Pet Names

JKRowley · Aug 6, 2012

I hate babe with a passion, but I just asked my teen, and that was his suggestion.

I like character specific names. I just read The F@ult in 0ur St@rs and loved it that the LI called her by her first and middle name: Hazel Grace.

She called him Augustus, until later. He noted when she started calling him Gus. It was moving.

I also like it when Eric called Sookie "lover."

Maybe not appropriate.

Stiger05 · Aug 7, 2012

Windcutter said:
We forgot about "darling" xd
Ah, and I know a person who calls her boyfriend "my precious"--nope, not a fan of Tolkien.

I cannot hear that phrase without hearing Gollum say it, which just takes it to another level of creepy.

yellowhammer · Aug 7, 2012

Babe.

It's free of connotations, imo, and after overcoming that brief stint of corniness in the 80's, is now the acceptable, totally cool and not cheesy term. That's what I'm telling myself anyway, because that's what I call my husband. =)

Jehhillenberg · Aug 7, 2012

Mclesh said:
In my YA, the boy the MC has a thing for calls her "beautiful." It fits him. He's a sweetie.

Love it. ^

yellowhammer said:
Babe.

It's free of connotations, imo, and after overcoming that brief stint of corniness in the 80's, is now the acceptable, totally cool and not cheesy term.

Took me a while to get the mindset of "babe" as corny and cheesy in the '80s, but after recalling several '80s flicks I've seen, I get it. :ROFL:

Emmet Cameron · Sep 20, 2012

I can't think of any pet names I used with sweetheart-people that I wouldn't also use with friend-people in high school. But mostly things like:

babe
gorgeous
honey-honey (a la Weetzie Bat)
puppy
handsome
fella
pretty lady

Liosse de Velishaf · Sep 20, 2012

If I have a pet name for someone, it's usually based on something very specific. A female friend I used to have I called by the name of a character she dressed up as once for Halloween. But there were reasons behind it more than just that.

Another friend I had various names for based on stuff that happened. It was an inside joke sort of thing.

Otherwise, I just call people by whatever their preferred name is.

I absolutely despise stuff like "sweetheart" or "honey" because they feel really condescending to me. "Babe" just sounds goofy.

At my high school, a lot of the black kids used "boo". It always seemed a bit silly to me, unless there was a specific reason.

I can't think of a single generic pet name I would feel comfortable calling my significant other. It would depend completely on the person and our relationship. And it would never be "babe".

Stiger05 · Sep 21, 2012

Just an update in case you're curious, since this thread was revived, I went with "Bob."

I have a scene in the beginning where the MC and future LI are arguing over what he should call her (she hates pet names too) and she says "call me Bob for all I care but for the love of God nothing cutesy!" And it sticks. So to him, she's Bob, and I never would have come up with it if it weren't for this thread, so thanks!

LadyA · Sep 23, 2012

Windcutter said:
I mostly see two pet names in YA:

babe
- usually from a jock boyfriend who doesn't appreciate MC's feminist tendencies

love
- from Spike wannabees and other bad boys with a British accent

I HATE BOTH OF THESE. Sorry to shout, but as a lib feminist (kinda), I find it so patronising when men call their girlfriends 'babe'. It's like the girl is a dainty, delicate little creature who is not strong or able to fight, she's just a 'baby'. Ditto with other nicknames - flower, petal, cutey, kitten, etc. And then men's nicknames are powerful animals like 'tiger', 'stallion', or things like 'stud'.

Plus, another pet peeve is Brit LIs who use the word 'love'. I am British and NOT A SINGLE BOY I KNOW uses 'love' when addressing his girlfriend. Middle aged men do, as do older women. Teenage boys do not.

As a whole, us british teens, like teens everywhere, try not to sound like our parents.

rugcat · Sep 23, 2012

Gosh.

I saw the thread title and thought it was about names for pets. Couldn't see any YA connection.

I of course have pet names for my dogs. esp when I call them. Real names are reserved for serious matters.

Lou is Mr. Bud, or Buddy.

Kasper is Minky

Ruby is "No, no, no, don't bite them!"

Liosse de Velishaf · Sep 23, 2012

LadyA said:
I HATE BOTH OF THESE. Sorry to shout, but as a lib feminist (kinda), I find it so patronising when men call their girlfriends 'babe'. It's like the girl is a dainty, delicate little creature who is not strong or able to fight, she's just a 'baby'. Ditto with other nicknames - flower, petal, cutey, kitten, etc. And then men's nicknames are powerful animals like 'tiger', 'stallion', or things like 'stud'.

Plus, another pet peeve is Brit LIs who use the word 'love'. I am British and NOT A SINGLE BOY I KNOW uses 'love' when addressing his girlfriend. Middle aged men do, as do older women. Teenage boys do not.

As a whole, us british teens, like teens everywhere, try not to sound like our parents.

I always crack up when I see a teen in a contemp story using "love". Unless they're like Britophiles in the US or something.

Emmet Cameron · Sep 23, 2012

LadyA said:
Sorry to shout, but as a lib feminist (kinda), I find it so patronising when men call their girlfriends 'babe'. It's like the girl is a dainty, delicate little creature who is not strong or able to fight, she's just a 'baby'.

Weird thing: I totally feel that way about 'baby' but not at all about 'babe.' I guess firstly because I see 'babe' used in pretty much all the directions, gender-wise. For me, babe is a word I use in very special moments with very special people as a one-syllable way to affirm the I-take-care-of-you-you-take-care-of-me dynamic. I might call someone babe when I bring someone tea because they're sick, but also when they go out of their way/comfort zone to do something for me. Like my vegan girlfriend getting me cheese. She was so my babe in that moment. It's hard to explain, but it kind of acknowledges the mutuality of the relationship for me.

It also has to do with the way you do stuff for your baby without batting an eyelash that you'd whinge and moan or flat-out refuse to do for anybody else. I know I'm in love with somebody when usually-heavy stuff gets light like that. So. They're my babe.

It also often comes out when somebody does something small but big, in the sense that you have to be there with them on a day-to-day to get that it was a big deal. Like how a parent is so into the minutia of their kids' lives that every new word is this really exciting, delightful moment. Watching a good friend or lover change and grow (like we all hopefully keep doing, especially when we're young and in transitional times) has a similar crackle of excitement. The crackle of babeness.

So basically, I like babe because I like babies. But not baby, because for whatever reason, I associate that word more with babies just being cute and cuddly and helpless.

Weird.

Emmet Cameron · Sep 23, 2012

Oh, and I feel like 'love' is somewhat more commonplace in pockets of Canada? Specifically some of the pockets (like newfoundland) that are supposedly closer to Elizabethan-era english? I might be crazy and making things up, but I think it's one of our oddly preserved phrases.

LadyA · Sep 24, 2012

Emmet Cameron said:
Weird thing: I totally feel that way about 'baby' but not at all about 'babe.' I guess firstly because I see 'babe' used in pretty much all the directions, gender-wise. For me, babe is a word I use in very special moments with very special people as a one-syllable way to affirm the I-take-care-of-you-you-take-care-of-me dynamic. I might call someone babe when I bring someone tea because they're sick, but also when they go out of their way/comfort zone to do something for me. Like my vegan girlfriend getting me cheese. She was so my babe in that moment. It's hard to explain, but it kind of acknowledges the mutuality of the relationship for me.

It also has to do with the way you do stuff for your baby without batting an eyelash that you'd whinge and moan or flat-out refuse to do for anybody else. I know I'm in love with somebody when usually-heavy stuff gets light like that. So. They're my babe.

It also often comes out when somebody does something small but big, in the sense that you have to be there with them on a day-to-day to get that it was a big deal. Like how a parent is so into the minutia of their kids' lives that every new word is this really exciting, delightful moment. Watching a good friend or lover change and grow (like we all hopefully keep doing, especially when we're young and in transitional times) has a similar crackle of excitement. The crackle of babeness.

So basically, I like babe because I like babies. But not baby, because for whatever reason, I associate that word more with babies just being cute and cuddly and helpless.

Weird.

I see where you're coming from, I just find the word 'babe' so dismissive - like the girl's name isn't important, like she's not really a person. I think it's different when we call our friends babe - me and my best friend do it all the time. Because, I dunno, we're equals.

I'm just fussy lol

Kyla Laufreyson · Sep 24, 2012

Without reading the rest of the thread (I have a paper I should be writing--AW is my procrastination method of choice), I have to say I would never call my SO by any of the traditional pet names you hear, and I wouldn't have any of my characters do it either, unless...unless that's what they would do.

My life? My boyfriend is a brat, so I used to call him just brat. Affectionately. Then there's a pair we cosplay, and when we're being those characters, I call him princeling. One day I randomly took the "ling" and tacked it onto the normal name for him--behold, my current pet name for him is bratling.

In the novel I'm revising right now, my MC would never call his lovers (he has two throughout the novel, one seen only in flashbacks, one for the now) by a normal pet name. Instead he just calls them other things. Feliciano becomes Fel. Lacrimosa...actually, Lacrimosa doesn't become anything, because there's nothing else to really fit him.

There's another pair in the same book, in which one of the characters is named Vhaeraun, and his lover (who gave him that name to begin with...long story) calls him just Vhae a lot of the time.

So if your character would go with babe or sweetie or honey or whatever, go for it. If they would come up with something all their own to fit their LI, use that instead.

Liosse de Velishaf · Sep 24, 2012

I like shortened names as pet names, but sometimes they lack oomph because they're something friends would use, as well.

Kyla Laufreyson · Sep 24, 2012

I guess that's a difference for me. My characters are all kind of noble and formal in general so unless people are really, REALLY close (lovers close) they're not using shortened names on each other.

(I think if anyone else called Vhaeraun by Vhae he would punch them and they know it.)

Emmet Cameron · Sep 24, 2012

LadyA said:
I see where you're coming from, I just find the word 'babe' so dismissive - like the girl's name isn't important, like she's not really a person. I think it's different when we call our friends babe - me and my best friend do it all the time. Because, I dunno, we're equals.

I'm just fussy lol

Well, yeah, I'd be grossed out to hear it from somebody who didn't regard me as an equal...but I try not to be in relationships with those people.

tamara · Sep 24, 2012

LadyA said:
I see where you're coming from, I just find the word 'babe' so dismissive - like the girl's name isn't important, like she's not really a person. I think it's different when we call our friends babe - me and my best friend do it all the time. Because, I dunno, we're equals.

I'm with you. Which is why, when my husband and I call each other "babe," no one is diminished by it. We're equals.

Apparently, we are also old, because our go-to alternative is "honey."

The only time any of it is problematic is when we're at work together, and I slip and call him "babe" or "baby" in front of a client. Oops. He hates that.

woozy · Sep 24, 2012

"Babe" will come off as extremely natural and won't call attention to itself. Honey and dear will of course sound old fashioned. "Sweetie" is probably good though a boy is less likely to use it.

Sweetness, sweetstuff, and cutie will probably pass the circuit but will probably draw attention from somebody.

If you don't mind a name drawing attention to itself, I think teenagers still have names of endearment. Often unique to the couple. You could get away with "smoochie" but it calls attention to itself.

Babe and sweetie are probably the two most common if commonality is what you are going for.

Kyla Laufreyson · Sep 24, 2012

Oh, I just thought of one that my boyfriend and I will occasionally use on each other that isn't specific to us. Every so often (once in a blue moon) we'll go for "hon". It feels casual enough to work for me but doesn't grate on my nerves like most others.

Liosse de Velishaf · Sep 24, 2012

Arianna Sterling said:
Oh, I just thought of one that my boyfriend and I will occasionally use on each other that isn't specific to us. Every so often (once in a blue moon) we'll go for "hon". It feels casual enough to work for me but doesn't grate on my nerves like most others.

Hon is better than honey, but can still come off as a bit condescending sometimes.

BloodSpatterAnalyst · Sep 25, 2012

These are some of the pet names I'm guilty of:

baby girl - Has a nice ring to it.

sweetheart - Being a southern boy and all, I find it charming.

pumpkin - Only used it in public to embarrass past girlfriends.

cupcake - I know, I was young okay :e2smack:

The_Ink_Goddess · Sep 25, 2012

LadyA said:
I HATE BOTH OF THESE. Sorry to shout, but as a lib feminist (kinda), I find it so patronising when men call their girlfriends 'babe'. It's like the girl is a dainty, delicate little creature who is not strong or able to fight, she's just a 'baby'. Ditto with other nicknames - flower, petal, cutey, kitten, etc. And then men's nicknames are powerful animals like 'tiger', 'stallion', or things like 'stud'.

Plus, another pet peeve is Brit LIs who use the word 'love'. I am British and NOT A SINGLE BOY I KNOW uses 'love' when addressing his girlfriend. Middle aged men do, as do older women. Teenage boys do not.

As a whole, us british teens, like teens everywhere, try not to sound like our parents.

This is my ultimate one. As a British girl, I don't find 'love' romantic, it makes me think of middle-aged guys yelling 'luv.' Uggggggh.

Liosse de Velishaf · Oct 7, 2012

Today, Facebook provided me with the best pet-name for a girl ever. It's only good for this specific person, and if she didn't have the sense of humour she did, it might get me slapped. But I think you'd have a damn hard time coming up with a better background story than the one Facebook has provided me with. XD

The relevance to thread is that, for me, the best pet names are unique to the characters and have a good story behind them. In the real world, this would be too much of a coincidence if all pet names were like that. But fiction is cool because you have room for some coincidence.

Becca C. · Oct 7, 2012

Liosse de Velishaf said:
Today, Facebook provided me with the best pet-name for a girl ever. It's only good for this specific person, and if she didn't have the sense of humour she did, it might get me slapped. But I think you'd have a damn hard time coming up with a better background story than the one Facebook has provided me with. XD

The relevance to thread is that, for me, the best pet names are unique to the characters and have a good story behind them.

What was it?! I'm dying to know.

Pet Names

JKRowley

Stiger05

yellowhammer

Jehhillenberg

N/A

Emmet Cameron

Liosse de Velishaf

Stiger05

LadyA

Always lurking, never posting...

rugcat

Lost in the Fog

Liosse de Velishaf

Emmet Cameron

Emmet Cameron

LadyA

Always lurking, never posting...

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

Liosse de Velishaf

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

Emmet Cameron

tamara

What the what?

woozy

I'm the nude girl; not the creature

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

Liosse de Velishaf

BloodSpatterAnalyst

"AA" stands for Authors Anonymous

The_Ink_Goddess

we're gonna make it out of the fire

Liosse de Velishaf

Becca C.