In 2017, when Liam Payne and Cheryl welcomed their son, Bear, they surprised many with their name choice. At the time, Oliver, Harry, and Jack were among the most popular boy names, which made Bear stand out even more. The couple had kept their pregnancy a secret until shortly before Bear was born, but the story behind his name was something they kept even more secret.
At first, Liam and Cheryl disagreed on a name for their newborn. Cheryl wanted something “unusual,” while Liam wanted something more traditional. Their decision ultimately came down to a particular moment during Bear’s birth. As Liam recounted inThe Late Late Show with James Corden, the midwife affectionately nicknamed the newborn “little bear” after a strange incident in the delivery room.
Liam recalls: “He had this problem where if he didn’t cry properly, fluid could get into his lungs, which was dangerous. He would go ‘grrrr’ instead of crying. I had ten doctors come to see me, but they all assured me he was fine. It turned out he just liked to make a lot of noise, and that’s how he became Bear.”
At first, Liam wasn’t sure about the name, but over time, he realized it was a perfect fit for his son. “Bear is a name that you don’t forget when you leave the room. It stuck, and now when I look at him, he’s just called Bear,” Liam said in 2017.
The couple, who had been together for a year before Bear was born, announced the pregnancy in a low-key way but shared their joy with the world when they revealed their son’s arrival. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Liam expressed his admiration for Cheryl’s strength throughout the process, saying: “She truly made my dreams come true.”
A year later, Liam and Cheryl ended their relationship but remained united in their love for Bear. They released a joint statement asking for privacy as they co-parented their son.
Liam’s unexpected death on October 16, after a tragic fall in Buenos Aires, has left his fans and loved ones in mourning. His funeral will take place on November 20, with his former One Direction bandmates Cheryl and Bear paying their last respects.
