What's wrong with wanting the commitment?

It sounds like he may be a little afraid of making a verbal commitment to you. Even though he is acting like your boyfriend, he seems to have a problem making it official. I would be wary of this in your future together. If he is this way about just calling you his girlfriend, imagine if you get really serious; finance, wife? You could continue in the relationship, and hope he comes around to your way of thinking about this. If it is really that important to you, he will have to make that verbal commitment to you at some point. If he continues to waver in making an official commitment, you may need to move on to someone else.

Dating someone for that long and still not going out is a very long time. It could make someone feel that it will all change. The commitment levels in some people can reduce a hell of a lot once two are going out with each other. Perhaps the guy does not want this to happen. I've had it done to myself so many times.

I completely understand what you're going through.. I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now. Have you explained to him why you want that label? Some guys don't realize how important it is for girls.. But maybe it is deeper than that with him. Has he had any really bad experiences with dating and relationships? That's partly why my guy won't commit.. And I just moved a few hundred miles away.