CoComelon is a series of animated nursery rhymes and original songs built around JJ, a toddler, and his family. Instead of long stories, each video takes one small moment from a young child's day, a bath, a car ride, a trip to the doctor, a first haircut, and turns it into a song. JJ is the stand-in for the child watching.
The brand began on YouTube, where its channel became one of the most-watched in the world, and later moved onto Netflix and other platforms. It's now owned by Moonbug Entertainment. The cast is small and stable, which suits its very young audience. Below you'll find every main character, what they do in the videos, and how the spin-off CoComelon Lane changes things.
- Origin
- YouTube channel, originally ABC Kid TV
- Renamed
- CoComelon, 2018
- Owner
- Moonbug Entertainment (since 2020)
- Spin-off
- CoComelon Lane (Netflix, 2023)
- Audience
- Babies and toddlers, about ages 0–4
JJ and his family
Almost every CoComelon video happens at home, so JJ's family is the core cast. They're warm, patient and always available, the idealised family a toddler would design.
JJ
Toddler · Main character
JJ is the youngest child in the family and the centre of nearly every video. He has a round face, big eyes and a single tuft of hair, and he's learning everything for the first time: how to brush his teeth, how to use the potty, why vegetables are worth trying. He rarely speaks in full sentences in the classic videos; instead the songs narrate what he's doing, which lets very young children see themselves in him.
YoYo
JJ's older sister
YoYo is JJ's big sister. She's caring and a little bit in charge, often showing JJ how to do something before he tries it himself. She joins in games, helps with chores and is the sibling JJ most often copies, which is how the videos model new habits.
TomTom
JJ's older brother
TomTom is JJ's big brother, energetic and playful. He's the one most likely to turn a routine into a game, and many of the active songs, like dancing, racing or playing outside, feature him and JJ together.
Mom
JJ's mother
Mom guides the children through the daily routine: waking up, getting dressed, mealtimes, bath and bed. She's endlessly patient and encouraging, and she's the voice of comfort in videos about bumps, colds and doctor visits.
Dad
JJ's father
Dad is playful and hands-on, the parent who gives piggyback rides, builds things and gets silly at bath time. Videos featuring Dad are often about play and outings, and he's just as present in the everyday routines as Mom.
Grandma and Grandpa
JJ's grandparents
JJ's grandparents appear in videos about visits, holidays and family traditions. They're gentle and fun, and their scenes introduce the idea of an extended family to children who are just learning who's who in their own.
Bingo
The family dog
Bingo is the family's friendly pet dog, named after the classic counting song. He tags along on adventures and features in videos about caring for animals, feeding a pet and being gentle with it.
JJ's friends and teacher
As the channel grew, it added a group of friends and a classroom, giving the videos a second setting: school. Each friend has their own family, which also widened the show's picture of what families look like.
Cody
JJ's friend
Cody is one of JJ's closest friends from school, cheerful and adventurous. He features in playdate and classroom videos, and his own family appears in songs about home life, giving the channel a second household alongside JJ's.
Nina
JJ's friend
Nina is a kind, friendly girl in JJ's class and one of the friends he sees most. Her family also gets its own videos, and she's one of the main friends in CoComelon Lane.
Cece
JJ's friend
Cece is a bright, energetic classmate who joins JJ and the others in school and playground songs. She's a regular in videos about playing together and trying new things.
Bella
JJ's friend
Bella is another of JJ's school friends, upbeat and sociable. She appears in group songs about sharing, taking turns and playing together.
Ms. Appleberry
JJ's teacher
Ms. Appleberry runs JJ's classroom and leads the school-themed songs: the alphabet, counting, colours, show-and-tell. She's warm and enthusiastic and makes every lesson a sing-along, which is the CoComelon approach in a single character.
CoComelon characters at a glance
| Character | Who they are | Where you'll see them |
|---|---|---|
| JJ | Toddler, main character | Almost every video |
| YoYo | Older sister | Home and family songs |
| TomTom | Older brother | Home, play and outdoor songs |
| Mom | Mother | Daily routines, bath and bedtime |
| Dad | Father | Play, outings and routines |
| Grandma and Grandpa | Grandparents | Visits and holidays |
| Bingo | Family dog | Pet and animal songs |
| Cody | Friend | School, playdates, CoComelon Lane |
| Nina | Friend | School, playdates, CoComelon Lane |
| Cece | Friend | School songs |
| Bella | Friend | School songs |
| Ms. Appleberry | Teacher | Classroom songs |
CoComelon Lane
CoComelon Lane is a Netflix series that launched in November 2023. It keeps JJ, his family and his friends but changes the format: each episode is a short story with dialogue and a plot, built around a toddler situation such as trying something new, feeling left out or going to the doctor. The songs are still there, but they serve the story rather than being the whole point.
The biggest change is that JJ and his friends talk much more, so characters like Nina and Cody come across as personalities rather than faces in a song. The series also leans into the friends' families, showing a wider range of households. For parents who find the original videos repetitive, CoComelon Lane is usually the easier watch.
How CoComelon videos work
Classic CoComelon videos are nursery rhymes and original songs set to bright 3D animation. Many are reworked traditional songs, like "Wheels on the Bus" or "Old MacDonald", and many are original songs about routines, like bath time or trying new food. Episodes on streaming services are usually compilations of these songs strung together.
- Routine songs. Waking up, brushing teeth, potty training, bath and bed.
- Learning songs. Numbers, letters, colours, shapes and animals.
- Feelings and firsts. First day at school, a visit to the doctor, sharing toys, being brave.
- Seasonal songs. Holidays, birthdays and weather.
For parents: what to know
CoComelon is designed for the very youngest viewers, roughly babies to four-year-olds. Its strengths are clear: simple language, repetition, and gentle modelling of everyday routines that many parents find genuinely helpful for things like tooth-brushing or bedtime.
It's also had its critics. Some parents and commentators feel the fast cuts and bright colours make it hard for toddlers to switch off, and suggest balancing it with slower-paced shows. That's a judgement for each family; if you'd like a calmer alternative, many parents rotate in Peppa Pig or Bluey, which are both gentle, story-led and short.
As toddlers grow, they often graduate from CoComelon to the rescue missions of Paw Patrol or to colourful character worlds like Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake and Hello Kitty.
All CoComelon character names A–Z
B–C
- Bella — Friend
- Bingo — Family dog
- Cece — Friend
- Cody — Friend
D–G
- Dad — JJ's father
- Grandma — JJ's grandmother
- Grandpa — JJ's grandfather
J–M
- JJ — Main character
- Mom — JJ's mother
- Ms. Appleberry — Teacher
N
- Nina — Friend
T–Y
- TomTom — Older brother
- YoYo — Older sister
Frequently asked questions
What are the names of the CoComelon characters?
The main character is JJ, a toddler. His family is his big sister YoYo, his big brother TomTom, Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, and the family dog Bingo. His friends include Cody, Nina, Cece and Bella, and his teacher is Ms. Appleberry.
Is JJ a boy or a girl?
JJ is a boy. He's the youngest child in his family and the toddler at the centre of almost every CoComelon video.
Who are YoYo and TomTom?
YoYo is JJ's older sister and TomTom is his older brother. They often help JJ with new routines, play games with him and join in the family's songs.
What is CoComelon Lane?
CoComelon Lane is a Netflix series launched in 2023 that tells short, story-led episodes about JJ and his friends, with more dialogue and plot than the original song videos. It still features songs, but each episode is built around a situation, such as a first sleepover or a trip to the doctor.
What was CoComelon called before?
The YouTube channel started in the mid-2000s under the name ABC Kid TV and was renamed CoComelon in 2018.
What age is CoComelon for?
It's aimed at babies and toddlers, roughly up to age four. The songs teach routines like brushing teeth, bath time and eating vegetables, along with counting, letters and colours.