Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a general affectionate term of address; usu. to a child.

1978		L. Kramer Faggots 47: Are the mommies of this world really ready to learn about the sodomitic activities of their bubbalahs?
1978		H. Selby Jr Requiem for a Dream (1987) 12: My son, my boobala.
1990		(con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 220: Come to Daddy, bubeleh!
1995		J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 59: This switch from ‘Jerry, bubbelah!’ to the IRS auditor-like ‘Mister.’.
2000		P. Beatty Tuff 83: ‘Mommy, what happened?’ ‘Uh, nothing, bubeleh. Everything’s fine.’.
2013		T. Robinson Hard Bounce [ebook] ‘The mike is yours, bubelah’.