Baby

♀ Girl

Pronounced BAY-bee /ˈbeɪ.bi/High

Meaning: From the English word baby, 'an infant; a young child' — most often a placeholder recorded before a child was named, occasionally used as an affectionate word-name; not a traditional given name; flaggedLow

In 30 seconds: A placeholder/word-name: Baby is the English word 'baby'. We flag it honestly (said 'BAY-bee').

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningFrom the English word baby, 'an infant; a young child' — most often a placeholder recorded before a child was named, occasionally used as an affectionate word-name; not a traditional given name; flagged

U.S. rank (2024)#7272 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births15 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1995

Total births (all-time)≈ 6,078

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Baby comes from the English word baby, 'an infant; a young child' — and in birth records it is most often a placeholder entered before a child was formally named (occasionally an affectionate word-name; we flag it honestly, not a traditional given name).

It appears in records chiefly as a placeholder. Rare as a true name, a-placeholder by nature, and flagged.

Did you know? Baby is the English word for 'an infant' — in birth records it is most often a placeholder entered before a child was named, occasionally used as an affectionate word-name (we flag it honestly; said 'BAY-bee').

Overall data confidence 20%

U.S. Social Security Administration name files — placeholder/word-name

Variations

BebeBabie

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Baby…

Precious— a companion endearment word-name

Angel— an endearment word-name

Heaven— another endearment word-name

Libby— echoes that soft -by sound

Toby— shares the -by ending

Explore names like Baby

By themeuncertain english word-name placeholder

By meaningLove Gift / Blessing Youth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Baby mean?

Baby is the English word for 'an infant' — most often a placeholder entered before a child was named; we flag it honestly.

How do you pronounce Baby?

It's said BAY-bee /ˈbeɪ.bi/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Baby a boy or girl name?

As a placeholder, Baby is recorded for both; this page lists it as a girl's name.

How popular is Baby?

Baby is very rare as a true given name in the U.S.