Baby Panda Is Named Bei Bei; World Reacts

Michelle Obama and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan surprised panda fans Friday by naming the National Zoo’s new panda cub Bei Bei.

We’re honored @FLOTUS & Mme. Peng Liyuan named our panda cub. Meet Bei Bei, meaning precious, treasure #PandaStory pic.twitter.com/icNxm8IddX

— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) September 25, 2015

The baby is named Bei Bei???

In lighter news, per WH pool report, the new panda’s name is Bei Bei, which means “treasure” in Chinese. (No, it does not mean “baby.”)

— Marina Fang (@marinafang) September 25, 2015

When bei give you that look pic.twitter.com/ylbd9Z2ev1

— Ryan Creamer (@iamryancreamer) September 25, 2015

bei bei it’s the way you make me kinda get me to go crazy never wanna stop -backstreet boys #PANDA

— Dave McCulloch (@dtmcculloch) September 25, 2015

watch me whip watch me bei bei https://t.co/Hur95sGq9y

— Heath (@heathdwilliams) September 25, 2015

@joelcifer bei bei, at work: pic.twitter.com/w6SMv83sEw

— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) September 25, 2015

.@NationalZoo‘s month-old panda cub will be named Bei Bei, which means precious treasure. http://t.co/tcuv93B9FY pic.twitter.com/qvkEPDNNC5

— Kira Bindrim (@KiraBind) September 25, 2015

The news has already begun to cross-breed with other big news items on Friday:

john bei bei-hner pic.twitter.com/UiGDiFNWUs

— Ariel Edwards-Levy (@aedwardslevy) September 25, 2015

BREAKING: Pope still Francis, speaker no longer Boehner, panda now Bei Bei.

— Ryan Teague Beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) September 25, 2015

Quick clarification: Was that “baby” or “Bei Bei”? https://t.co/ilkJjvF9Tv

— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) September 25, 2015

Wearing my panda pin in honor of President Xi’s visit. Guess I’ll have to call it Bei Bei now! #USChina #tweetmypins pic.twitter.com/mhgx6i0WB4

— Madeleine Albright (@madeleine) September 25, 2015

Andrew Beaujon

Senior editor

Andrew Beaujon joined Washingtonian in late 2014. He was previously with the Poynter Institute, TBD.com, and Washington City Paper. His book A Bigger Field Awaits Us: The Scottish Soccer Team That Fought the Great War was published in 2018. He lives in Del Ray.