‘Thumper’, ‘Pickle’ and ‘Squishy’ are among the most common nicknames parents-to-be give to their baby bump

‘Thumper’, ‘Pickle’ and ‘Squishy’ are among the most common nicknames parents-to-be give to their baby bump, a study has found.

A poll of 1,500 mums and dads revealed nine in 10 used an alternative name for their baby while pregnant, with ‘Button’, ‘Sprout’ and ‘Pebble’ also popular monikers.

Overall the nation’s favourite bump nickname is ‘Bean’, used by one in 10 expectant couples.

‘Jellybean, ‘Sprog’ or ‘Spoglett’ and ‘Little Man or Little Miss’ also feature in the top 25, as well as ‘Prawn’, ‘Monster’ and ‘Bambino’.

But for 55 per cent, the bump’s nickname stuck and they continued to use it well after the birth.

And for one in 20 parents, it even ended up influencing the final name given to the child.

The study was conducted by ChannelMum.com, whose founder Siobhan Freegard said: “Choosing a bump nickname is a modern rite of passage where the child really starts to feel like an individual person.

“Becoming a parent starts long before your baby is born and naming the bump is the first step to bonding with your tot.

“But with Bean revealed at the nation’s number one bump name, it’s interesting to see how many of the other top nicknames relate to food – maybe mums’ cravings are helping couples choose?”

The study revealed that parents undergoing IVF chose Elsa, Olaf and Snowflake as the most common names given to frozen embryos – after the hit Disney film Frozen.

And for almost three in 10 prospective parents, their choice of nickname was inspired by the blurry image of an ultrasound scan.

Others started referring to their bump using a term related to where the baby was conceived, it’s due date or descriptions of what their baby looks like in pregnancy books or apps.

And a fifth put the nickname down to cravings that mum felt during the pregnancy.

The main reason 61 per cent of parents applied a nickname to a burgeoning bump was to stop having to refer to their unborn child as ‘it’.

But one in 12 recall someone else using the nickname first, and then found themselves using it throughout the pregnancy.

However, the silly name proved to be a source of embarrassment for 16 per cent, with many parents only using it with their partner – never in public.

It also emerged two thirds believe giving a nickname to a baby bump helps parents-to-be bond with the child before it’s born, according to the research.

And the average bump is given a cute moniker at 12 weeks into a pregnancy – traditionally the time when most people share the news of an impending baby.

But while 60 per cent of couples choose a nickname together, 30 per cent of mums named their bump themselves.

For one in five of those polled, the nickname was given to their bump by a work colleague – with 10 per cent letting their other kids pick the bump’s name.

Siobhan Freegard added: “Our results found that even in multiple pregnancies, bump nicknames are common – but 60 per cent of couples choose a different nickname for each bump to reflect their baby’s different personalities.

“Names like Thumper or Angel are a brilliant way to bring a baby’s growing character to life, and picking a nickname is the very best to start the conversation on your baby’s actual name.”

THE TOP 25 BABY BUMP NICKNAMES
1. Bean
2. Little Man / Little Miss
3. Jellybean
4. Pickle
5. Squishy
6. Bambino
7. Button
8. Sprog / Sproglett
9. Sprout
10. Monster
11. Bug
12. Beanie
13. Thumper
14. Pebble
15. Cupcake
16. Dot
17. Angel
18. Thumbelina
19. Grape
20. Peach
21. Spawn
22. Tadpole
23. Prawn
24. Chickie
25. Snowflake