nepo baby
noun
variants
or less commonly nepotism baby
plural nepo babies also nepotism babies
: a person who gains success or opportunities through familial connections
especially
: a child of a famous parent (such as an actor, musician, entrepreneur, or politician)
… I thought it was a talent competition for aspiring nepo babies whose famous parents refused to book them auditions. —
Kyndall Cunningham
Kyndall Cunningham … [Actor] Ewan McGregor's daughter Clara has admitted that she has had all the privilege a so-called 'nepo baby' can enjoy. —Beverley Lyons
Beverley Lyons … he [Ben Stiller] starred in a … Pepsi commercial that poked fun at his nepo baby status. —Jen Shiori Adams
Jen Shiori Adams George emanates a grating "good vibes only" philosophy borne from his privileged upbringing; he's a nepotism baby by way of his famous artist father. —Variety
Variety Anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. … filed paperwork Wednesday to launch a presidential challenge to President Biden, continuing a centuries-long tradition of nepotism baby presidential contenders. —Zach Blackburn
Zach Blackburn Examples of nepo baby in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On this past episode of Raw, John Cena called Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes out for being a nepo baby, meaning Rhodes received special benefits because his father, Dusty Rhodes, was already a major name in the business.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
When a 27-year-old Joe Buck walked into the 1996 World Series booth at the old Yankee Stadium, he was viewed as the ultimate nepo baby before the term was even born.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Watch Kelly Clarkson rock out to 'Hold On' with Wilson Phillips
Bonfiglio wasn't the only nepo baby to try her luck at Idol auditions this season.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Sistine Stallone, daughter of Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin
While many nepo babies get their famous parents to participate in trends (looking at you, Francesca Scorsese), few have had the chance to prank their father when their father is Sylvester Stallone.
—Lucy Dolan-Zalaznick, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
Sasha Spielberg, daughter of Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw
There’s a special place in my heart for nepo babies whose names are unmistakably nepotistic.
—Lucy Dolan-Zalaznick, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
Actress Alexandra Daddario, who is starring on season 2 of the hit AMC show Mayfair Witches, is no nepo baby.
—Gillian Telling, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
April 29-June 1 at the Public Theater. GHOSTS Nothing against nepo babies, truly, but the most unignorable thing about Lincoln Center Theater’s casting of this Henrik Ibsen drama is the critical mass of them.
—New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
In May, singer Lily Allen shared a similar sentiment, noting that she has been referred to as a nepo baby (her parents are British actor Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen), while her brother, actor Alfie Allen (best known for playing Theon Greyjoy in Game Of Thrones), has not.
—Katherine Singh, refinery29.com, 7 June 2024
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Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
When a 27-year-old Joe Buck walked into the 1996 World Series booth at the old Yankee Stadium, he was viewed as the ultimate nepo baby before the term was even born.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Watch Kelly Clarkson rock out to 'Hold On' with Wilson Phillips
Bonfiglio wasn't the only nepo baby to try her luck at Idol auditions this season.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Sistine Stallone, daughter of Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin
While many nepo babies get their famous parents to participate in trends (looking at you, Francesca Scorsese), few have had the chance to prank their father when their father is Sylvester Stallone.
—Lucy Dolan-Zalaznick, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
Sasha Spielberg, daughter of Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw
There’s a special place in my heart for nepo babies whose names are unmistakably nepotistic.
—Lucy Dolan-Zalaznick, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
Actress Alexandra Daddario, who is starring on season 2 of the hit AMC show Mayfair Witches, is no nepo baby.
—Gillian Telling, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
April 29-June 1 at the Public Theater. GHOSTS Nothing against nepo babies, truly, but the most unignorable thing about Lincoln Center Theater’s casting of this Henrik Ibsen drama is the critical mass of them.
—New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
In May, singer Lily Allen shared a similar sentiment, noting that she has been referred to as a nepo baby (her parents are British actor Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen), while her brother, actor Alfie Allen (best known for playing Theon Greyjoy in Game Of Thrones), has not.
—Katherine Singh, refinery29.com, 7 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Nepo baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nepo%20baby. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
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