Names for bumps?
Did you have a name for your baby bump when you were pregnant before you chose your baby girl or baby boy’s name?
Thumper’, ‘Pickle’ and Squishy’ are among the most common nicknames parents-to-be give to their baby bump, a study has found.
A poll of 1,500 mums and dads revealed nine in 10 used an alternative name for their baby while pregnant, with ‘Button’, ‘Sprout’ and ‘Pebble’ also popular monikers.
Overall the nation’s favourite bump nickname is ‘Bean’, used by one in 10 expectant couples. Anyone else use this?
‘Jellybean, ‘Sprog’ or ‘Spoglett’ and ‘Little Man or Little Miss’ also feature in the top 25, as well as ‘Prawn’, ‘Monster’ and ‘Bambino’.
For 55 per cent, the bump’s nickname stuck and they continued to use it well after the birth. For one in 20 parents, it even ended up influencing the final name given to the child. This phenomenon underscores the significant role early naming choices play in shaping more permanent decisions. Initially, parents often use playful, affectionate nicknames, but as they progress on their journey from pregnancy to parenthood, their focus shifts towards selecting unique and meaningful names. This transition reflects a desire to find names that are not only uncommon but also deeply meaningful, capturing the essence of their individual experience and the uniqueness of their child. It’s a blend of the joy experienced in the early stages of pregnancy and a celebration of the child’s distinct identity.
The study
The study was conducted by ChannelMum.com, whose founder Siobhan Freegard said: “Choosing a bump nickname is a modern rite of passage where the child really starts to feel like an individual person.
“Becoming a parent starts long before your baby is born and naming the bump is the first step to bonding with your tot.
“But with Bean revealed at the nation’s number one bump name, it’s interesting to see how many of the other top nicknames relate to food – maybe mums’ cravings are helping couples choose?”
The study revealed that parents undergoing IVF chose Elsa, Olaf and Snowflake as the most common names given to frozen embryos – after the hit Disney film Frozen – and for almost three in 10 prospective parents, their choice of nickname was inspired by the blurry image of an ultrasound scan.
Others started referring to their bump using a term related to where the baby was conceived, it’s due date or descriptions of what their baby looks like in pregnancy books or apps. A fifth put the nickname down to cravings that mum felt during the pregnancy.
The main reason 61 per cent of parents applied a nickname to a burgeoning bump was to stop having to refer to their unborn child as ‘it’. One in 12 recall someone else using the nickname first, and then found themselves using it throughout the pregnancy.
However, the silly name proved to be a source of embarrassment for 16 per cent, with many parents only using it with their partner – never in public.
It also emerged two thirds believe giving a nickname to a baby bump helps parents-to-be bond with the child before it’s born, according to the research.
While 60 per cent of couples choose a nickname together, 30 per cent of mums named their bump themselves. Who chose the name for your bump?
For one in five of those polled, the nickname was given to their bump by a work colleague – with 10 per cent letting their other children pick the bump’s name.
THE TOP 25 BABY BUMP NICKNAMES
1. Bean
2. Little Man / Little Miss
3. Jellybean
4. Pickle
5. Squishy
6. Bambino
7. Button
8. Sprog / Sproglett
9. Sprout
10. Monster
11. Bug
12. Beanie
13. Thumper
14. Pebble
15. Cupcake
16. Dot
17. Angel
18. Thumbelina
19. Grape
20. Peach
21. Spawn
22. Tadpole
23. Prawn
24. Chickie
25. Snowflake
