Benedict Cumberbatch is having a great week. He just started filming the Sherlock Christmas special, with his face popping up in odd places. He’s in contention for multiple awards for his performance in The Imitation Game; an Oscar nomination seems likely as well. To top it all off, the world just learned that he and his fiancée Sophie Hunter are expecting their first child.
Cumberbatch’s spokesman confirmed the news to the Daily Mail after reports of Hunter’s pregnancy first hit Page Six, with a source saying that she was “a few months along.”
“I am delighted to confirm that Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter are expecting their first child,” the spokesman said. “They are both over the moon.”
Illustration by Jason Reed
Naturally, many of Cumberbatch’s fans—who were thrilled for the actor when he and Hunter got engaged in November—were ecstatic at the news that he would soon become a father.
Benedict’s publicist has just confirmed to me that Benedict and Sophie are indeed expecting. Many many congratulations to them both.
— Cumberbatchweb (@cumberbatchweb) January 7, 2015
Within a week:
— HeartsInCamelot🔮 (@heartsincamelot) January 7, 2015
Sherlock has started filming
and #BenedictCumberbatch is going to be a dad… pic.twitter.com/7TZO6sUTgQ
So Twitter is still alive after the news broke that #BenedictCumberbatch is becoming a father?? Wow!!
— Lisa Young In (she/her) (@LisaYoungIn) January 7, 2015
I have visions of @TheEllenShow onesies and other goodies for #BenedictCumberbatch and Sophie when he visits on 1/14 :) #CumberBaby
— Mrs Romy (@mrsromy) January 7, 2015
By far the most intense conflict raging among Cumberbatch’s fans after the announcement is over what to call his child prior to its birth. “Cumberbaby” seems to be leading the pack, but why stop the creativity there?
With Cumberbatch’s name already inspiring endless mashups, we looked at the collection of baby (and couple) nicknames circulating in his fandom.
Babybatch
Guys he’s going to get his big family!! HES GOING TO BE A DADDY AND TALK ABOUT HIS LITTLE BABY IN HIS INTERVIEWS AND AW #BABYBATCH
— Marina (@Itsrinasumner) January 7, 2015
A little less Cumber, a little more Batchy. A perfectly good alternative that allows equal parts baby and Cumberbatch.
Cumberbun/Cumberbun in the oven
The pun just rolls off the tongue here. Well done.
Cucumbers
No. Just no.
Hunterbaby
“Everyone’s saying Cumberbaby but I prefer Hunterbaby,” mycroftqueenofsass wrote. “Sounds a hell of a lot more badass!”
Papabatch
Future job title for a future dad. And he is essentially going to be a papa bear, so it’s fitting.
Daddybatch
Similar to Papabatch, but it doesn’t flow nearly as well.
Cumberdad
#Cumberbatch as a #cumberdad to a sweet lil #cumberbaby is just too #cumbercute to deal with.#Sherlock #BenedictCumberbatch
— Kimberly Lawson (@kimclawson) January 7, 2015
Although the sentiment may be a bit cumber-nauseating for some, Lawson certainly has the right idea. The baby is probably going to be adorable, but that’s true of most babies. Cumberdad is no Papabatch, but it ranks higher than Daddybatch.
Although Cumberbatch had his part in the affair, Hunter will be the one carrying the child to term. She will be the one scrutinized by certain segments of the media for her appearance. It is she, not her husband, who will be pressured to lose weight after she’s given birth. Give credit to where it’s due.
Hunterbatch
IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED!!!!! BENEDICT AND SOPHIE ARE HAVING A BABY!!! I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AM!!! :’D #HunterBatch #Babybatch #LOVE
— Sofie (@LoverHippie) January 7, 2015
Have fans come up with Cumberbatch and Hunter’s mashup couple name yet? If not, this is a prime candidate for it.
And now, back to baby nicknames…
Human-lizard Cumberhybrid
Confirmed: Human-lizard Cumberhybrids to come in 2015 http://t.co/7sKiHlLZ3t #pregnancy #benedictcumberbatch
— OH NO THEY DIDN’T (@ohnotheydidnt) January 7, 2015
Winner.
H/T BuzzFeed | Photo via Dalton Wang/Flickr (CC BY SA 2.0)
