'babbie' originates from English/Scots, formed from the word 'baby' with the diminutive suffix '-ie' (a familiar or affectionate ending).

'baby' comes from Middle English forms such as 'babi'/'babe', ultimately from infantile babbling (imitative 'ba'); the diminutive '-ie' was later attached in dialectal usage to yield 'babbie'.

Initially it referred simply to an infant (reflecting baby-talk origins); over time 'babbie' has remained a dialectal or affectionate form meaning 'small child' or used as a pet name.