No matter if you’re dating a guy or in a serious relationship with him, there comes a point when you have to ask yourself, What do guys like to be called?
You want the two of you to feel closer to each other and you think that using a pet name is a good way to achieve that.
We all know that it works in a girl’s world. We love it when guys pick a cute nickname to call us by. It makes us feel special and one-of-a-kind.
The simple use of a nickname can also help us read their feelings. (Am I still in the friend zone or has he fallen for me?)
But does it work the other way around? Do guys want us to refer to them by cute names?
Come to think of it, what do guys like to be called at all?
Calling a guy by a pet name for the first time can feel terrifying:
Am I gonna scare him?
Am I gonna push him away?
Is he going to cringe when I call him some cute name?
That’s why I’m here to help you get relief from the stress of it all.
I’ll give you the top-rated nicknames to get an idea of which ones you can use at each stage of the relationship.
What do guys like to be called?
No matter how far you are into a relationship, you don’t want to make the mistake of calling him by the wrong nickname.
Maybe you have picked one too early or one that makes him feel awkward.
That’s why you need to know what guys like to be called and when the right time is to use the given nicknames.
The opportunities are endless. You just need to pick one that suits your guy and your current relationship status.
1. Angel
Isn’t this nickname for girls? Do guys like to be called “angels”?
Think about it. Angels represent flawless creatures and they are a sign of perfection and purity. If you call your guy this, it will make him feel that he is perfect in your eyes.
Even though he knows that he is far from flawless, calling him by this nickname will show him that you appreciate him for everything he is.
This nickname is more suitable if you and your guy are officially dating.
It’s probably too early to call him angel at the very beginning of the relationship.
He may feel that it isn’t the right moment to call him that if the two of you have just started going out.
Also, be careful with calling him angel in public.
You know that guys act like two different people when they are alone with you and when they are surrounded by their friends.
Calling him angel when his friends are around can hurt his ego and cause them to mock him.
2. Baby/Babe
One of the nicknames guys like to be called by is the well-known baby or babe. It’s a term of endearment that all of us are familiar with.
We could probably say that it is one of the most used nicknames as almost all couples use it.
It can be used at the very beginning of the relationship and later on when the two of you are more serious. It works for all occasions.
Calling your significant other baby or babe will make his heart melt as it sounds sweet and caring, no matter when you use it.
You just need to pay attention to not call him this all the time. It can get boring after a while, especially since many couples use it on a daily basis.
3. Bae
Even though it sounds like a shortened version of babe, this nickname actually has a cuter meaning.
It stands for “before anything else,” which is simply irresistible.
It became popular through social media, so I know you’ve likely heard it thrown around.
Girls started calling their guys bae and it seems the guys don’t mind it.
Actually, guys like to be called this as it makes them feel special – that they’re number one in their girl’s heart and come before everyone else.
It’s like you are telling him “Nothing and no one is more important than you, you’re the only one I love.”
It is short and sweet, yet evokes a warm feeling and makes him feel loved and important.
4. Big Guy
We all know that guys love to feel tough and strong. He likes it when he is a symbol of protection for you. It gives him power that all men love to have.
That’s why you can’t go wrong with calling him big guy. It is an easy step to improve his confidence and ego.
He’ll feel important and protective over you – and we all know that these are two things guys like.
They need to be heroes, and women sometimes have to give them that pleasure.
If he will feel more in love with you when you call him this, why not use it? Let him be your knight and you’ll instantly be his princess.
Hey, you might even get an impromptu cuddle after you call him by this cute nickname.
5. Boy
This pet name is more appropriate if you are at the very start of your dating journey together.
You’re not in a relationship yet, but you want to find a non-intrusive nickname that will make him feel closer to you.
Boy is a great choice for this. When you call him this, it makes him feel that he is YOUR boy and that he is important.
And if he is your boy, then you are his girl. That’s how things work, right?
Let’s say you’ve been on a first date, you like this guy, and you want to implicitly show him that. Use the term boy and just see how his attention rises.
It’s a bit flirty too, which is always a good thing, yet appropriate enough for the very beginning of getting to know each other.
6. Champ
How does a man feel when you call him champ? Well, let’s put it this way.
Men love to chase and compete, and the one who wins is called the champion. So, when you call him this, you’re telling him that he is the one who won YOU.
And is there a better price? Of course not!
So, by calling him your champ, you’ve achieved two things.
Firstly, you’ve made him feel worthy and powerful, and secondly, you’ve made it clear that he had to fight for you to win your heart.
You’re letting your loved one feel like your hero and showing him how important YOU are in his life.
One simple word can carry a lot of meaning. So be careful what you call him!
7. Charmer
If you’re still flirting and no moves have been made on either side of the field, you can call your guy charmer if you want to boost his ego.
It suggests to him that he’s good at flirting and his pick up lines are strong.
This will boost his confidence and he will be even more determined to win you over.
Just don’t overdo it! Use it occasionally, like you are throwing him some crumbs that he needs to pick up in order to get to you.
If you give him too much, he won’t bother going for the main course as he’ll already be full.
So, from time to time, say “Hey, charmer” and let him know that his flirting is working – he just hasn’t arrived at the finish line yet.
8. Cutie
Do guys even like to be called “cutie”? Isn’t it only for girls?
Well, it depends from guy to guy, but the reality is that all of us want to be appreciated for the way we look or behave. It’s a fact.
So, if you’re alone with your guy and he does something kind and sweet, don’t stop yourself from calling him cutie.
It may feel weird at first, but he will realize that his deeds are appreciated.
Of course, if you see that this nickname doesn’t sit on him, you can always stop using it.
No matter what, it’s a sweet way of showing him that you like him and what he does for you, and that can never make him feel bad.
9. Darling/Dear
This one is more appropriate if the two of you are already in a relationship.
In that case, darling or dear represents tender love and care through one simple word.
It shows that he is important to you, especially if you don’t use this word very often.
When a guy sees that he’s the only one you call by this pet name, he’ll realize he’s an important part of your life.
10. Good-Looking
We all love it when someone pays attention to the way we look, especially if we spent a bit more time than usual to get ready.
Trust me, guys love it too (even though they may not admit it).
So, when you call him good-looking, you’re telling him that you like the way he looks and you’re also flirting with him.
You find him attractive and you want him to know it. And at the same time, he’ll feel good about himself.
It will work every time and is guaranteed to always put a smile on his face.
Admit it, you’d also love it if someone would occasionally tell you that you are good-looking.
It’s the same with guys!
11. Gorgeous
The same applies to the nickname gorgeous. It isn’t for girls only and will make your guy feel good about himself (as long as you’re saying it in private, of course).
It reminds him that he looks good and that you want him to know it.
But sometimes guys prefer not to be called this as they don’t feel comfortable with it.
If that’s the case, then simply avoid calling him by this pet name.
However, if you feel that he likes it but doesn’t want to admit it, then occasionally pull it out of your sleeve and you will see his pleasure in that tiny smile that peeks through.
12. Handsome
Similar to good-looking, you can also use handsome to express your attraction to a guy.
This one is even more flirty than good-looking, and you could even say it’s more personal.
He is YOUR handsome guy and no one holds a candle to him. Again, this gives his confidence a big boost and tells him you like what you’re seeing.
It makes him feel good and worthy of your attention, and show me one who doesn’t like that feeling!
I can almost guarantee that he won’t cringe at the sound of this word. Instead, he might just return a flirty look to show his approval.
13. Hot Stuff / Hottie / Hot Thing
Still wondering what guys like to be called? Here’s another pet name that works like a charm for guys: hottie (also hot stuff or hot thing).
It’s short and simple, all while sending your guy a clear message.
Again, all of us love to be seen as attractive and desirable. Especially by that one special person we really like.
So if you’re wondering if he will like it if you call him hot stuff or any other variant, I suggest you don’t overthink it and just go for it.
The chances he won’t appreciate it are slim to none.
He will know that this nickname comes from the impression he makes on you, and encourage him that he’s doing a good job.
And no one wouldn’t like that!
14. Hubby
One of the trending nicknames that has become popular in the last few years is the nickname hubby.
It is no longer meant to be used only among married couples, but people started using it as early as the dating stage of the relationship.
This pet name will make your guy feel like he is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with.
That’s why you need to be careful not to use it at the very beginning, as it can scare him away.
On the other hand, if your relationship is serious and you know your partner’s intentions, then you can freely use this nickname.
A guy who wants only you will love to know that you also want only him, and no one else. This cute name is perfect for that.
It makes him feel safe in knowing that you’re not going anywhere.
15. Honey
If the two of you are all alone and you call him honey, he won’t be able to resist cracking a smile.
This cute nickname is perfect for couples who know where they stand in their relationship.
You’ll use this pet name when you look at your guy, see someone who is caring and kind, and can’t help but love him for it.
Any guy would love hearing this from his girl, as long as she doesn’t overdo it.
We know that all parts of a relationship are about balance – and this one counts as well.
16. Love / My Love / Mi Amor / Mon Amour
Do you think any guy wouldn’t like to be called this? No chance.
If you call him love, my love, or even the Spanish mi amor or French mon amour, you’ll instantly light that spark in his eyes.
You’re showing him your love through a cute nickname that’s anything but cheesy.
This one is more suitable for a serious relationship when you’re sure that both of you have already fallen for each other.
You feel the love and you just want to express it through a nickname too.
Guys like to be called these pet names as it makes them feel that they’re an important part of your life.
That’s why you could never go wrong with a simple nickname such as my love or its variants.
17. One and Only
Is there anything better than hearing that you are the only one in someone’s life?
The one he or she loves the most? The one who could never be replaced?
Same as for a girl, a guy also likes to be called one and only.
He wants to be assured that the woman of his dreams would never walk away from him and that he’s nothing to worry about.
One and only is probably one of the most sincere terms of endearment that you can call a guy by.
It’s full of emotions and therefore mostly used in relationships.
You wouldn’t really call a guy you’ve known for a couple of weeks by this pet name, as it can scare him away.
But if you’re sure of your feelings and you want to remind your guy that he is your only one, you can always use this cute nickname to do just that.
He won’t be cold-hearted and you can expect a sweet reaction.
18. Sweetie
Another nickname that guys like to be called by (even though they might pretend that it doesn’t mean much) is sweetie.
This one lets him know that you like him and that you feel all of the beautiful emotions for him.
It can also come in handy when your guy does something nice for you and you just want to express your appreciation.
Whatever the reason, it will make him feel loved and evoke a smile on his face.
19. Sunshine
If your guy always makes you feel good about yourself and is always there for you, then you could use a cute nickname such as sunshine to express your gratitude.
By doing this, you’re letting him know that he means as much to you as the Sun means to the Earth.
You see everything he does for you and you want him to know that you appreciate him.
20. His own name
This isn’t a nickname per se, but a great way to establish a closer connection between the two of you.
Using his full name can make his world turn upside down.
If you’re wondering how, then here’s the answer.
Even though it seems weird, guys like to be called by their full name.
My boyfriend once told me that he never really liked his name until I started calling him by it.
It makes him feel different about it as the girl he likes is saying it.
He hears your sweet voice uttering his name and it gets those butterflies in his stomach going wild.
It makes him feel special, as he hears his name in a different light.
To wrap things up…
You can use all of these nicknames face-to-face, via texting, or through online chatting.
They aren’t meant to be used one way only and you can always combine them to leave a better impression.
All of these cute names represent a way of expressing appreciation, attraction, or love.
But you need to be aware that not all guys will feel comfortable with it.
Still questioning what do guys like to be called?
Then the safest bet is to straight-out ask your guy how’d he feel if you called him by a certain nickname.
Or pay close attention to his reaction when you try one out. Does his face cringe or does he seem happy about it?
Maybe his last girlfriend called him some of these nicknames. If that’s the case, he probably won’t want you calling him by the same pet name.
Also, if you want to be sure that you won’t get a terrible reaction once you use a cute nickname, make sure to first try it in private when the two of you are alone.
Guys typically don’t like to appear soft in front of friends, which means that he’ll probably pretend that he doesn’t like the nickname if someone is around (even if he really does).
Whatever it is, once you find a name that works for your guy, his love for cute nicknames might even evolve as you’re the one who’s using them.
And that by itself feels amazing.
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