The National Zoo Names Their New Baby Panda Cub Bei Bei 

There’s a new pretty young thang running around Washington DC, dressed in black and white and it’s not named Olivia Pope. The one month-old giant panda cub at the National Zoo now has a name: Bei Bei.

Michelle Obama and Madame Peng Liyuan, the first lady of China, announced the name and also had a hand in choosing it. Reports the Washington Post)

The name was chosen by the two first ladies from a list of names suggested by officials at the zoo and in China. Bei Bei was suggested by the Chinese.

Bei Bei means precious treasure and I have to say, as far as naming small but soon to be large exotic animals go, they did a great job. It looks good on paper—nice and symmetrical. It’s easy to remember and rolls off the tongue.

The name also sort of sounds like a teen talking about their new crush: Oh my new bae bae is def gonna be my WCW tomorrow. Smart move for getting that youth vote.

Or, if you’re slightly more old school, (meaning, you’ve graduated from college) this adorable little guy might make you think of the days when you’d text all your “bbs” (slang for baby) to see how their day was going.

I’m really into this panda, guys.

My Chinese-speaking friend says the name probably pronounced “bay bay,” meaning that this little giant already has its own unofficial theme song ready to go and the first lady of China might secretly be a huge Hurricane Chris fan.