What Does "Babygirl" Mean? Defining the Gen Z Slang

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Everything you need to know about the "so babygirl" TikTok trend

Co-authored by Dev Murphy, MA Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: August 28, 2024 Fact Checked

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Definition

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How to Use

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Origins

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Related Terms

He’s soooo babygirl! If you said, “What?” you’re in the right spot. “Babygirl” has taken TikTok by storm, but all it means is a guy who’s cute and sensitive, but also manly…and maybe also kind of tough and responsible, like a father…but also innocent, like a baby. Make sense? We’ll explain it better(ish) below. We’ll also go into where exactly the term “babygirl” came from in the first place, as well as how to add it to your everyday vocabulary.

Meaning of Babygirl

“Babygirl” is a slang term of endearment for cute men—often actors and fictional characters over the age of 25—who are sensitive and reliable, but also a little naive and sweet. “Babygirl” as a term of affection for men originated between 2017 and 2020, and has since gone viral on social media, especially TikTok.

Section 1 of 4:

“Babygirl” Definition

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“Babygirl” is slang for a guy who is cute, sensitive, and a tad naive. The term is a little slippery, but basically, if your man is over 25-ish, confident in his masculinity yet sensitive, a little broody (maybe?), and daddyish-but-still-somehow-innocent, you got yourself a babygirl right there.
- The term "babygirl" covers a broad spectrum of dude: it has been applied to sensitive sweater-wearers like Paul Mescal, men who flout gender expectations like Harry Styles, celebs with innocent daddish vibes like Pedro Pascal, curmudgeonly middle-aged anti-heroes like Walter White from Breaking Bad, and narcissistic, emotionally disoriented nepo babies like Kendall Roy from Succession.
- The word is typically used on celebrities and fictional characters, but real-life guys could be babygirl—or a babygirl, since the term is both an adjective and a noun.
- While “babygirl” for a man is often used ironically, it's still largely a compliment, and not meant to be condescending or dismissive.
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“Babygirl” can also refer to an attractive woman. The term "babygirl" (or "baby girl") is commonly used to flirtatiously refer to a woman (similar to using words like "honey," "babe," and "sweetie" to refer to a woman.) While some women enjoy being called “babygirl” (or “baby girl”), others find it condescending and infantilizing.
- The new meaning of “babygirl” has been celebrated as a way to subvert gender roles by positioning grown men—often very traditionally "masculine" men—as sweet li'l guys worthy of protecting.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Use “Babygirl”

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Gush over your favorite male character or celeb on social media. “Babygirl” is commonly used on social media, especially TikTok, to refer to men who are sensitive yet manly and somewhat naive, men who are tough but emotionally vulnerable in a way that makes you want to protect them.
- For instance, TikTok user @pascalistic captioned this TikTok video of fan fave Pedro Pascal, “he's babygirl your honor.”
- You might use the term to describe the guy generally, or pull it out when he’s being particularly babygirl. E.g., “Kyle Maclachlan’s giving such babygirl in these instagram photos.”
- The term might be used semi-sarcastically, as in this TikTok describing Godzilla as “babygirl,” but it’s nevertheless used affectionately.

Section 3 of 4:

“Babygirl” Origins

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“Babygirl” as a term for men came out sometime between 2017 and 2020. Around this time, Wattpad user aradmille uploaded a photoshopped panel from the manga Mob Psycho 100, in which Shiegeo asks Arataka, “Why does Serizawa call you babygirl?” and Arataka replies, “How about we stop talking for a little while?”^{[1]
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- The word took off on Twitter and Tumblr in August 2021, when users started redrawing the panel with other characters from different fandoms.
- Most of the photoshops involved one male character asking another male character (for instance, Mario and Luigi) why someone calls them “babygirl.”
- Internet users began using the term more widely to refer to men generally, creating TikTok reels featuring their favorite babygirl's most babygirl moments.
- The word was and remains reserved mostly for celebrities and fictional characters. However, any man can be called babygirl if he’s a babygirl.

Section 4 of 4:

Related Terms

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A "zaddy" is a hot guy (typically an older guy, but it's not hard and fast) who's also stylish and confident, with a hint of daddy-ness. Think Jeff Goldblum, ultimate zaddy.^{[2]
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A "sigma male" is basically a lone wolf. Sigmas are guys who are just as successful and commanding as alphas, but they're way more independent and elusive.
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Softboi "Softboi," like "babygirl," encompasses a broad spectrum of definitions, but essentially, it refers to a guy who's just very in touch with his feminine side (and who might come off a tad elitist).
- "Softboi" has also been defined as a subcategory of f*ckboi: in this context, softbois refer to seemingly sensitive men who emotionally manipulate women. (Think Timothée Chalamet's character in Lady Bird.)^{[3]
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Submissive and breedable “Submissive and breedable” walked so “babygirl” could run. Before “babygirl” took off, Twitter user @T4RIG posted, “normalize 👏 platonically 👏 telling 👏 your 👏 bros 👏 they 👏 look 👏 submissive 👏and 👏 breedable 👏” in June 2021. The post garnered more than 92,000 likes and 12,200 retweets in 5 days.^{[4]
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- “Submissive and breedable” are descriptors more traditionally relevant to women than men, and the phrase’s virality in this context paved the way for sweet, soft-spoken men to be praised as babygirls.