The zoo previously held public celebrations to mark the naming of a baby panda, inviting people to weigh in on the name for panda cub Bao Bao. Participants chose from options including Fu Zai, Mandarin Chinese for "prosperous boy," Xing Fu, which means "happy and prosperous," and Xiao Qi Ji. She said historically many countries and cultures, including China, waited to name babies for 100 days because of survival rates.Īs it has done in the past, the Zoo opened voting on the name up to the public.
The zoo has typically waited 100 days to name panda cubs in "a nod and acknowledgment of Chinese culture and history," spokesperson Pamela Baker-Masson told DCist at the time. Mei Xiang gave birth to Xiao Qi Ji on August 21. "This new panda, our miracle cub, has already brought all of us so much joy in this truly unique time, and he will be a source of our memories for years to come," said National Zoo Director Steve Monfort. The zoo announced that after thousands of votes were counted, the winning name was Xiao Qi Ji (SHIAU-chi-ji), which is Mandarin Chinese for "little miracle." Technically, the baby panda made its internet debut back in August, but the Smithsonian National Zoo revealed the cub's name on Monday morning, an optimistic announcement at a time when rising COVID-19 cases have temporarily shuttered the Zoo to the public.
The panda turned three months old on Saturday.Ĭourtesy of the National Zoo/Courtesy Photo
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