In romantic relationships, we tend to develop a private language. We have our inside jokes, our frequently used phrases, and our nicknames.
A nickname is a fun, playful way to express your feelings for your partner and establish a level of familiarity and comfort in the relationship. These terms of endearment run the gamut from classic to cute to bizarre. Pet names like “sweetheart” and “honey” have been around for hundreds of years (since the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, respectively), while newcomer “bae” is a twenty-first-century invention.
Popular terms also vary greatly from culture to culture. In France you might dub your partner a “little cabbage” (petit chou), in the Arabic-speaking world your beauty could be compared to that of a gazelle (ghazal), and in Thailand you might be a “little elephant” (chang noi).
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we analyzed our data to determine the most popular terms of endearment used in the Grammarly app and mobile keyboard.
Studies have shown there is a positive correlation between relationship satisfaction and a couple’s use of terms of endearment. So try using these nicknames to greet your loved one in a special new way, or sprinkle them throughout that epic love letter you’ve been writing.
Appetizing appellations
Because they’re sweet and delicious
- Sugar
- Honey
- Pumpkin
- Muffin
- Sweetie Pie
Millennial monikers
Take your cue from the youth
- Bae
- Boo
- Babygirl
Timeless titles
Oldies but goodies
- Love
- Baby
- Angel
- Lover
- Sweetheart
- Sunshine
- Doll
Long-term labels
We’re better together
- Hun
- Hubby
- Wifey
