What did you call your (unborn) baby before they had a ‘real’ name?

I never really consciously thought about how to refer to my bump or growing baby, and didn’t deliberate over a suitable nickname. But, as parents-to-be, you obviously need and want to talk about the baby at some point! And, actually, you’ll probably end up talking about them quite a lot, so you’ll need a way to refer to them that sounds natural and evokes positive emotions, as well as being fairly easy to say! We found ourselves giving our “Little Bean” this cute nickname, based on what she looked like on the ultrasound. Our little kidney-bean-shaped foetus! 

In our case, we needed a nickname that could translate well for our bilingual family (Little Bean in English and Böhnchen in German are both just as cute – phew!). This may be a factor to consider when coming up with a nickname for your bump or growing bubba. For me, it was also connected to not wanting to tempt fate or give away the actual name we’d chosen for her. Luckily, our friends and family respected this decision, and everyone soon got on board with calling our bubba Little Bean. My husband still calls her Beany (well, actually Bohne, as he’s the German part of the equation!), though she’s a lot bigger and more lively than a kidney bean nowadays! 

Thinking back to my own experiences with choosing a nickname for my baby bump, it’s fascinating to read about how this practice varies between families and even cultures. How did you guys do it – deliberately choose a nickname, by brainstorming or collecting ideas? Or did a certain name just stick based on the size or movements of the baby in your bump?

I guess that the size, shape or certain movements of the developing baby during different stages of pregnancy inspires names like “Baby Bean” and “Peanut,” or “Wiggly Woo” and “Little Drummer Boy.”  Apparently, some parents-to-be track the growth of their “Little Nugget” or “Pumpkin” with each passing week to then update the nickname accordingly. If you want to do this, there are plenty of apps out there that compare the foetus growth to various fruit or everyday objects! It might be nice, as well, to keep track of the different nicknames you use throughout your pregnancy journey, as a fun keepsake to look back on and reminisce about once your baby is born.

I’ve also heard of a lot of more general, positive nicknames like Little Sunshine/Explorer/Miracle, Sweet Pea, Smiler, Ball of Joy. And also some more straightforward names, like Baby Boo, Little One, Tiny Tot.  Depending on what the ultrasound pictures look like and the parents’ characters, there can be all sorts of nicknames – what they have in common is that they serve as a reminder of the wonder growing within the mum-to-be’s bump. I’d say you should aim to select a nickname that holds significance or meaning to you and your partner or family. It could be based on a shared interest, an inside joke, or a special memory. Personalising the nickname can add an even deeper connection to your pregnancy journey.

The tradition of assigning nicknames to the baby bump unsurprisingly transcends cultures and languages – since pregnancy is not limited to any particular countries! In certain parts of the world, the nicknames are attached to more abstract concepts than objects, but the intention is nonetheless the same. For example, in India, parents apparently often use terms like “laddoo” (sweet) or “khushi” (happiness) to reflect the joy and anticipation surrounding the upcoming arrival of the baby. Whether it’s “Böhnchen” in German or “la cacahuète” in French (both Little Bean!), such endearing nicknames help parents-to-be and their friends and families to give a name to the little being they’re excited to meet. In fact, as I found out later, giving the bump and growing foetus a nickname has been shown to deepen the emotional bond between parents and child even before the first meeting.

It’s clear that whether you’re calling your bump “Little Bean” or “laddoo,” most parents-to-be share the same excitement of watching their babies develop, and talking about their future as a little family. So, it seems to me, this is a lovely little part of the journey into parenthood that is often overlooked, though people put a lot of thought and love into choosing adorable nicknames! Feel free to share your own bump/baby nicknames and the stories behind them in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you!

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