nepo baby

noun

ˈne-(ˌ)pō- 

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

… [Actor] Ewan McGregor's daughter Clara has admitted that she has had all the privilege a so-called 'nepo baby' can enjoy.

—Beverley Lyons

… he [Ben Stiller] starred in a … Pepsi commercial that poked fun at his nepo baby status.

—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

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

Examples of nepo baby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That stuff has currency in this most nepo baby-friendly of fields. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2026

The cast of Next Gen NYC is a mix of Real Housewives' kids, nepo babies (Brooke Shields’ daughter Rowan Henchy joins the cast this year), and New York influencers. — Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026

The progressive Democrat, who has now taken up her father's mantle, doesn't like being branded as a nepo baby. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026

But working in Hollywood with the same last name as his father, Sam Mendes—the film’s director, known for everything from American Beauty to Skyfall—quickly began to plague him with all the trials of nepo baby–dom. — Maggie Turner, Air Mail, 6 June 2026

But the nepo baby trend may extend beyond Hollywood, touching the lives of everyday Americans. — Jake Angelo, Fortune, 27 May 2026

The cast, including some notable nepo babies includes Alexie Epstein, Ben Favaedi, Dylan Wolf, Emilie Nelson, Emma Medrano, Hercy Miller, Jemma Durrant, Jodie Woods, Kimora Lewis, Nicole Sahebi, Preston Pippen, Raine Michaels, Sterling Retzlaff and Suede Brooks. — Peter White, Deadline, 6 May 2026

Lamas also is a bit of a nepo baby who was born into show business. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026

Early, as the family’s dented nepo baby, is a peculiar fount of profane insight, twisted but touchingly damaged. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1992, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nepo baby

• maybe