On this page
English terms of endearment are names or expressions that show affection: darling, sweetheart and my love, for example. Their meaning depends on the relationship, tone and local usage.
A nickname that feels warm to one person may feel too intimate or patronizing to another. Use the person’s name when you are unsure, especially with strangers, colleagues or customers. Being older does not automatically make an affectionate nickname appropriate.
A useful starting point
| Expression | Typical use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| darling | A partner or family member; often traditional in tone | Goodnight, darling. |
| sweetheart | A partner or child you know well | Are you ready, sweetheart? |
| honey / hon / hun | A partner or close family member; hon and hun are informal spellings | Thanks, honey. |
| my love | A romantic partner; local non-romantic uses also exist | I missed you, my love. |
| babe / baby | An informal nickname for a romantic partner | See you later, babe. |
| sweetie | A partner, child or close family member | Sleep well, sweetie. |
| little one | A baby or young child | Come here, little one. |
Where affectionate nicknames come from
Food-inspired names include honey, sugar, cupcake and pumpkin. Animal names such as bunny, lamb and teddy bear can also become private family nicknames. These choices are personal rather than rules about how men or women should behave.
Adding my can make a phrase more intimate: my sunshine, my little star or my sweetheart. Little is especially common in names for young children, but does not make every expression suitable for a child.
Families also invent playful names, such as snookums or tootsie-wootsie. These are personal or baby-talk forms, not a set of standard expressions you need to memorize.
Common and playful names for people close to you
The list below mixes familiar endearments with creative or poetic nicknames. Choose one that fits the person and your relationship. Some, such as love of my life, are strongly romantic. Beloved is literary, while luv is an informal spelling of love. Lovey-dovey normally describes very affectionate behaviour rather than functioning as an ordinary name.
- Babe
- Honey (also, hun)
- Honey bunny
- Sweetheart
- Sweetie
- Sweetie pie
- Angel
- Cuddle bunny (could also be cuddle bear)
- Snuggle bunny (could also be snuggle bear)
- Love (also, luv)
- My love
- Love of my life
- Lovey
- Lovey-dovey (usually an adjective)
- Lovebug
- My one and only
- My life
- Sunshine
- Dear (also, dearie, dearest, my dear)
- Beloved
- Darling
- Cupcake
- Muffin
- Cookie
- Buttercup
- Sugar
- Sugar pie
- Sugarplum
- Honeybunch
- Sweet pea
- Snickerdoodle
Names sometimes used for a female partner
Some expressions refer directly to a wife or girlfriend, while others are compliments or personal nicknames. They are not a list of words exclusively reserved for women. Wifey is informal, and names such as hot mama or sweet cheeks have an adult, flirtatious tone. Shorty is slang and can also sound like a comment about height; it is not a universal compliment.
- Wifey
- Beautiful
- Baby girl (also appropriate for use with little girls)
- Baby doll (can be used with little girls also)
- Sweet cheeks
- My queen
- Princess (can be used with little girls also)
- My Juliet
- Doll (can be used with little girls also)
- Lover-girl
- Hot mama
- Dove
- Peach
- Gorgeous
- Girl of my dreams
- Shorty (American slang)
- My old ball-and-chain (see the meaning note below)
Names sometimes used for a male partner
Hubby means husband informally. Handsome is a compliment, and teddy bear can suggest cuddly affection. Stud, stud muffin, hot stuff and sexy are adult, flirtatious expressions rather than general family nicknames. Preferences matter more than a rigid gender category.
- Hubby
- Loverboy
- Tiger
- Handsome
- Hot stuff
- My king
- Stud
- Stud muffin
- Sugar daddy (see the meaning note below)
- Honey Bear
- Teddy Bear
- Cuddle bear
- Prince