Beanie Babies are among the most popular toys to ever hit shelves. Though it’s impossible to figure out exactly how many have been released, the original run of Beanie Babies featured 822 different animals, with many duplicates and recolours released over time. Not only that, but almost all of these adorable creatures also came with a unique birthday, and a poem stating what they were all about.
Curious about what Beanie Baby shares your birthday? Read on!
6th January – Patti the Platypus
Patti the Platypus was one of the original nine Beanie Babies released in 1993, and has had five separate recolours, including two magenta versions and two purple. Patti is also one of a limited amount of Beanie Babies with PVC pellet stuffing, which was discontinued in favour of PE pellets in the late 90s.
Patti’s poem reads: ‘Ran into Patti one day while walking / Believe me she wouldn’t stop talking / Listened and listened to her speak / That would explain her extra large beak!’
14th January – Halo the Angel Bear
Halo the Bear was introduced in 1998 and retired less than a year later in 1999, but was created for a pretty adorable reason. Halo was released to keep kids company and comfort them at night, as explained by her poem:
‘When you sleep, I’m always here / Don’t be afraid, I am near / Watching over you with lots of love / Your guardian angel from above!’
22nd January – Schweetheart the Orangutan
Schweetheart the Orangutan was one of the first-ever Beanie Babies to feature two kinds of fur, with the fluff on the top of his head being a different material from the fleece that makes up the rest of his body. Unfortunately, this innovative design didn’t help his longevity, as he was retired after less than a year in 1999.
His poem reads: ‘Of all the jungles filled with vines / Travelling about, you came to mine / Because of all the things you said / I can’t seem to get you outta my head!’
29th January – Tangles the Cat
Beanie Babies have released a lot of cats over the years, but few are as beloved as Tangles. This ginger puss was released in 2003 and retired in 2004, with no recolours to her name.
Tangled’s poem reads as follows: ‘Give me a ball of string or twine / Either one would be just fine / Sometimes I’m having so much fun / I find I’m tangled when I’m done!’
14th February – Valentina
Valentino and Valentina are a pair of matching bears that were both created to celebrate the most romantic holiday of them all. With that said, if you’re lucky enough to have a Valentine’s Day birthday then you share it with these furry soulmates. Valentino’s poem reads: His heart is red and full of love / He cares for you so give him a hug / Keep him close when feeling blue / Feel the love he has for you!”
Valentina’s poem is slightly different, reading: ‘Flowers, candy and hearts galore / Sweet words of love for those you adore / With this bear comes love that’s true / On Valentine’s Day and all year through!’
25th February – Happy the Hippo
Happy the Hippo is one of the Beanie Babies that stuck around the longest. He was first released in 1995, and wasn’t retired until 1998, with one recolour in that time. If you have a Happy hippo at home, then you either have the original lavender version, or the later grey rerelease.
His poem reads: ‘Happy the Hippo loves to wade / In the river and in the shade / When Happy shoots water out of his snout / You know he’s happy without a doubt!’
28th March – Zip the Black Cat
Zip the Black Cat was released in 1996. There are four versions of this adorable kitty: a Zip with white paws like the one above, an all-black Zip, a Zip with a white face and magenta whiskers, and a Zip with a white face and pink whiskers.
Her poem subverts the expectation of black cats being unlucky, and reads: ‘Keep Zip by your side all the day through / Zip is good luck, you’ll see it’s true / When you have something you need to do / Zip will always believe in you!’
8th April – Aruba the Fish
Aruba the Fish is one of the most colourful Beanie Babies out there, being released in 2000. Unfortunately, she was retired just a year later in 2001, and never received any recolours despite how much her design would lend itself to different themed hues.
Her adorable poem reads: ‘If you wander by the sea / And want to take a look at me / I’m swimming in the water blue / And want to throw a kiss to you!’
23rd April – William the Bear
William the Bear was created to celebrate the great Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare. So if you share your birthday with this adorable teddy, then you also share the big day with the legendary playwright himself. William the Bear’s tag states that his birthday is specifically April 23, 1562, making him canonically the oldest of all the Beanie Babies.
His poem reads: ‘From Stratford came the tales he told / Of love and Kings and stories bold / Around the Globe can still be heard / Much rapt applause at every word!’ It’s even in Iambic pentameter!
27th April – Chocolate the Moose
Chocolate the Moose was released in 1994 with a generation one swing tag, but he didn’t actually get his own poem until his generation four swing tag hit stores. Out of all the original nine Beanie Babies, Chocolate lasted the longest and was the final one to retire, only being pulled from shelves in December of 1998.
His poem reads: ‘Licorice, gum and peppermint candy / This moose always has these handy / There is one more thing he likes to eat / Can you guess his favourite sweet?’
May 10th – McWooly the Bear
McWooly the Bear was created to honour and represent Ireland in 2004, and was on the shelves for just a year, being retired in 2005. Not only does he have a ribbon covered with shamrocks, but he also has a four-leaf clover on his foot, making him even luckier.
His poem reads: ‘Do you see shamrocks over there? / Where I come from they’re everywhere / I wear them proudly for all to see / Because they bring good luck to me!’
13th August – Spike the Rhino
There are lots of animals called Spike in the Beanie Babies menagerie, from a hedgehog and a ghost to an alligator. However, by far the most beloved is Spike the Rhino, who was released pretty early in the Beanie Babies timeline, all the way back in 1996.
Spike lasted all the way up to 1998 before he was retired, and his poem reads: ‘Spike the rhino likes to stampede / He’s the bruiser that you need / Gentle to birds on his back and spike / You can be his friend if you like!’
23rd August – Roger the Pirate Bear
Roger the Bear is one of the later original Beanie Babies, having been released in 2006 as a Germany exclusive, and retired just a year later in 2007. He’s a light brown bear with crossbones embroidered on his chest and an eyepatch, and his poem expands on his love of treasure and all things nautical.
It reads: ‘I like gold and silver very much / sailing over the open seas / I am known as Roger the Pirate / travelling to the hidden land.’
25th August – Panama the Tree Frog
Not many Beanie Babies have hands instead of paws, but Panama the Frog is the exception. This adorable hopping friend was released in 2001 and retired in 2002, but he became super popular during the one year he was on shelves.
His poem emphasises his unique attributes: ‘Want to know what’s really neat? / I have suction cups on my feet / They help me climb high up a tree / To see the jungle under me!’
3rd September – Claude the Crab
Claude the Crab is set apart from the majority of Beanie Babies thanks to his tie-dye body, which is in the kind of mottled colours that you would expect to find at the bottom of a rock pool. He is one of only a few Beanie Babies to have eight legs, along with the various spiders.
His poem reads: ‘Claude the crab paints by the sea / A famous artist he hopes to be / But the tide came in and his paints fell / Now his art is on his shell!’
16th September – Derby the Horse
Derby the Horse hit shelves in 1995, and is one of the most popular Beanie Babies of all time, with four different versions being created and released across his run. Two versions added a white diamond “star” to his forehead, and two versions had 20 strands of fine hair used for the mane and tail, as opposed to just four strands of chunkier wool.
His poem reads: ‘All the other horses used to tattle / Because Derby never wore his saddle / He left the stables, and the horses too / Just so Derby can be with you!’
27th October – Haunt the Bear
If you were born in late October, chances are you hate your birthday being constantly linked to Halloween. Unfortunately, Haunt the Bear isn’t going to buck that trend, given the pumpkin embroidered on its chest and its neck ribbon in spooky orange.
His poem also has some serious spooktacular flair, reading: ‘My favourite time is Halloween / When ghosts and goblins can be seen / It’s so much fun to trick-or-treat / I hope you’ll give me something sweet!’
3rd November – Omnius the Bear
Omnius the Bear is half of a matching set, along with Omnia the Bear. You can tell the difference because, despite them both having royal blue fur, Omnius has a red heart on his chest while Omnia has a gold one. Both bears were created to celebrate Harrods, the prestigious toy shop that stocked Beanie Babies back in the day.
Omnius’ poem reads: ‘If you should need help to decide / Then let me be your special guide / So you can find great things to share / Everything for everyone, everywhere!’
17th November – Peace the Bear
The tie-dye Peace the Bear was released in 1997, to celebrate the glorious days of the 1967 Summer of Love. He was retired in 1999, and replaced with a standard blue bear with the same name. Peace is one of the most valuable Beanie Babies out there, due to its numerous print tag errors and unique colouring.
His poem reads: ‘All races, all colors, under the sun / Join hands together and have some fun / Dance to the music, rock and roll is the sound / Symbols of peace and love abound!’
3rd December – Jolly the Walrus
Jolly the Walrus is another Beanie Baby who was released in 1997 and retired in 1998. You might think, due to the December birthday, that Jolly is a festive reference connecting the walrus to Christmas. However, in truth, the name instead refers to Jolly’s jovial nature, and tendency to pull practical jokes.
His poem reads: ‘Jolly the walrus is not very serious / He laughs and laughs until he’s delirious / He often reminds me of my dad / Always happy, never sad!’