My youngest calls me Ba-Ba. I have no idea where it came from. She just started saying it one day and it stuck.
That’s kind of how the best nicknames work. They’re not chosen, they happen.
But when you’re a stepdad (or you’re a mom trying to figure this out for your kids), sometimes you need a starting point. A name to try on and see if it fits.
Here are 60+ options, organized by vibe.
Names that feel like “Dad” without being “Dad”
These work well when kids aren’t quite ready to say “Dad” but want something warm and close.
- Papa
- Pop
- Pops
- Poppa
- Daddy-O
- Big Guy
- Big D
- Pa
- Padre
- The Old Man (affectionate, for older kids)
First name variations
A lot of stepkids land here naturally — especially older kids who came into the relationship already using “Dad” for their bio father. Using a version of the stepdad’s actual name keeps things comfortable without any pressure.
- First name only (e.g., “Mike”)
- First name + Dad (e.g., “Mike-Dad”)
- Mr. + First name (e.g., “Mr. Mike”) — works great for younger kids
- A nickname version of the first name (e.g., “J” for James)
Fun and silly options
Don’t underestimate these. Sometimes a goofy name becomes the most cherished one.
- Dude
- Chief
- Captain
- Boss
- Coach
- Buddy
- Bear
- Big Bear
- Grizzly
- Tank
- Bubba
- Champ
International and cultural options
These can feel special and distinct, especially useful if you want something that honors a cultural background or just sounds different enough from “Dad.”
- Baba (Arabic, Chinese, Eastern European)
- Papá (Spanish)
- Père (French)
- Vater (German)
- Appa (Korean)
- Tatay (Filipino)
- Nanna (some cultures use this for fathers)
- Abba (Hebrew)
- Dada (common across many cultures)
Step-specific names
Some families like names that acknowledge the step relationship openly — not in a cold way, but in an honest one.
- Stepdad (straightforward, some kids actually prefer this)
- Bonus Dad
- Second Dad
- Dad #2
- Other Dad
Names that came from nowhere (the best kind)
These are all names real stepkids have come up with organically. No one planned them. They just happened.
- Da-da
- DadDude
- Dadio
- D-Man
- Daddio
- Big Papa
- Papa Bear
- Daddy Bear
- Poppy
- Papi
- Baba
- Ba-Ba
What actually works
Honestly? The name that works is the one the kid comes up with on their own (just like Ba-Ba for me, which came from the fantastical mind of my now 5-year-old) or the one that gets laughed at once and then never stops being used.
Don’t force it. Offer a few options, stay open, and give it time. The right name usually finds you.
And if your stepkid calls you by your first name forever? That’s fine too. What matters is the relationship, not the title.