29 Nicknames For Sons That Aren't Buddy Or Chief

A lot of thought and consideration goes into naming your baby. You do research, you write out the first and last names together, and you try saying it out loud 100 times so that you can see how it sounds. But no matter how much you might insist on relatives and the newly minted grands on calling your child by his proper name, somehow a nickname slips in and gets stuck. Your best bet at having any say over what your kid is called is to find some fun nicknames for sons that aren't Buddy or Sport or Chief and pick the best one for your little guy.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with Buddy, Sport, or Chief. But when you go to such great lengths to come up with an original proper name, it seems like a waste to throw it all away on a nickname shared by countless male children (and sometimes pets). So why do we so often wind up giving our kids nicknames that have nothing to do with the names on their birth certificates? First off, it’s usually a show of affection. Plus, in some cases, a nickname better suits your child’s personality than their given name. And while a formal first name might be to honor a relative, your child’s nickname is inherently their own, and truly represents them as an individual.

These 15 nicknames for boys are a testament to how cute, kind, and utterly adorable it is to have a son — antics and all.

Chunky Monkey

All of those delicious rolls and folds have well earned your boy the title of Chunky Monkey. Maybe it’s his sweet little stomach or those thick baby thighs, but this nickname is sweet any way you put it (and it might put you in the mood for some ice cream).

Little Man

Your son is your baby boy. And then, seemingly overnight, your not-so-little guy becomes almost like a mini adult. That’s when a Little Man nickname is an absolute must.

Chico

In Spanish, “chico” means “boy” but it also means “little.” So basically, by calling your little boy chico, you’re just calling him, well, a little boy. But it sounds so cute in Spanish.

Dude

There’s no denying your '80s or '90s childhood if “dude” is in your vernacular. Giving your child the Dude nickname means that he’s a cool kid for sure. And you can always switch it up and say “Big Dude” or “Little Dude.”

Bear

Because sometimes he's a snuggly teddy bear, and sometimes he's a silly willy nilly old bear, and sometimes he's a grumpy bear... but he's always your little bear. (And even when he's a big bear, this nickname will still sound almost cool.)

Topolino

"Little mouse" in Italian, this one can always be shortened to "Topo" when your kid gets "too old" for silly nicknames (*sob*).

Big Guy

At his last well-baby visit, you marveled at how much bigger your boy has become. So give your big guy the props he deserves with this nickname that celebrates how much he’s grown.

Cookie Monster

Whether he watches Sesame Street, loves eating some double chocolate chunk cookies, or both, Cookie Monster might be a fitting name for your child. Plus, putting the word Cookie at the front softens the sound of it, because you might get some looks if you just call your kid Monster!

Nounours

The French word for "teddy bear," you'd pick this one for all the reasons you might choose Bear (above), except... in French (so it's even more charming).

Bubsy

Can't you just picture a little boy who goes by the name Bubsy? You'd just want to squeeze him. And sometimes, you could just call him Bubs.

Hero

What is it about caped crusaders that kids find so captivating? If your son is obsessed with every Marvel character on the block, you can call him Batman, Spiderman, Superman — or just cover all your superhero bases and call him Hero instead.

Flash

Perfect for little ones who crawled at the speed of lightning and haven't slowed down since, this nickname is extra cool because it's also the name of a superhero.

Kiddo

Calling your kid “kid” might come off as a little abrupt. But “kiddo” softens it up a bit, and connotes all the love and affection you have toward your little one.

Doudou

OK, so literally this means "my blanket or cuddly thing" in French, but it's just one of those whimsical, weirdly endearing terms of endearment.

Prince

From fetching food and constantly refilling his sippy cup, you already treat your son like a royal. Give him the status he deserves by calling him Prince. Now all he needs is to learn how to do the royal wave...

Rock Star

Your son already steals the show every time you’re together. That’s why calling your child Rock Star just makes sense.

Sweetie

There’s nothing like a sweet-natured little boy, so show your son some sugar by calling him Sweetie. It’s truly a nickname that never goes out of style.

Ace

Whether he’s spot on in sports or excels in arts, Ace is a good nickname for a boy. It can also mean “number one” or “the best,” which is most likely how you feel about your sweet boy, anyway.

Captain

Is it even a question who’s steering the ship that is your house? We didn’t think so. Captain is a cute name, whether you’re into all things nautical or not. (You’re probably Googling where to buy a captain’s hat for your kiddo right about now, aren’t you?)

Dash

When you see your toddler sprinting away from you, it can feel like you’re in a perpetual 100-yard dash to catch him. For the kiddo you can’t keep up with, Dash is an adorable nickname for your baby boy.

Hurricane

Your kiddo has rocked you (and your life) like a hurricane — in a good way. So if your child leaves a path of destruction behind him, the weather reports predict a Hurricane. Or if you want something shorter, Storm will do just fine.

Hulk

You just love your juicy little man. But even if he’s into the big green guy or not, Hulk is a fun nickname for the son who makes his presence (and his quickfire temper) known.

Ninja

Maybe it’s because of his affinity for jumping off of your kitchen counter. Or perhaps it’s his knack for sneaking up behind you when he’s looking for a snack. Even if he only has his white belt, Ninja might be fitting for your little boy.

Ladies’ Man

Your son, well, he’s a heartbreaker. When you see that your little sweetie has a way with the ladies (like getting extra apple slices at daycare), Ladies’ Man is a perfect moniker.

Professor

How is it that your 2 year-old already knows most of the U.S. state capitals? Because your boy is brilliant, that’s why. That’s what makes Professor such an appropriate name for your little smarty pants.

Rebel

He leaves a trail of Goldfish crumbs behind him wherever he goes. He’s strong-willed and super cute, which is a killer combo when you’re still packing Pull-Ups. That’s when a nickname like Rebel might suit your little wild child.

Shadow

For the little guy who is always by your side, Shadow is a sweet boy’s nickname. Maybe it’s how he follows you to the bathroom (and pounds on the door while you’re trying to poop), but Shadow makes sense for your son who is like a permanent appendage and always on your hip.

Slugger

Even if you’re not big into baseball, Slugger is a boy’s nickname that never goes out of style. You might use it when your son does a great job during his T-ball game, or say it as a term of endearment (and encouragement) when he’s had a particularly hard day at pre-K.

Champ

Your son will always feel like a hero when you call him Champ. Of course, it shouldn’t be confused with “champs, because, you know, that’s something entirely different altogether.

No matter how much you swoon over your son’s first name, ultimately it will be his nickname that you’ll come to use the most. So don’t think you have to buddy up to the name Buddy, or choose Chief, either. Eventually, you might find yourself using one of the nicknames on this list that encompasses his character — and his cuteness, too.