“Babygirl” Definition
“Babygirl” is slang for a guy who is cute, sensitive, and a tad naive. The term is a little subjective, but basically, if your mans is over 25-ish, confident in his masculinity yet sensitive, a little broody (maybe?), and daddish-but-still-somehow-innocent, you got yourself a babygirl right there. “Babygirl” may be used to describe a man who rejects qualities of toxic masculinity in favor of a more balanced, authentic, and secure masculinity, but it’s also sometimes used to describe sympathetic anti-heros, like Walter White from Breaking Bad. The term 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. Popular babygirl examples include Pedro Pascal, Danny DeVito, Harry Styles, Godzilla, Keanu Reeves, and Bryan Cranston. What do these men have in common? They are all babygirl.
“Babygirl” is more commonly used flirtatiously to refer to a woman. While some women enjoy being called “babygirl” (or “baby girl”), others find it condescending. The new meaning of “babygirl,” then, flips the script on its head by infantilizing grown, “tough” men—although “babygirl” on a man is still largely a compliment, and not meant to be condescending or dismissive.
How to Use “Babygirl”
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, “hes 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.
“Babygirl” Origins
“Babygirl” as a term for men came out sometime between 2017 and 2020, when 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?” The panel 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 attractive male character asking another attractive 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, but it was and remains reserved mostly for celebrities and fictional characters. However, any man can be called babygirl if he’s a babygirl.
Related Terms
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. “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.
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