Cheryl reveals the REAL reason for calling her son Bear
She welcomed her first child in March 2017
Last updated 8th Nov 2019
Many eyebrows were raised back in 2017 when showbiz couple Cheryl and former One Direction singer Liam Payne announced they'd decided to call their first child Bear Grey Payne.
Despite Liam hinting at the pair's name choice in the past, The Greatest Dancer judge Cheryl has now candidly opened up about her two-year-old son's name, speaking on RuPaul's What's The Tee podcast alongside Strictly Come Dancing's Michelle Visage.
As well as admitting she had a massive fear that her son would be 'swapped' at birth, Cheryl confirmed she didn't actually have a name in mind for her first child, saying, "When I was in the hospital, he used to make these noises. We had specialists coming in to see what was going on, he was breathing like – quite cute but nothing worrisome.
“It was just him. The midwife used to come in and say: ‘How’s the little bear?’ I didn’t have the name prior…”
“I couldn’t get the nickname out of my mind. We toyed with others but I didn’t want him to be the third and such and such in his class. I wanted him to have a unique name."
Opening up whilst recording the podcast, the former Girls Aloud star also spoke about finding 'true love' since giving birth to her baby boy, as well as admitting she's only recently hired a nanny.
Cheryl, who gave birth in March 2017, didn't work for 18 months after the birth, revealing she was too scared to leave her little man, and she still finds it hard now.
Meanwhile, after making her comeback to music at the end of 2018 with her track 'Love Made Me Do It', Cheryl went on to release 'Let You' in 2019, and now she's confirmed she's going to Los Angeles next week to film her brand new music video... As well as having a 'body of work' for her next album!
Check out Cheryl's entire relationship history:
2004-2010: Ashley Cole
Not long into her rise to fame, Cheryl started dating England footballer Ashley Cole, even attending the World Cup with the likes of Victoria Beckham and Coleen Rooney.
Clearly smitten, the loved-up pair got married in 2016, penning a six-figure magazine deal at the time.
2004-2010: Ashley Cole
However, things started to turn sour for the 'golden couple' when Ashley was accused of 'cheating' on Cheryl just months after their wedding.
Despite forgiving the footballer, Ashley continued with his ways, with allegations that he'd been unfaithful rocking their romance yet again.
Everything got too much for Chez in 2010, when she filed for divorce from Ashley.
2010-2011: Derek Hough
Cheryl first met professional dancer Derek Hough whilst the pair filmed the music video for her hit track 'Parachute', and it seems they immediately hit it off.
The former X Factor judge contracted Malaria in 2010, and she later told Piers Morgan, "I owe my life to Derek... if it wasn't for him I'd be dead."
2010-2011: Derek Hough
Despite this, it seems the pair were destined to just be friends, with Derek later revealing to the media, "We dated for a while. Absolutely we are still friends, we are still very close."
2012-2013: Tre Holloway
It seems Cheryl had quite a thing for professional dancers, as her next boyfriend was the super handsome Tre Holloway.
Despite first meeting each other on The X Factor in 2010, the pair didn't grow close until 2012, with Cheryl enlisting Tre's dancing skills for her 'Ghetto Baby' music video.
2012-2013: Tre Holloway
Things seemed to be getting serious between the two, especially when Tre starred in Cheryl's ITV2 documentary.
However, the long-distance relationship didn't work out, with the couple calling it quits in 2013. Speaking at the time, Tre said, "She's an amazing person, an amazing woman, and we are good friends."
2014-2016: Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini
It looked like Cheryl had found 'the one' when she met French businessman Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in 2014.
Only three months into their romance, Cheryl shocked her fans by announcing she'd married JB, in a secret beach location with her close family and friends.
2014-2016: Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini
After her second marriage, rumours of tension between Cheryl and JB started to arise, with the couple being pictured looking glum on more than one occasion.
18 months after their whirlwind wedding, Cheryl and JB were granted a quickie divorce in October 2018.
2016-2018: Liam Payne
Shortly after Cheryl divorced JB, she singer shocked the showbiz world in 2016, when she confirmed she was dating One Direction singer Liam Payne.
Despite the pair having a 10-year age gap, and originally meeting when Liam was just 14-years-old on The X Factor, Cheryl and Liam instantly hit it off, posting a number of adorable snaps together.
2016-2018: Liam Payne
After what was the worst kept pregnancy secret of the decade, Cheryl and Liam welcomed a baby boy into the world in March 2017, settling on the name Bear Grey Payne.
2016-2018: Liam Payne
Split rumours started to hit the pair in early 2018, but Cheryl and Liam were quick to shut them down, putting on a very loved-up display at the 2018 BRIT Awards.
However, just five months later, the couple released a joint statement admitting they've decided to separate. Despite this, the pair remain good friends and co-parent baby Bear.
Cheryl's new words comes just days after her ex-boyfriend Liam Payne called her the 'most important person' in his life.
Speaking to Ant Middleton for a special TV show called Ant Middleton & Liam Payne: Straight Talking, Liam said, "They’re so important to me – Cheryl as well. She’s one of the most, if not the most, important people in my life.
"Even though we’re not together, Cheryl’s always there for me. I’m lucky I have someone who understands what I’m going through. ‘The one thing I was missing as a man in the relationship I had, was a level understanding about what she was feeling about stuff."
The pair announced their split in the Summer of 2018, but both Cheryl and Liam co-parent little Bear!
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