I was scrolling along on babynames.com one day in my usual fashion when I discovered some baby naming drama surrounding two celebrity friends, Sasha Benz and Jessica Hart, who used the same highly unusual choice for their little girls three years apart, leading to accusations of name theft. I’m always one for a good name theft story, but it was actually the names in question that drew my attention: Baby Rae Hart and Baybi Benz. This led me on a long tangent with Jamie Oliver’s little ones, among them including Buddy Bear, Daisy Boo, and Poppy Honey. So are these often used pet names or cute childhood nicknames suitable first names? Or do they simply infantilize a child to the point that they won’t be taken seriously in later life? Today, I’ve decided to take a look at some of the pros and cons of choosing a name like Buddy or Baby or Honey, and the effect that may have on a child. Oh, and just to clarify, pet names not referencing names for dog or cats but names used to show affection. I hope you enjoy, and feel free to leave your opinion on this matter in the comments below. Let’s get into it!
Pros
Let’s be honest, glancing down at a little baby, why wouldn’t you call her Darling? If you’re having trouble looking at the teeny lump in your arms and seeing an Augusta, you’re not alone. I find babies positively adorable, and bestowing a name that has very uptight or studious connotation for a cute little baby girl could seem a bit unfitting. But imagining calling her Darling, a name that feels every bit as small and precious as she is. That fact is, choosing a more cutesy pet name for your child might just suit a baby far better than a more professional option, and that initial love and connection with a name and feeling as if it “fits” is very important for so many expanding families. That’s why so many people take several names to the hospital in the hopes of being able to tell which name suits the child once they meet their little one. And if you’re going ballistic looking for something unique but aren’t willing to give that sweet baby the moniker of Bertram quite yet, then pet names are a great place to look. While they give you that adorable and baby-appropriate vibe, they also are startlingly rare. For instance, Buddy was only given to 18 little boys last year, despite being thought of as much more fitting for an infant than, say, Bertram. (My sincerest apologies to Bertram for throwing you under the bus.) Pet names as full names are brilliant options for parents who want something rare, yet familiar, easily spelled, and a lovely fit for a child. What more could one ask for?
And if you’re concerned that one of these pet names may sound ridiculous on a grown person in the working world, consider the stories of names such as Candy. Likely a pretty popular pet name. Honestly quite a ridiculous concept for a name if you really over analyze it. Yet we hardly think about it, and we definitely don’t doubt that a grown woman can’t wear it well in the workplace. A woman called Candy is easily taken seriously, regardless of her name. You’d never think twice when the receptionist’s name is Candy. Names grow with their generations, and like the story of Candy, or Brandy, or some other name with a similar origin story, Buddy and Boo and Honey and yes, Baby, will age with the children that grow up with them.
Cons
Imagine Baby, 15, and her slightly younger brother walking on the street. Anytime he refers to her as “Baby” (which is a very strange dynamic, by the way), plenty of passersby will assume them a couple. As children get older, pet names in public shift from sweet toddlerhood nicknames to romantic names, meaning that an increasing number of people will perceive your daughter or son is in a relationship with whoever might call them by their name.
And picture the tension at work! “Stock the shelves, Honey!” Some middle aged male manager might call to your teen girl. Imagine the embarrassment and tension in the workplace, not to mention the great lengths people may go to in order to avoid sounding strange. “Why don’t you take that table...er--you in the back!” This kind of professional humiliation is enough to reconsider putting Baybi on the birth certificate, or at least solidify it with a nickname-rich middle like Katharine or Elizabeth. But think about the initial opinions one would form seeing “Baby Hart” or “Baybi Benz” on a resume. Even the least judgmental people might form opinions about Baby Hart or Baybi Benz that do nothing but hurt your child’s chances. They might think that “Baby Hart” is just a joke and not take your child seriously, or think that “Baybi Benz” sounds unprofessional and untrustworthy. Either way, a pet name is sure to bring some issues when your child is presented with the need to begin a career. And Dearie, as darling as her name may be, is horribly difficult to yell. “DEARIE! This is ridiculous behavior!” or scream “Baby, get off that phone of yours!” Yeah. Not quite. Then there’s the senator test, or if you live elsewhere in the world, the nation leader test. Imagine your little girl campaigning to win a position in government. Will voters scoff when her name comes blaring from the tv speakers? Does “Darling Hart” sound like she would be able to command your country, based solely on her name, which is what voters see and make conclusions about first? Probably not. Now, that’s not to say that all of the little Babys and Darlings and Buddys will be making as big of a splash as running for office. But just imagine the amount of taunting and snickers and uncomfortable jokes Baby will get when she’s 13. As someone who attended enough playgrounds to know what kind of things go on there, few kids can resist delivering a couple quips about a fellow student’s name, particularly when there’s such juicy material in a name like Buddy or Dearie or Baby.
The Final Verdict:
Although I see the appeal in the rarity yet simple spellings of these pet names, I believe that they’re confined to pet names for a reason. Calling your little girl “Baby” when she’s an infant yet retiring the nickname and opting for her birth name, Emmanuella or Caledonia or whatever gorgeous and unique name you settle on spares her the embarrassment of having to go through life permanently as a “Baby.” I find these kinds of names fairly infantilizing, and while the intentions may be good, they seem as if they’d result in more complication and humiliation for you and your child than they’re worth. I hope you liked this article and have a wonderful afternoon (or evening or morning, depending on where you live)!
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon