Baby

Baby as a name comes from Old English baebe, originally an imitative word for infant speech, used as a term of endearment in English since at least the 14th century. As a name rather than a term of address, Baby is an act of permanent endearment — the statement that this companion will always be your baby, regardless of age, size, or the passage of time. It is among the most openly tender names in pet naming.

Baby holds the #78 spot among US pet names, with over 1,210 companions sharing it. The name tends to be chosen by owners who want to express the full depth of their attachment without any metaphor or indirection — this companion is simply their baby, and the name makes that permanent. Baby works across any size or age and tends to suit companions who maintain a certain youthful quality throughout their lives: playful, dependent, and entirely devoted to their person.