Pet names for babies

New parents can spend a lot of time thinking about what to name their children - even spending money on books in search of advice.

But for all that time and effort to come up with the perfect name for the new child, it very commonly is some pet name, or cute pronoun that parents and family members use most often with their little ones.

Just for fun, here is a list of a few of the alternate names that parents can call their children - running the gamut, from the generic, to the very personal. Gender variations will be presented side by side. Language variations on the word 'baby', e.g. 'bambino' have been excluded for the sake of space. Brief explanations added to the more situational names.

Pet names

Baba

Baby bean

Baby boo

Baby boy/girl

Buddha

Buddy

Bugaloo

Bundle of love

Bunny

Buttercup

Chubby (Chubbers, ChubChub)

Cuddler (another versitile one, just add 'Cuddle' to many of the other names to make your own, e.g., 'Cuddle Bunny')

Cutie patootie

Darling

Dear(est)

Diaper destroyer

Doodie maker

Dumpling

Fella

Glowworm (for a swaddled baby)

Grom(mling)

Groundling

Half-pint

Huggybear

Honey

Kiddo

Kissey-poo

Kitten

Larvae (especially for a swaddled baby)

Laddie/Lassie! (best said in an exaggerated Scottish brogue)

Little dude/dudette

Little boy or man/girl or lady (you can really toss the word 'little' or 'tiny' in front of any of these other names)

Little dictator

Lovebug

Miracle baby

Monkey

Muffin

Munchkin

The Neighbor Waker

Nipper

Nipmaster

Pooper

Poopie doopie

Poomaster 5000

Poppet

Potato (also 'Sack of potatoes' for a baby tossed over your shoulder)

Precious

Pumpkin

Prince/Princess

Progeny

Schnookums

Smoochie-poo

Snuggler

Sperm blossom (from 'The Guild')

Sprog

Sprout

Spud (or for beer fans, Spuds MacKenzie)

Squirt

Stinker

Sunshine

Supersoaker

Superstar

Sweetie (sweetpea, sweetie-pie, sweetheart, ect.)

Tiny man/lady

Tot

Tyke

Widdle guy/gal (variant on 'little')

Wiggle (several variants, including wiggleworm, wigglemaster, The Wigglenator!)

Winston Churchill

Yarper (slang for spit up)

Zzz machine (a sleeping baby)

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Also, feature specific touches are always nice, like "Baby green-eyes."

Some may come across as vulgar or seem to have a negative connotation, but if said with love by the right parent, any of these names could be used.

What are your favorite pet names for babies?