baby doll

noun

1. a doll, especially one resembling a human baby.
2. Often baby dolls. Also called baby doll nightgown, a garment for women or girls consisting of a hip-length top of delicate fabric often decorated with ruffles, ribbons, or lace, with a matching panty, worn for sleeping.
3. a short dress styled to resemble this.

Word History and Origins

Origin of baby doll¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

And I was living in New York, like '91 and '92, and I was wearing Doc Martens, black tights, and big baby doll dresses.

From The Daily Beast

But what drew you to this strange character—a mentally ill woman caring for a baby doll?

From The Daily Beast

However, she soon discovers that Linda is a mentally unstable woman who believes a baby doll is a flesh-and-blood child.

From The Daily Beast

These were the women who made flowing “tentlike” baby-doll dresses and “kick ass” combat boots fashionable.

From The Daily Beast

Her whole soul hangs upon the lips of a beautiful baby doll that seems to be calling her his mummy.

From Project Gutenberg

And although she was more than ten years old, she had not outgrown the wholesome joy of a little woman in her baby-doll.

From Project Gutenberg

She thought the two seemed very close, but she disentangled them, and laid the baby doll on the counter.

From Project Gutenberg

Tense, as if she were waiting for the warning not to touch, Martha finally caressed the hair of a baby doll.

From Project Gutenberg

"The baby doll is here and wants to see you," Paddy announced.

From Project Gutenberg

About This Word

What else does baby doll mean?

In the literal, a baby doll is just that—a toy baby doll.

But it is also a term of endearment for a woman and a style of high-waisted women’s dress and nightgown.

Where does baby doll come from?

Although perpetually young, baby dolls have been seen as far back as the 21st century BCE in the tombs of the Ancient Egyptians. The particular phrase baby doll, though, is recorded in English as early as 1725.

The baby doll dress emerged at the turn of the 20th century. It’s usually high-waisted with a short hemline, featuring short or no sleeves, presumably named because of its youthful appearance which were associated with garments toy baby dolls wore. A nightwear version became popular in the 1940s. On women, the baby doll look can suggest innocence, attractiveness, and even edginess, with 1990s rockers like Courtney Love, Baby Spice, or Babydoll in 2011’s Sucker Punch (Emily Browning) juxtaposing its girlish style with a punk attitude.

Evidenced since the early 1900s, baby doll as a term of endearment likens the object of someone’s affection to the cute toy. Baby doll was quite popular in early 1960s doo-wops with such songs as The Supreme’s 1965 hit “Baby Doll.” It keeps its currency in contemporary tunes, too, if N.E.R.D.’s 2001 “Baby Doll” has anything to say about it.

How is baby doll used in real life?

When not referring to a toy, dress, or negligee, baby doll is most often heard or read as an affectionate term along the lines of sweetheart or honey. But, be mindful that calling a woman you don’t know baby doll can be condescending, dismissive, or wolf-whistling.

i hope you wake up tomorrow with a huge smile on your face i love you goodnight babydolls

— baby (@BabyAriel) June 14, 2018

Note

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.