How the nickname that boyfriends use for each other can affect love

All over the world, it is common for couples to call each other by nicknames. Be they cute or ridiculous, apparently these nicknames come spontaneously. However, scientists are convinced that this kind of affectionate treatment always has a hidden meaning and can say a lot about a couple’s relationship.

O awesome.club did a little research to understand what the endearing words and nicknames that lovers usually use mean. Check it out and see if you and your love (ops, your ‘bae’) fit in any of these cases.

Kitten, bunny, dog… all these nicknames come from childhood, cartoons and fairy tales about animals. A man called a “teddy bear” can personify this childhood teddy bear that was once a gift from his parents and turned into a “transitional object”. This term refers to an object that generates in the child a feeling of psychological tranquility in a stressful or unusual situation and relieves the tension of separation from the mother.

In adulthood, we also need someone with whom we feel calm, secure, and confident. And these nicknames help to unconsciously return to the atmosphere of early childhood. They symbolize the unconditional love that a mother feels for her child and we, in our adult reality, for our love.

It is also important to take into account whether we call our companion with a word that denotes a strong animal and a predator or, on the contrary, a harmless one.

If you call your partner “my tiger”, for example, it means he has a dominating role in the relationship and maybe has a muscular body. And you’re a tamer of sorts. “My kitty” and “my cat” are two different stories. A kitten is a creature that causes commotion and wants to be taken care of. And the attractive “baby” is an indicator of sensual attraction between the couple. “Pombinha” refers to fragility and dependence.

“My life”, “my love”, “the jewel in my heart” and other exaggerated nicknames reminiscent of Wando songs are often indicators of insincerity. Most likely, those who use this type of nickname just like to say nice words and shower their partner with compliments. And only.

Of course, it all depends on the situation and there is also the exception of the moments of the beginning of a relationship or flirting, when everything is more intense. But, in an already consolidated relationship, the phrase “light of my eyes” may sound ironic.

These nicknames are a kind of subcategory of the previous item. They can sound like a lack of formality in certain cases. If this is the case for you and your partner, simply prefer ‘love’. It’s more direct, sincere and without much frills.

Calling the partner by their surname or full name indicates the need—not always conscious—to distance themselves from their partner. Most likely, in such a couple, the relationship is more formal than intimate. A couple who treat each other in this way may be valuing only respect, and not the love and tenderness that is so necessary in a relationship.

On the other hand, if you call your partner by their first and last names at an event or in front of people of higher social status, you are probably trying to reinforce their status or are proud of a position they took on the company, for example.

If you call your partner “sunshine”, it means that you feel passion and freedom around this person. But, at the same time, there is something inaccessible about the use of this nickname: for some reason you chose a celestial body that, as we know, is far beyond the reach of people.

This is the case where an affectionate nickname speaks for itself about the essence of the relationship. If you’ve been called that, your partner is likely to perceive you as a kind of toy that belongs to you. A doll is a woman-child who will passively fulfill your wishes.

But be careful: using this type of nickname once in a while does not, in itself, mean something negative. The problem is when it becomes routine, in which case it is clear that your partner actually sees you as a toy that can break at any moment and then be thrown away.

They can sound funny, weird or even silly. But they are really original: this kind of nickname, in general, refers to the couple’s history or to some very particular event in their lives. ‘Moreninha’, ‘chubby’, ‘grumbler’, ‘crazy’ usually show a united couple and a relationship in which one respects the other’s characteristics, whether positive or negative.

This class of nicknames emphasizes physical characteristics. Those who use them usually show interest in their partner’s physical characteristics – which, in turn, may not be very positive either, because, as we know, a relationship goes far beyond physical attraction.

According to physician Stephen Snyder, professor of medicine and psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York (USA), this class of nicknames is a reference to the so-called fourth trimester, that is, the period after birth, when we are completely dependent on our parents. . Professor Snyder believes that this way of calling your spouse suggests that the emotional and physical connection is as strong as that between a mother and child.

But on the other hand, this kind of affectionate nickname can signify a mate’s unconscious desire to consolidate his power and authority over the other. It is a case that refers to small children who are absolutely dependent on adults.

‘My sweetie’, ‘Meu bonbon’, ‘My sweetness’ and other food-themed nicknames are considered an indicator of sensual attraction. This also includes nicknames like ‘hot/hot’ – in this case, said in the intimacy of the couple. Obviously, we’re talking more about carnal attraction here than other aspects of a relationship between two people. If you are called that, it is because your love sees you primarily as the object of its passion and desire.

When a couple has children, parents often start calling themselves ‘mommy’ or ‘daddy’. At first, this only happens in the presence of children. But soon, out of habit, it becomes something of a routine, even after the children are grown. As you may have heard around, this type of nickname implies a loss or reduction of passion and a decrease in physical attraction between partners. After all, do you have a desire for your father or for your mother?

Furthermore, naming a man ‘daddy’ can mean, on the part of the woman, to assume a position of dependence, including material. In other words, it can mean putting yourself in the position of a daughter.

People call each other simply by name, usually at the initial stage of the relationship. A study by the University of Ohio (USA) on the relationship between affectionate nicknames in a couple and satisfaction with their relationship showed that men and women satisfied with their relationship generally use more affectionate nicknames than those who are not happy with their relationship.

If the couple stops using affectionate nicknames, it often denotes that the level of their intimacy has dropped. But be aware: the use of nicknames in the professional sphere (when spouses work together, for example) can denote (1) a violation of privacy in the work environment and (2) the desire to show dominance. Don’t you find it embarrassing to be called by your nickname in an environment that should be more formal?

Do you use any of those nicknames we mentioned with your partner? Do you believe that the nickname can demonstrate non-explicit feelings?

Share with us your opinion!