In 2017, when Liam Payne and Cheryl welcomed their son, Bear, they surprised many with their choice of name. At the time, Oliver, Harry and Jack were among the most popular boy names, making Bear even more of a hit. The couple kept their pregnancy a secret until shortly before Bear was born, but the story behind his name was something they kept even more secret.
Initially, Liam and Cheryl weren’t on the same page when it came to naming their newborn. Cheryl preferred something “unusual,” while Liam preferred a more traditional name. Their decision ultimately came down to one special moment during Bear’s birth. As Liam told inThe Late Late Show with James Corden, the midwife affectionately nicknamed the newborn “little bear” after a peculiar incident in the delivery room.
Liam recalled: “He had this thing where if you didn’t cry properly you could get fluid in your lungs, which was dangerous. He was going ‘grrrr’ instead of crying. I had 10 doctors come in 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 as time went on he realized it suited his son perfectly. “Bear is a name you won’t forget when you leave the room. It stuck, and now when I look at him, he’s just Bear,” Liam said in 2017.
The couple, who had been together for a year before Bear’s birth, made a low-key pregnancy announcement 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 really 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 while co-parenting their son.
Liam’s unexpected passing on October 16, following a tragic fall in Buenos Aires, has left fans and loved ones in mourning. His funeral will take place on November 20, with those in attendance, including his former One Direction bandmates Cheryl and Bear, all paying their final respects.
