What Does BBY Mean? Different Uses In Slang, Star Wars & More

Download Article

Bby, bb, or baby? We’ve got your bases covered

Co-authored by Glenn Carreau Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: January 9, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

Bby Meaning

|

Using Bby

|

Replying to Bby

|

BBY in Star Wars

|

Alternate Spellings

|

More Slang Terms

It’s one thing to have someone send you the slang term “bby” over text, and another to figure out what they mean by it. Luckily, we’re here to help! “Bby” is a shortened version of “baby,” an affectionate nickname often used to flirt or express love (though it can also be a casual term used between friends). In this article, we’ll show you how to use and interpret “bby” when you see it in texts and over social media, plus how it differs from the Star Wars acronym with the same spelling (and other related terms).

Bby Definition Overview

Bby is an abbreviated version of “baby,” a term of endearment that’s usually romantic or flirty. It means you think someone is cute and want to show affection for them! It can also be a playful nickname between close friends.

Section 1 of 6:

What does Bby mean over text?

Download Article

Bby is an abbreviated form of “baby,” a term of endearment. In this context, “baby” doesn’t refer to an infant; it’s a pet name or nickname used by couples or someone with a crush. While bby (or “baby”) is usually romantic or flirty, it can also be a simple expression of affection and familiarity between people—even if they aren’t romantically involved.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- “Hey bby, what’s going on today?”
- “I miss you, bby! Can’t wait to see you later 😘”
- For example, if a girl or guy texts you “bby,” it’s definitely a sign that they feel comfortable with you and want you to know they care about you.
- There’s a strong chance it’s also romantic unless you’re close friends and often talk to one another this way.

Section 2 of 6:

How to Use Bby Over Text

Download Article

1
Flirt with someone you like by calling them bby. Bby typically means you think the other person is cute and like them a lot. So, if you’re crushing on someone and want to send more obvious signals, using a nickname like bby can do the trick—especially if you pair it with emojis, compliments, and other flirty texts.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- “Hi bby! You should come over today!! 😉”
- “How you doing, bby? You’ve been on my mind! 😻”
2
Use bby as a cute nickname for your significant other or spouse. When texting your partner, “bby” can be a sweet and easy way to show love, particularly if “baby” is already a nickname you use for one another in conversation. Even if you have a different nickname for your partner, you can use bby to mix things up sometimes!^{[3]
X
Research source}
- “I love my bby more than anything! 🥰”
- “Just remembering how great our date was yesterday, bby. You’re the best! 💘”
3
Greet someone with bby to express affection for them. You can send bby to friends you’re close with when checking in on them or just telling them how great they are. Remember that using bby in a friendly way may send mixed signals to people who aren’t as familiar with your texting style; it’s best to use bby with close friends if you aren’t using it romantically.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- “What’s up, bby? How’s my bestie doing?”
- “Hey bby! Thanks for being the best friend I could ask for 😍”
- Sometimes friends (especially girls, although it’s definitely not exclusive) call each other nicknames like “hon,” “bestie,” or “babe” to show affection, and “bby” can be a nickname between BFFs too!

Section 3 of 6:

How to Respond to Bby Over Text

Download Article

1
Signal your interest if you like the other person. If you get a flirty text where someone calls you “bby” (and you like them back), try replying with some flirty banter of your own! Or, if you’d rather be more direct, you could always tell them how you feel and ask for confirmation that they like you, too.
- Them: “Hi bby! How are you? 😊”
- You: “Pretty good, especially now I’m hearing from you. And feel free to keep calling me ‘bby’ anytime 😉”
2
Come up with a sweet nickname to call your partner by, too. When you get “bby” from a significant other, it’s probably their way of making a text feel more loving and affectionate—so do the same! If you don’t already have a nickname for them, find one to use in your texts, whether it’s “bby” or something else.
- Them: “Good morning, bby. Have I mentioned how much I love you lately? ❤️”
- You: “Why hello, darling! You have, but I always like hearing it. I love you too!”
3
Send an affectionate greeting to them in turn. When a friend calls you “bby” over text, offer a reply that shows you feel comfortable and close to them, too. If they’re just checking in, let them know how you’re doing and find out what’s up with them. If they mention a specific question or topic, answer however you like and keep the conversation going!
- Them: “Hey bby, wanna hang out later? We can do a movie night!”
- You: “Hey lovely lady! Yeah, let’s do it—what do you wanna watch?”

Section 4 of 6:

What does BBY mean in Star Wars?

Download Article

1
BBY stands for Before the Battle of Yavin in Star Wars. It’s how time is measured in the Star Wars universe, with BBY being similar to “BC” in our history. The Battle of Yavin is when Luke Skywalker blew up the first Death Star, meaning the first Star Wars (A New Hope) takes place in BBY 0. Star Wars lore covers thousands of years of BBY, with significant dates including:^{[5]
X
Research source}
- BBY 32: The events of The Phantom Menace take place.
- BBY 22: The events of Attack of the Clones take place.
- BBY 19: Revenge of the Sith takes place.
- BBY 9: The events of the Obi-Wan Kenobi show take place.
- BBY 0: A New Hope takes place.
2
Similarly, ABY means After the Battle of Yavin in Star Wars. If BBY is like “BC,” then ABY in Star Wars lore is like “AD” in terms of our own history. Dates labeled ABY occur after the Battle of Yavin, where Luke Skywalker blew up the Death Star—which means the third Star Wars trilogy takes place in ABY years. Important ABY dates include:
- ABY 3: The Empire Strikes Back takes place.
- ABY 4: The Return of the Jedi takes place.
- ABY 9: The events of The Mandalorian TV show take place.
- ABY 34: The Force Awakens takes place.
- ABY 34: The Last Jedi takes place.
- ABY 35: The Rise of Skywalker takes place.

Section 5 of 6:

Alternate Ways to Spell Bby

Download Article

1
Bb Another common way to shorten “baby” is “bb,” usually spelled with all lowercase letters. Like bby, it’s a term of endearment used in a flirty or romantic way, but it can also just be affectionate. Although both spellings have the same overall meaning, some people consider “bb” more casual and laid-back, with “bby” (and, in turn, “baby”) more flirty or intimate.
- “How’s my bb feeling today? I love you! 💗”
- “Hey bb, just want you to know I’m thinking of you!”
- However, as mentioned above, you can use “bb” in any context from casual to romantic. Ultimately, the choice between “bby” and “bb” comes down to personal preference!
2
Baby You could also type out the entire word and call someone “baby” instead of abbreviating it. Although baby, bby, and bb have the same meaning, “baby” can be more intimate than the other two. While “bby” and “bb” are sometimes used to send friendly affection, “baby” is nearly always a romantic nickname for a date or partner.
- “Missing my baby a lot today! 🥹”
- “What’re you up to today, baby? I’m stuck at work daydreaming about you!”

Section 6 of 6:

More Slang Terms to Know

Download Article

Keep learning all the latest texting slang and acronyms. You never know when you’ll run into a piece of texting slang you don’t know—so get ahead of the game and add more popular terms to your texting vocabulary. Other slang and acronyms include:
- BSF: “Best sister friend” or “best sibling friend”
- JW: “Just wondering”
- MCM: “Man crush Monday”
- WCW: “Woman crush Wednesday”
- DW: “Don’t worry”
- IDM: “I don’t mind” or “I don’t matter”
- MMK: A combination of “Mmm” and “Okay”
- ABS: “Absolutely”