When male stars are called 'little girls'

Online fans use the term "babygirl" to jokingly refer to male actors or singers they love.

Online, the character Kendall Roy from the TV series Succession is described with many words: sad, depressed, creepy, craving for attention...

But to the series' loyal audience, Kendall - played by actor Jeremy Strong - is just a "babygirl".

"Don't get me wrong. Babygirl isn't anything pejorative or derogatory. Online fans use the term to playfully refer to their favorite men (fictional or real)," said NBC News writer Kalhan Rosenblatt.

The term “babygirl” exploded on the Internet. Photo: The Daily Beast.

“Babygirl,” often written as a single word, became popular among movie lovers as fans repeatedly used it to tease male stars, or characters played by men. These “babygirls” were either vulnerable, submissive boys or moody, irritable gentlemen.

Meanwhile, writer Elena Cavender added that "babygirl" refers to the audience's fondness for a man who appears cute, comfortable with his masculinity or vulnerable in his sexuality.

The "babygirls" of showbiz

The vulnerability of Joel (played by Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us series) and the eccentricity of four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe have earned them the nickname "baby girls". These are just two of the countless showbiz gentlemen who have been dubbed "baby girls".

NBC News quoted a comment from a network member: "Our female fans often tease us: 'They are such babygirls' - the darkest, most moody, melancholic but also the most lovable men we have ever laid eyes on."

According to Phillip Hamilton, editor of Know Your Meme , "babygirl" appeared heavily in 2021. And in 2023, this funny term exploded on social media, attached to popular TV episodes and became the top searched keyword on the Internet.

In the music industry, Bad Bunny, Harry Styles and many Kpop artists (like BTS members) are considered "girls" by fans.

Pedro Pascal is rugged and mature in The Last of Us but is called a "little girl". Photo: Digital Spy.

Some experts note that "babygirl" marks an interesting milestone in Internet linguistics, in which a term describing femininity is applied to a male character in a way that is not pejorative or offensive.

Sylvia Sierra, an assistant professor of communication and rhetoric studies at Syracuse University, says sexism and misogyny are at the root of why straight men often shy away from feminine terms. But “babygirl” can be different.

"Negative connotations are often associated with terms that tease femininity. With babygirl, we don't see that. This cute term is being used in a positive way, helping to highlight the good qualities in men," said Sierra, who has a PhD in Linguistics from Georgetown University.

She added that social media has accelerated the spread of a series of gender-related terms and the public has gradually accepted those terms. However, it is unclear who was the pioneer in calling men "girls".

Harry Styles is also called a "babygirl". Photo: Rolling Stone.

According to NBC News , "babygirl" was first seen in a post on Wattpad, a free story-writing and reading platform, in 2017. Since then, the word has swept sites like Tumblr and is primarily used within fandom circles to describe male characters.

From social media language to real-life compliments

According to editor Phillip Hamilton, in contrast to the cheerful reception of male celebrities, real-life men feel offended if they find out they are being called "babygirls" online.

"That term is the opposite of what a typical masculine man might want to be called, right? But people still call men that even though they find it offensive," Hamilton said.

Charlie Day - another "babygirl" in the hearts of fans. Photo: The Independent.

For Leila Loiza, 23, a Twitter user who tweeted about how both Kendall Roy and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor Charlie Day are "babygirls," it's an interesting shift in language toward greater gender inclusivity and flexibility.

Loiza argues: "Let's look at babygirl as a prime example of shifting terms typically used for female audiences and actors to those used for male audiences and actors. 'Babygirl' - a word that demonstrates a new step forward in gender-neutral terminology."

Loiza started using the term earlier this year, taking delight in calling Criminal Minds actor Shemar Moore a "baby girl." She found Moore's role as Derek Morgan to be extremely entertaining.

Meanwhile, Din M'Rini, 25, affectionately calls Pedro Pascal "little girl" and expressed his strong affection for the character Kendall Roy in the TV series Succession.

According to M'Rini, seeing online language (in this case, feminine words applied to men) evolve to create positive change is something to be celebrated and encouraged. M'Rini says she looks forward to the day when the term "babygirl" moves from social media parlance to real-life compliment.

"I can't wait for the day we meet a dear friend at the gym and call him babygirl," M'Rini told NBC News.

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