nepo baby

American  

[nep-oh bey-bee] / ˈnɛp oʊ ˌbeɪ bi /

noun

1. a notable or powerful person, such as a celebrity or politican, with a parent who is also notable or powerful, especially one whose industry connections are perceived as essential to their success.

   It makes sense that he's a nepo baby, because there's no way he earned that role.

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Etymology

Origin of nepo baby

First recorded in 2022; nepo(tism) ( def. ) + baby ( def. )

Example Sentences

Newson III was an appeals court judge in California, as well as a close friend and adviser to oil nepo baby Gordon Getty.

From Slate • Feb. 25, 2026

Yet for every nepo baby there’s a calamity baby.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

Well, he used to sell cardboard and toilet paper, and he’s a nepo baby with a journalism degree.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025

In an industry where those whose careers have been influenced by the favors of nepotism often decry the nepo baby label, Williams stands as an outlier.

From Salon • Jul. 1, 2025

On social media, fans said the child prodigy was the "greatest nepo baby of all time" as they marvelled at her flawless dance routines.

From BBC • May 2, 2025