What does “little one” mean in English?

Little one is a gentle way to speak to a young child, even a child whose name you don’t know yet. It works for boys and girls, and it sounds warm, not babyish. In this clip, a kind man notices a little girl nobody else was paying attention to and greets her with “Hello, little one” — before he even learns her name is Sami.

Family members and caregivers use “little one” the most — a grandparent tucking a child into bed might say, “Sleep well, little one.” Strangers use it too, especially to be kind to a child who feels shy or overlooked, the way this man does. It usually stops once a child is around six or seven and starts to feel like a big kid.