely follow him through various stages of his life, you don’t want to pick a nickname that he’s eventually going to despise. Try to stay away from nicknames that will eventually be embarrassing. When deciding on a nickname for baby boy, keep these things in mind.

  • Think about his name. It is after all the name you gave him. A perfect nickname just might be a shorter version of his name.
  • Take into consideration your family history of nicknames. If your son is a junior, is there a family nickname for him that works. He can carry on the tradition.
  • Always think about the meaning behind the nickname since a nickname does have a tendency to stick. Poopy pants might be funny when he’s potty training, but not on the first day of kindergarten.
  • Don’t make the nickname complicated. Short and sweet is the general rule of thumb when it comes to nicknames.
Cute baby boy.
Gelpi / Shutterstock

Best nicknames for baby boy

Let’s face it, some nicknames are universal, and most baby boys get called the same ones. Whether you like them or not, someone in your family or a friend is going to gift one of these to your child. It’s pretty difficult to escape certain nicknames if you have a baby boy.

The generic picks

  • Bubba/Bubs
  • Buddy
  • Guy/My Guy
  • Mister
  • Sweet Pea
  • Sweet Boy
  • Kid/Kiddo

Put “little” in front of any option

  • Little Man
  • Little Guy
  • Little Stinker
  • Little Buddy
  • Little Prince
  • Little Slugger
  • Little Dude

Put “baby” in front of any option

  • Baby Boy
  • Baby Bear
  • Baby Cheeks
  • Baby Face
  • Baby Bug

Some of the most common nicknames take “little” or “baby” and put it in front of almost any word. Those are probably going to continue to be used as they get older but without the “little” or “baby.” Your baby boy will be “Little Slugger” and evolve into “Slugger” as he grows up. These nicknames are safe, easy, common, and always there.

Baby boy wearing a blue knitted cap.
Pshenina_m / Shutterstock

Baby boy nicknames to boost the ego

These nicknames are not only popular, but they will give your little man an ego boost. Of course, every baby is the most beautiful, precious thing on the planet. Word focusing in on what the parent thinks is the most adorable physical feature about their baby can actually create delightful nicknames.

Nicknames about looks

  • Cutie
  • Handsome/Handsome Man
  • Hunk
  • Angel
  • Big Eyes
  • Mr. Blue/Brown/Green Eyes

Nicknames about great attitude

  • Sunshine
  • Sweetie
  • Smiles/Smiley
  • Happy Little Guy
A baby crawling away from their parent.
Dmytro Zinkevych / Shutterstock

Use a more unique theme for a nickname

If you’re searching for something different for a nickname for your baby boy, there are always cute animals, favorite foods, and those silly ones that just happen when baby does something absolutely adorable.

Animal nicknames

Baby animals and baby humans make everyone “ooh” and “aww,” so there’s no surprise that popular baby boy nicknames are also animal names.

  • Piglet
  • Tiger
  • Duckling
  • Lamb
  • Chipmunk
  • Bear
  • Chickadee
  • Bug

Food-themed nicknames

There’s nothing like comparing your baby to food. Those adorable cheeks are waiting to be gobbled up, anyway. Most of the food nicknames are desserts, which isn’t far off of how scrumptious those little arm and leg rolls are.

  • Muffin
  • Pumpkin
  • Tater Tot
  • Turkey
  • Cupcake
  • Pudding
  • Cookie
  • Butterball

The best silly nicknames

A nickname is more exciting when it’s a bit silly. When an option comes out of nowhere, it’s usually because it gave the adults a laugh and now it’s stuck for good. There are popular nicknames for baby boys that also carry a bit of fun with them.

  • Buster
  • Peanut
  • Pickle
  • Nugget
  • Half-pint
  • Munchkin
  • Meatball
  • Wiggle Worm
Twin babies wearing rainbow outfits standing up.
Frank McKenna / Unsplash

Nicknames for besties or twins

What about those parents who have twin boys? Or maybe cousins that were born close together and are inseparable buds? There are cute nicknames to try out for them, too.

  • Double Trouble
  • Thing 1 and Thing 2
  • Tweedledee and Tweedledum
  • Peanut Butter and Jelly
  • Bert and Ernie
  • Batman and Robin
  • Mario and Luigi
  • Woody and Buzz

You get the idea. Anything that comes in pairs or doubles would make the best nickname for twin baby boys or a pair of little best friends in the making.

Whether you like movies, food, or animals, there are endless nicknames to call your baby boy. Just because a name is a popular one doesn’t mean you have to skip it. Your tiny tot might blow raspberries at you for weeks and forever more known as “Berry.”.

If you have a baby boy or know someone who does, try introducing any of these nicknames. Remember though nicknames stick. So, be careful to choose a nickname that suits your little guy’s personality and won’t eventually be embarrassing. No one wants to be called chubby cheeks in middle school.

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Dannielle Beardsley
Dannielle Beardsley
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