I love you, my little half-orange.
If you use pet names, it might be because your mother used them with you.
Research shows that using cute nicknames is a sign your relationship is strong.
However, it’s important to make sure your partner is okay with the cutesy names, as some people really hate them.
Insisting on using terms like “babydoll” when they’re unwanted could indicate disrespect.
The idea of being called “babe” or “sweetheart” makes some people shudder. For others, pet names are so ingrained into their lives that if their partner calls them by their real name, they know something serious must have happened.
If you love to come up with new idioms to show your affection, this could be linked to your mother, according to Dean Falk, a professor of neuroanthropology at Florida State University.
She told Broadly that ultimately, pet names are a bit like baby talk, which exists to help babies learn languages while expressing love at the same time to bond mother and child.
Tech: The scientific reasons we give our partners pet names — and what they could say about your relationship
