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 baby boy names, making Bear stand out even more. The couple had kept their pregnancy under wraps until shortly before Bear’s birth, 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 leaned towards a more traditional name. Their decision ultimately came down to a special moment during Bear’s birth. As Liam recounted on The 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 they don’t cry properly, they can get fluid in their lungs, which is 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 was unsure about the name, but as time passed, he realized it perfectly suited his son. “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, had 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 awe for Cheryl’s strength throughout the process, saying, “She really made my dreams come true.”

A year later, Liam and Cheryl ended their romantic 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 passing on 16 October, after a tragic fall in Buenos Aires, has left fans and loved ones in mourning. His funeral will take place on 20 November, with mourners including his former One Direction bandmates, Cheryl, and Bear, all paying their final respects.