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Coming up with cute names to call your boyfriend isn’t always easy. While it might seem a fun and romantic task, be warned: the road to the perfect boyfriend pet name can be fraught with peril. If you want to know how to compliment a guy, a good starting point is to realize that there’s a vast gulf between what he’ll be comfortable with in private and in public.
Perhaps it’s childish that men care so much about what their friends think. But the truth is, if you shout out, “Snuggle Wumps, can you come here?” to him while he’s hanging out with all his friends, rest assured, you won’t be in his good books.
So, where do you start when it comes to cute names to call your boyfriend? If you’re new to the whole relationship thing, or you’re just a little uninspired when it comes to conjuring up some boyfriend nicknames, fear not. Below, we’ve put together our definitive guide, written by an actual human man!
What Are Cute Names to Call Your Boyfriend?
Boyfriend nicknames are pretty common these days. In every far-flung corner of the world, you’ll happen upon doe-eyed couples calling each other things like “Bae”, “Piglet” and, if you’re really lucky, “Squidge Muffin”.
Cute names to call your boyfriend are often dependent on the dynamics and stage of your relationship. They’re all about demonstrating affection and they commonly imply deep levels of trust and even intimacy within a relationship. Pet names for boyfriends can be a lot of fun, but just make sure that he’s happy with the nickname you choose for him. If it’s a name that makes him smile, then you’ve made a good choice!
12 Cute Names to Call Your Boyfriend: Examples to Get You Inspired
Hyped about the prospect of coming up with some cute nicknames for your boyfriend? Below, we’ve put together an extensive list of 12 examples to get your inspiration and ideas flowing. Check out our suggestions below!
1. Sweetie/Sweetheart
A nice easy one to kick us off – there’s nothing divisive about “sweetie”. Sweetie is vanilla, it’s steady, a surefire hit; it’s the Tom Hanks of boyfriend nicknames. As a term of endearment that’s been used for decades, it has a genuine sense of affection to it. Not in use so much for the younger generations, but still a solid nickname with a lot of mileage left.
2. Boo
Unless you’re a 90’s R&B artist, “Boo” might be a slightly risky choice. High on the cuteness scale, certainly, but simultaneously in danger of entering the “get a room” territory. Also, as a rule, when considering how to compliment a guy, it’s usually a good idea to avoid using cute names to call your boyfriend that could also be attributed to a pet hamster.
3. Tiger
Sure, dubbing him “Tiger” is a top pick when it comes to flirty nicknames for boyfriends. However, issues might arise when you huskily murmur, “Pass the gravy, Tiger” across the dinner table, and your mother-in-law spits her white wine across the room. Your sex life might be off the charts, but this boyfriend pet name might only work in certain settings and scenarios. See also: “Big Boy” for a similar example of this!
4. Sugar
If you’ve got the style and attitude to pull this one off, then, by all means, go wild. Usually, however, calling someone “Sugar” in public can seem a bit like wearing double denim – it felt like a much better idea in your head.
5. Darling/Darlin’
“Darling” may be as British as torrential rain on a summer’s day, but it seems a ‘g’ got lost somewhere on its journey across the pond. For maximum effect, ‘Darlin’” is best uttered with a wry half-smile and a southern drawl.
6. Handsome
Kill two birds with one stone by complimenting your better half every time you need to get their attention! For romantic names to call your boyfriend, see also: gorgeous, sexy, and beautiful (yes, men like being called beautiful too).
7. Pumpkin
Hey, if your loved one reminds you of a large orange vegetable that people scoop out and display on Halloween to terrify one another, who are we to judge?
8. Baby/Babe
“Baby” as a cute name to call your boyfriend is one of those things that makes sense if you don’t think about it too much, like sausage meat, or the plot of Terminator. We may never know why we refer to each other as infants, but regardless, “baby” or “babe” have long been favorites of enamored couples across the world, and feature in just about every rock song ever written.
It currently comes in third for the most common couple nickname there is. Intimate and cutesy, while so commonplace as to not be cringe-inducing, “babe” is the Swiss army knife of boyfriend nicknames.
9. Stud
If your boyfriend is Danny Zuko and you are Sandy Olsson, go right ahead. If, however (and we’re assuming this is the case for most readers), you’re not a leather-clad, 1950’s high-school student, it might be worth using this one with caution.
10. Pookie
So, so many questions, yet so little time. What, or who, is a pookie? Is it a noun, or a verb? Perhaps an adjective? Who invented this foul term? They must be brought to justice. Of all the cute names to call your boyfriend listed, this one will cause your man’s face to wince the most. This is definitely one that should be reserved exclusively for private use!
11. Snookums
From facial wincing to bodily despair, next up is “snookums”. If you ever find yourself in a situation that you can’t escape, such as an overly long meeting or a dreary double date, simply begin continually referring to your partner (or anyone nearby) as “snookums”.
Then watch as the room miraculously begins to empty, as people are physically driven from the vicinity by the sheer magnitude of cringe that emanates from the verbal stink bomb that is “snookums”.
12. Honey
When it comes to sweet names to call your boyfriend, this term of endearment conjures images of wholesome evenings at home together, walks through springtime woods hand in hand, picnics in the meadow, and building a loving, mutually supportive life together. Unless your man’s a beekeeper, in which case it’ll just remind him of work and make him loathe you.
Cute Names to Call Your Boyfriend: Find the Nickname That Fits
Thus concludes our guide to cute names to call your boyfriend. If you’ve browsed the above and remain unimpressed, we have one last suggestion. Make one up! Often, the best boyfriend nicknames are gained through shared memories. Remember that time your man tried to make a bacon sandwich and instead accidentally burned the kitchen to the ground? Call him “smoky” as a light-hearted reminder!
Look for inspiration in your daily lives, and sooner or later, something will stick. And eventually, you’ll have an entire address book’s worth of bizarre, funny, possibly slightly awkward, adorable pet names for one another.