If you’re expecting a baby, you’re probably starting to make plans for the future; perhaps thinking up colour schemes for the nursery, researching the best crib for your newborn, and planning where you’ll give birth. One of the things that’s likely to be on your mind throughout your pregnancy is your baby’s name. But the chances are, while you’ll have a shortlist you won’t make a final decision until you finally meet your new baby.
Which is why many expectant parents turn to baby bump nicknames. In fact, recent research from the pregnancy supplement brand, Pregnacare, found that 60 per cent of UK parents-to-be gave their baby bump a nickname during the early stages of pregnancy.
I'm one of the 60 per cent. I gave my son a nickname when I was around 8 weeks pregnant. It was too early to be talking openly about being pregnant, so my friend suggested a ‘code word’. For some reason - maybe she was looking at the fruit bowl at the time - she suggested ‘Pineapple’, and it stuck. He was Pineapple until he arrived, and ten years later I still think of him as my little pineapple!
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Pineapple isn’t in the top 25 baby bump nicknames, which sees Peanut come in at number one, followed by Bean, Berry, Nugget and Bambi. As you might have guessed, parents reported that the inspiration for these baby nicknames came from the size it was compared to, from how it looked in the scan and the baby’s movement in the womb.
Why give your baby a nickname?
Though coming up with nicknames for baby can be practical, the research also found that it brings couples together and has a positive psychological impact, with 9 out 10 parents saying it helped them to bond and build a deeper connection with their unborn child. While it's just one of many ways to bond with your unborn baby, giving them a cute nickname has been found to help with building those vital connections in the early months.
Susanne Bisinotto, Brand Marketing Director of Vitabiotics said: “Even though this can be a rollercoaster of a time, many parents have experienced the psychological benefits of starting this special bond with their baby through giving their baby bump a nickname.”
Just as I found with my ‘Pineapple’, over half of the parents surveyed said it added even more excitement to those early months, making it easier to talk about at home and adding a greater sense of reality.
Not only did over half of expecting parents choose a baby nickname, 71 per cent continued using it after their baby was born. For 28 per cent of the people surveyed, this was just as a nickname or a version of the nickname, but over 40 per cent actually used it as a birth name or middle name.
Baby name ideas
While Pumpkin, Mouse and Berry are cute ideas for baby bump nicknames, you might be looking for other options for your baby's birth certificate. If the flora and fauna theme appeals, you could consider a girl's name inspired by nature? Or if it's the quirky and unusual names that appeal, but you're not sure about continuing with 'Wiggler', how about a more unique boy name for your little one? Whatever name you put on the birth certificate, if you're anything like me you might still think of them as your little 'Peanut' or 'Mango' for a long time after those first nine months.
The top 25 baby bump nicknames of 2024
1. Peanut
2. Bean
3. Berry
4. Nugget
5. Bambi
6. Pickle
7. Mango
8. Button
9. Dot
10. Squish
11. Pip
12. Egg
13. Mouse
14. Froggy
15. Fidget
16. Shrimp
17. Fig
18. Toad
19. Bumpy
20. Bubba
21. Pumpkin
22. Wiggler
23. Lentil
24. Beansprout
25. Buddy
Rebecca Lancaster is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby, drawing on ten years of parenting her two children to help others navigating their own parenting journey. As a freelance writer, she spent ten years working with leading lifestyle brands, from travel companies to food and drink start-ups, and writing everything from hotel reviews to guides to the best British cheeses. She’s particularly interested in travel and introducing her children to the excitement of visiting new places, trying different foods (less successfully) and experiencing different cultures.