I don't know, maybe it's just me. But I don't really understand the whole point in using such generic pet names. I mean, come on now,
exactly how special is it if you call your SO something that almost everyone else uses too? And then some of the pet names like "Baby" can also be used in a derogatory context too. So if it can have negative connotations, why would you use it on your SO? Sure, when you use it, you most likely aren't using it negatively. But we all know how silly some girls can be. They like to interpret things however way they want sometimes.
If there's a choice to use a better term, why not just use it instead? I was called baby once by this guy who liked me in high school. Well let's just say, it was not a pretty story. Back to the general point now, I believe that everything a couple shares in a relationship should be special and really only have meaning when used with each other (if that makes any sense at all).
Though I also believe there's a fine line for that and it shouldn't get too extreme. You never really know if things could go bad and then you find yourself single and haunted by all these songs, movies, poems, t.v. shows, etc... that were once considered to be you and your SO's specifically.
When it comes to pet names, I feel like that should be one thing that needs to be special only to that particular relationship. I mean, if you think about it, if your SO uses such a generic pet name for you, then most likely he/she called their previous SO's the same thing. How would that make you feel to know that you are just another "baby" in that person's life?
I don't know. Maybe I'm thinking too much into it. But I guess for myself, I make sure to come up with pet names just for him. I know what I used to call my ex, and I won't use the same term with the bf (though I did slip up once :X).
What do you call your SO? What pet names do you use? How important are personalized pet names to you?
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Comments (92)
i'm not a fan of pet names in general, but generic ones are even worse haha
I don't go over the top...usually its "darling", "my love" "baby" and "hunny" ...I don't see what the big deal is. If people enjoy calling each other pet names why should it bother you?
Never really thought about it before. My boy and I call each other Bun. But, as in, bunniebear. Don't ask. I don't know how that happened at all. I think I was joking around and made like an overly cheesey name, and it went from that to just bunnie, then to bun. haha. Dumb.
i like saying baby and hunny coz it's cuuuute. nothing derogatory attached to it when i use it at least.
I hate pet names! I told my SO not to call me any thing like that cause I'm not a pastry and like on mean girls, "he calls you pet names so he won't call you the wrong name". He still calls me cupcake to aggravate though *rolls eyes*
I honestly hate it when guys I'm into use my name, I think its because I hate my name so much.I also think its really cute the first time a guy uses a "term of endearment" makes me think he's really into me ;p
I've only been called baby by one guy in my life and nobody else is going to be allowed to use it. He also called me honey.
@PseudoEuphoric@xanga - agree
OP: My bf and I have weird pet names but that reflects who we are and we're just fine with it. We usually call each other silly fish, silly head, or (insert mood) cuttlefish. Lol though I do call him my love etc; So it really depends. I don't think you should feel offended by them. They are terms of endearment between two people really.
The one I've ever used was babe.
I call my SO either Puma or Firefly (when I call him firefly he always responds by calling me his "Serenity")
I just want to start off by saying I don't have anything against people using generic names. I was merely just expressing my opinion and thoughts about it and why I personally wouldn't use it. I mean after all, my bf calls me "honey" and I don't get worked up about it. If that's what he wants to call me, then that's fine with me. The "Generic Pet Names Need to Go" in the title was added by the datingish admin as you can see from my original post. I just wanted to see what other people think about it and thought it would only be fair to share my opinion first.
That is all. :)
However, we do try to out-do each other with the ridiculously cute ones like "sugarplum" or "honey bear" when we're joking around. Legitimately calling each other "unique" pet names seems unnecessary to me. As long as I'm the only Baby currently in his life, s'all good.
I call my boyfriend pet names all the time and he does the same with me. I usually go with boo or sweetheart haha. Sometimes baby boy because he told me that's his favorite, I'm not sure why. He calls me sweetheart, baby doll, and gorgeous. We've been together for two years and they still make me giddy and make my stomach get all knotty. I don't care if he's called another girl those names or not. I started calling him pookie wookie bear to bother him once because he told me he was glad I didn't call him anything cheesy.
to all my friends and close people they're "darling" and "sweetie" and it's because they're special to me.
I honestly don't care about pet names... they can call me what they want if they want... obviously they have some connotation to the person that uses them. Now if they have a special request ... I don't care if they called their previous "gf" the same thing because to be honest he is with me not with her. So, the fact that he calls me the same things wouldn't lessen the relationship or who we are as people or a couple or the fact that we have certain feelings. Sure some things can be traumatizing but when a relationship doesn't work... it doesn't mean the world will end or that the pet names will stop.
Just because my ex use too Call me "baby" or "babe" I don't hate everybody who uses them or think of them degrading....
I don't know I guess this is my opinion... The pet name doesn't define me but it gives a link to a meaning someone has for you... idk
I've actually started referring to my BF only by pet names now; I can't remember the last time I called him by his real name (except when referring to him in the 3rd person)
Sexybee was a fun one. Cus shes always buzzing round inside my head :P
My boyfriend said at the beginning he'd like us to have some sort of pet names for eachother. I said no thanks. That shit makes me uncomfortable. Whenever I hear someone call their partner "baby", I cringe. Why would anyone want to be referred to as a baby?! Ugh.
The only ones I like are "sweetheart" or "sweetie", those are cute and tolerable. I guess "honey" is okay once in a while. But "baby" seriously needs to die.
It's the generic "hunny", "hunnybuns"; we established that we can never pull off "baby" or "babe"
I can't do petnames myself. If I could be bothered, I stick with honey or sweetheart. Otherwise, I call them by their names and be done with it.
boooo! no fun. although, I shouldn't really talk while I do call my bf "baby" mostly we call each other "kitty" which is an inside joke and completely unique to each other. We've never called anyone else that name.
I called a guy/now ex, a pet name before, and he seemed offended, but he didn't overreact-I could tell that he didn't like it, because it was too girly, and he is the macho type
I don't like pet names. I prefer something like gorgeous. people that have called me hun said it in a condescending way. it depends on their tone. if I like him, anything positive that he calls me is all good.
The gf and I used "hun" or "honey" almost exclusively. Though we have unique names for each other; my girlfriend's is "Tomato soup" which is a play on words regarding her Vietnamese name and mine is "Puzzle" because I once told her that she was like the missing piece that completed my puzzle. We don't use them much though, except as jokes.
Personally I find it weird when couples call each other by their given names, so I refuse to do it. I don't remember the last time I called my girlfriend "Jessica" instead of "hun."
i think most couples come up with their own nicknames, as well as use "generic" nicknames. my boyfriend and i use the regular "baby, honey" that pretty much everyone uses, but we also have ones such as "jb" and "bb" that we use for each other, with our names... so i think that, along with the usual ones, other people will come up with their own for their significant other and itll stick. :)
I call my girlfriend "Noodle" or "Chicken Noodle Soup".
Sometimes I call her "Bitch", "Bitchcakes", occasionally "Bitchers"
I have no problem with pet names, actually I like when my BF called me baby, I always thought it was sweet. We also have other nicknames but usually use babe and baby. Sometimes I call him freckles but only when it sounds right..."hey freckles can you grab me the remote?"...just doesnt sound right to me!