Is there a difference between calling people certain pet names (i. e. baby vs. babe vs. darling)?

[Anonymous]

When you use them, is there a difference? And calling someone a pet name instead of their name?

I feel that "hun" and "babe" are a lot more common and don't really mean too much, but when someone uses something like "darling" or "sweetheart" or "my love" it makes me feel better a little sweeter lol :) And especially if they add "my" in front of it! Is there a difference though?

Yes! Different names mean different things

No it's all the same.

Meh. I don't know.

[wowzer]

I think Babe is affectionate. I would not use that on a friend. Baby is more so, Hun is either affectionate or friendly because friends use that at times, but as an affectionate term I'd put it above Babe. Honey is much sweeter than Hun. Darling really spells it out as does Love, and my in front more so. In my opinion, they're all saying the same thing but they're more open or more generous in affection. I would only use any of them if I loved the person, but each makes the statement more or less obvious. Love can get overused so I will often put my in front to drive home the message and capitalise Love to show I'm describing a person not just throwing a standard word around. My Darling is the strongest, but you can't really use it often so I vary between Babe, Hun, Love and Baby for special occasions lol. Honey has yet to be used but I have played with sweetie pie and honey pie :)

[Asker]

Thanks for your answer! Would you say that if you use something like "my darling" or "my love" too often it'll lessen the meaning of it? And when would you start calling someone names like "baby" or "hun"? I really appreciate your answer! :)

[wowzer]

Yes, too often it will mean a bit less. I think it also makes more impact when you use it at the right times rather than all the time :) Babe is probably the first one I'd use, Hun afterwards :) Your questions really makes me want to use Honey now lol. Thank you for the question, I love pet names! :)

[wowzer]

Thank you, loved the question, you got anymore lemme know lol.

[rocelot]

I can't wait till I'm in my seventies and able to just call everyone a term like those.

[Southernbell55]

I don't know about there being a difference between the names, but they sure do make you feel differently. For instance I call almost everyone hun, it's just normal for me so there isn't anything special or sweet for me in that pet-name. I call my bf honey bunny or baby and he calls me sweetheart or babe. It doesn't matter to me if it's just the plain babe because I can still feel the love, but when he calls me sweetheart I still get all giddy... even after four years!

[Asker]

Sweetheart gets me every time!!

[wowzer]

Oh yes Honey Bunny lol. I forgot that one, one of my favourites :) I spell it Hunny Bunny =P