To Whisper a Sweet Nothing — the Good, the Bad, and the Romantic
Feb 8th 2010
Nicole JordanGoddess Classics & Nicole Jordan
Hello, My Sweetings!
Forgive the blanket endearment, but I’m positively giddy over our 3rd anniversary celebration taking place this Valentine’s week at The Goddess Blogs. So let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a delightful, romantic, love-filled Valentine’s Day. (Hint: If you want love, you’ll get lots of it right here all week!)
You might find my “sweeting” greeting a bit odd for a blog, but it’s one of my favorite terms of endearment in Regency-set stories. I’m a sucker for a great romance—historical, contemporary, paranormal, any kind!—especially when I get a thrill from the chemistry igniting between the hero and heroine. And part of that delicious chemistry can be sparked by what they call each other when their hearts (and their libidos) spring into action. Brings back fond memories, you know?
Of course, endearments uttered by my 19th century lovers (whether strolling in a garden or sparring behind closed bedchamber doors) differ greatly from those used in stories by my contemporary writer colleagues. Imagine if my latest dashing nobleman voiced his compliments to his new bride for her seductive prowess by proclaiming, “Wow, babe! You rock my world!” On the other hand, I wince at having my heroes and heroines running around calling each other “Miss Surname” and “my lord” every time they speak to each other. That’s too stilted for my tastes, not to mention that it could come off sounding like a “Saturday Night Live” skit.
So during this month of sweethearts, I’d like us to share our favorite terms of endearment, as well as our not-so-favorites. Here are my faves:
From a Lord’s Lips to a Lady’s Ears:
When the Misses Speak, the Gents Shall Listen:
Some of my favorite contemporary endearments:
Feel free to weigh in on the examples from my list, but what I really want to know is: What are your favorite endearments for historical, contemporary, and paranormal lovers? Which endearments do you hate to see in romance novels? (Even if you don’t like “sweeting” I want to know!) And if you’re feeling adventurous, what creative endearments would you suggest we romance authors use to spice up our novels? We’ll choose three lucky posters at random to win a fabulous pair of vintage-style earrings or a Victorian-inspired locket!
So get creative, My Sweet Goddesses! For romance novel heroes and heroines, list your:
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s)
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s)
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s)
379 Comments »
379 Responses to “To Whisper a Sweet Nothing — the Good, the Bad, and the Romantic”
Freshechelle on 08 Feb 2010 at 11:32 pm #
Another great topic Nicole!
1 – Fave – My pet (I use this at work to harass people)
2 – Least – Hon or babe when used lazily, like “hon, get me a beer”
3 – Special: Sugarlips, Dollface, Skinbeef (don’t know where my friends got this from but it’s a classic)
Marie Pinardo on 08 Feb 2010 at 11:40 pm #
Luv Dove is one of my favorite pet names!
SheridanLA on 08 Feb 2010 at 11:50 pm #
1. I like honey and babe… but I think it depends on who is saying it.
2. least: boo. ugh
3. doodlebug, sweetpea, pumpkin, babycake.. all make me smile, perhaps because I am a bit silly at heart. I enjoy fun ones.
SheridanLA on 08 Feb 2010 at 11:50 pm #
Fresh.. “my pet” is awesome. HA!
Christine Zibas on 08 Feb 2010 at 11:54 pm #
1. Favorite Endearment: Love
2. Least: Studmuffin…who thought this one up?
3. Special: Sweetness, Honeylove
I am reading my first Mary Balogh book ever (“First Comes Marriage”) and I love it! It reminds me of Jane Austen, whom I also love for stories that make you swoon!
Patricia Barraclough on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:00 am #
1. Favorite Endearments – Love, Dear
2. Least favorite: Babe, Snookums
3. Fun/Creative: Pumpkin.
Ada on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:00 am #
I love pet names and endearments. It just makes connections feel more intimate. I know people who absolutely detest when I call them that but I always say it’s out of love.
1. Favorite has to be Buttercup
2. Least favorite…that’s a toughie but probably doll
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) — cupcake – there’s one that’s not nearly used enough
rebyj on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:07 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) My Dear, it so sound so naughty & lecherous at times. Twirl your waxed mustache and say it and see if you don’t agree.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) One heard here in the South “mama”. If you ever want to see me naked, don’t call me MAMA!
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) Twizzler (makes mouth’s happy!)
kaisquared on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:12 am #
Favorite: Sweetie Darling (Absolutely Fabulous, anyone?)
Least favorite: My pet (always imagine Mr. Collins saying this…..), Baby’s momma (self explanatory)
Fun/Creative: Nick Knack Talliwhacker, Sweetcheeks, Lollipop
Amy on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:12 am #
I’m going to say my fav. endearment is “luv”
My least fav. is “babe” because it sounds so arbitrary sometimes.
I like it when endearments from other languages are used. A fav. of mine is “a ghra” in Irish, which means “my love” / “my only”
BeccaD on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:13 am #
Favorite: Love or lovey
Least favorite: Dear (my dh overused this, especially during hunting season!), Sugar (when it’s overused by every salesperson in the south), likewise Hon (but Honey is okay)
Fun/creative: Sweety-pie
Cindy on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:20 am #
Favorite=My love, when just whispered into the ear, Honey
Least=Boo, sweeting, anything with the word girl or mama (can we say issues?)
Fun=Sugar, M&M (this is dirty so just think about it:)
Just to mention a few.
T (ebookaddict) on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:23 am #
Favorite: Darlin’ or Babe
Least Favorite: Doll or Sweet em’s
Fun/Creative: Munchkin (my husbands nickname for me he is much taller than me)
Karen Hawkins on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:32 am #
I know I don’t qualify to win, but oh, those are ADORABLE earrings and just the sort I buy myself. Excellent taste, Nicole, as usual!
I also loved your topic and have been mulling this over.
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) — my love, comfit (just working on an Elizabethan and that was a fave for that time), babe (for contemporaries), and lass (for Scottish set historicals, especially)
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) — sweetheart (I don’t know why, but I don’t like that one. Weird, because it’s a frequently used one, too.)
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) — cupcake … (teehee! I stole that from Fresh’s post because it made me grin.) and Babe-raham Lincoln, which Hot Cop sometimes calls me when he’s in a playful mood. It’s corny, but I love it!
Nicole B. on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:32 am #
Favourites: My Love, My Darling (a classic for any era!!)
Least: Hon (Oh, and I like rebyj’s [posted above] “Mama” comment! Hilarious!!)
Fun: Buttercup, Puddin’, My Girl
Krystal on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:38 am #
Favorite: I’m with you – sweeting is one of my favorites – it is somehow so sexy! Also favorite is love (not my love, just Love).
Least favorite: Darling (it sounds too fake), babe (although some sexy bad boys can get away with it) and hon (too lazy to say honey?)
Creative: Punkie pie or punkin (pumpkin)
Paula on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:38 am #
Favorite: Dearest or My love – always makes me melt
Least favorite: Babe or Baby – both seem trite and condensending – sounds like nails on a chalkboard to me
Fun/Creative: Pussy cat for her, and Tiger, for him
Jackie on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:42 am #
Favorite: Sweet pea, sweety pie, mouse (yes there is a story there), luv, punkin’ darlin’ in a slow southern drawl.
Least: Baby, babe, Sweet cheeks, snookums, sugar & Hon & Doll (probably because these remind me of waitresses at a truck stop and they use it so indiscriminately for both males and females so it has lost all sense of romance.
Fun/creative:munchkin is cool as is the Irish or other foreign language ones, when you know what they mean. It is also cool when they use a foreign word and they do not know what it means and he won;t tell her.
This is fun!
B on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:45 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): I think my favorite is “heart” or “m’heart”. I’ve never actually seen anyone saying this, but I love the idea
I like “honey”, too. To me, it shows intimacy and easiness.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): While I like “honey”, I absolutely CAN’T STAND “hon”. I have no idea why, I just can. Call me ANYTHING. Call me “leapin’ frog” but don’t call me “hon”. Seriously.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): I like the food ones, especially “puddin’”. It’s just such a funny and delicious word!
Dee on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:03 am #
Favorites: Sweetie, Darlin(g)
Least Favorites: anything with “boo”, snookums, sweetcheeks, baby, hon, honey, dear
Fun/Creative: hmm. I’ve always used stuff with inside stories that made my partner and I smile or giggle but that left everyone else clueless. Like he might get a nickname of flame-swallower that stuck after a round of days of teasing when we’d had a contest to see who could eat the hottest Thai food. Or maybe I would.
nancyg on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:12 am #
1. FAVES – sweetness & another vote for dear
2. LEAST – when spouses call each other “mother” or “father” – yeah, I have heard it before, gives me the creeps! In books, “my pet” makes me itch
3. FUN/CREATIVE – Mr. G calls me “my bride” – I *love* it!!, babe-alicious
, sweet cheeks?, & to go along with the food theme – honeybun & sugar pie?
However, most of the time the “G’s” use food-based endearments with the greatest of sarcasm.
Sheridan – “doodle-bug” – too funny! my brother named his dog that – “bugs” for short – a 165 lb. Great Pyrenees!!
Karen Hawkins on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:36 am #
Oh, and I hate it when people baby talk little names to each other like calling someone “my widdle Boo” or “Wubby” or anything like that. Just makes me cringe.
Emmanuelle on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:19 am #
Faves : Sweetling, babe
Least : kiddo (I just HATE whe I read that)
Fun/creative : definitely the food theme, sweetie pie or honey lamb
KT on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:57 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): I have to go with “beloved”…it may be old-fashioned, but it just seems so genuine & passionate…
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): Baby/Babe (only once in my adult life was this ever acceptable for me and it was mostly because of his accent & his charm that I allowed him to call me this!) I also agree with the distaste of “my pet” or “woman”…these in no way inspire romance for me…
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): Goddess sounds good to me:P Pres works for me, too, because I am in charge around here! And any endearment in another language always sounds sexy…how can you argue with “cherie” or “me amour”????
Linda B on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:58 am #
Faves: Love, sweeting
Least: Hon, honey, babe, sweetcheeks, honeybun
Fun: Sweetie, sweetie pie, sweet pea. Or “darlin’”–when it’s from someone with a Southern accent.
E.R. on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:00 am #
I may be late, but I’ll still answer this one.
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): Sweetie, Honey, Dear
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): Babe, Baby
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): Nicknames makes great endearments. And I got the Japanese “-chan” and “-kun” after the names (like Mary-chan, Ken-kun, etc.). Snickerdoodle sounds fun/creative. Probably a lot of the food nicknames/names should be creative.
Oh, and I had thoroughly enjoyed reading your novella from THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS. I also enjoyed the other two. Just so you know.
E.R. on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:05 am #
Ah, I made a mistake. Sorry about that NJ! I just saw Mary Balogh’s name and presumed the entry was hers.
VERY sorry!
And just saw you know, I HAVE read your a few of your books. My all-time fave is ECTASY. Definitely adore that one.
Jen on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:27 am #
I seem to be in the minority, but I have never liked any generic terms of endearment. Maybe it’s because my family never uses them, or possibly it’s the feminist in me wondering, “Are you calling me ‘hun’ because you can’t remember my name?”
On the other hand, I love nick-names, especially personal ones. I find it romantic if he’s the only one who calls me by a certain name or if the name is based on an old joke. Everyone in my family seems to agree on that point. My dad feels that if someone is calling him ’sir’ they are trying to suck up to him, but he calls me Jenners. Somehow my mother gets away with calling my Nenny, and my sister Whimpers or Whimpy without sounding the least bit condescending. The only people who call me honey are strangers, and it usually makes me feel uncomfortable.
On the other hand, it is very common for the local children around here to call a strange woman “Auntie”. Personally I like that quite a bit more than Mame.
In any case, I’d vote for nick-names over endearments any day.
Judy F on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:31 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s)Sweetie, love.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) Hon don’t know why but it gets on my nerves.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) sweetpea, cupcake
Laurie G on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:40 am #
Favorites -My love, Honey, Darlin’, Love
Dislike- Babe , girl, sweetie, chick or chichee, lady, mamm, candy
Cute- My Dove , You’re an Angel for doing this for me.
Maureen on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:00 am #
Favorites are sweetheart, love, darling
Least favorites is babe
MizMacgyver on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:02 am #
I am late too but taking a shot.
Favorites– My love, my heart, sweeting, Contemporary=Babe, sweetness, precious.
Dislike–Hon, Darling, chickie (do I look like a chicken to you?)
Cute–punkin, baby cakes.
Susan Spidle on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:20 am #
Favourite: Honey
Lest favourite: Old woman, old man
Cute: sweetie
Theresa N on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:58 am #
Looks like we all have opinions on this subject.
1. Sweetie
2. Babe
3. Lover
Ashley Domes on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:12 am #
My favorite would be Wretch and Devil because I love the love/hate relationships. My least favorite would be the babe, chick, and baby. I don’t want to be know for animals or a baby.
LoriHandeland on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:12 am #
Love the topic, Nicole and what a terrific bunch of prizes. We’re having a great anniversary week and the fun’s just started.
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s)
I like the classics–angel, honey, even baby in the right voice can really melt me
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s)
the too cutsey ones–bunny, hotsie, shotsie
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s)
I always like it when a sarcastic nickname becomes an endearment. Like Ace, Loverboy, Stud, Genius, etc.
Tracey D on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:13 am #
Favorite: I love babe; I just adore it!
Least Favorite: My “fill in the blank” boo, husband, wife…..
Cute: Honey
Dovile on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:17 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s)- Lovely, Gorgeous or simply Dear
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s)- Babe, Baby, Sweetie
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s)- Cupcake, and various nicknames usually sound fun too.
Archer on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:17 am #
wow you guys started early today
I love endearments.
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s)
Baby, sweetheart, cookie, kitten, love, darling, bonbon, punk, imp, brat
Anything nice in gaelic or romany
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s)
boo, booboo, ma, pet, bug
Totally agree with susan about the old woman, old man… ick!
Karen,
Just reading the widdle Boo whatever made me cringe
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s)
My friends ex used to call her jiggly which we both thought was pretty funny.
Netti on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:19 am #
1 – Fave – My Love (call my hubby this all the time
)
2 – Least – babe… blurgh.
3 – Special: Snuggle bunny *G*
Jamie on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:26 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) I like Darlin’
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) Honey and would not like my man calling me Mom or Ma
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) The One Who Should Be Obeyed
BUT — with all endearments they can be cute or get out of my face. Depends on the guy and the situation. Baby and Babe can be on the least, but I had this guy I like called me Babe and the way he did it – well, it made me melt.
Although I live in an area where they are used a lot for good and for bad. I was at a ballgame and this guy came down from the cheap seats and wanted my paid seat. I said – excuse me, if you want the empty seat next to me, you can walk in front of me to get it. I am not moving. He replied – Don’t sweat it, Sweetie.
As for Honey, I called my old cat that when he would do something bad. My family would mock me when I used it, so it made it as an insult more than a compliment for me.
Kirsten on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:32 am #
Favorite(s) : Darling (good for any era), Dearest (historical), My Love (can’t go wrong with a classic really)
Least Favorite(s) : Doll OR Pumpkin (orange & round not so pretty to resemble one), Tiger or Bear (this just gives me strange ideas of animal printed clothes)
Just fun : Gorgeous, Cupcake, Snuggles, Rock, Honey, Cookie, Cutie, Babe, Handsome OR my new favorite: PETAL (makes me laugh)
Debra Wright on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:33 am #
1. Favorite- sweetie, love, darlin’
2. Least- boo, snookums, mama, old lady
3. Special- Angel, Sister(my mom always called me that and it made me feel special)
Becca on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:34 am #
My Favorite: Honey or Babe
Least Favorite: Dear (Hubby only uses that when he’s being snarky…”Yes, Dear”)
Special: Cricket
amy on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:34 am #
1 faves – I like the use of my before words, as in, “my sweet”, “my heart”, “my beauty”…I also like dearheart
2 I don’t like sweetie used in that fakie way some women have that they are feeling condescending or rivalrous of – like if you don’t wear the right clothes, or a lot of makeup etc…honey can be used in the same, way. These are perfect examples of words used in two faced context.
3 fun/creative- I had a boyfriend who called me amycakes and I really liked that…and cutie…I’ve been called cutie a lot and both love and hate it – and now I hate it because I’m married so no one calls me any endearments. I need to start writing romance! I called my ex boyfriend mikeypooh, I also like bear, teddy, poohbear and tigger
Kammie on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:38 am #
Favorite: Angel and Babe
Least Favorite: Baby cakes, Poopsy or Snookums
Fun: Mon amour (my love) or Sunshine
cail on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:43 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s)- I really like darling, and sweetheart, but that’s probably because it’s what my dearest calls me.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s)- oh my god, Sheridan, i HATE Boo. HATE IT. i have a feeling it’s some sort of bastardization of beau, but still, hate hate hate it. when people use it in real life i must restrain myself from laughing out loud!!! i also dislike baby.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): hm. a lot of them are just silly nicknames. I often refer to my DH as Dusty, since when we first started dating, i kept sneezing around him. (i think it was actually because his apartment was extremely dusty- bachelor-pads tend to be like that when 5 single guys live there together.) i also like starlight, or sunshine. i’m particularly fond of cheerful nicknames.
cail on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:47 am #
oh, and Amy, I use a lot of gaelic endearments in my house. one of my personal favorites translates to my little cabbage.
and i should add, Goddess Divine. from P&P as a favorite.
Gail on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:52 am #
Favorite: Sweetness
Least Favorite: Babe
Fun: Lovie, Cutems
Danielle on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:54 am #
Hi Nicole! Wow, this is a hopping place isn’t it? LOL. First off I want to say it is sooo nice to see all these wonderful authors in one place! Holy cow! LOL. (Can you tell I am from redneck country? LOL) I love you Q & A also! LOL. Here are my answers:
1) Favorite endearments: Babe (because it reminds me of Ranger from the Stephanie Plum series), sweeting (because I can just picture it with a Scottish brogue…sigh)
2) Least Favorite: I agree about Boo (ugh!!!) Baby…because I picture it with a nasaly whiny voice…lover…because I just keep picturing Molly Shannon whispering it in the movie Serendipity.
3) Fun/Creative: My husband calls me Aphrodite. I even had the nickname tattooed on my back lol. I call him strawberries & cream. He was born with 75% of his body covered in the strawberry wine birthmarks. As a kid he was called Kool-Aid face and Strawberry face. So to stop the bad memories I came up with Strawberries & Cream.
kay on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:57 am #
1. Favorite: Sweeting, darlin, heart
2. Least: honey or hon
3. Tootsie roll, I don’t know why, but my husband used to call me that when we were first married and I was 30 pounds lighter. I finally asked him not to. So now it’s sweetheart.
Deanna on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:01 am #
Fav is probably My Darling if appropriate.
Least is a snap of the fingers
Fun is sweetie.
Leanne G on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:03 am #
1. I like Babe, Baby, sweety, honey, beautiful
2. least: Sweetheart, dear, darling
3. I call my hubby Hunnybuns lol good-lookin and hot stuff
Paula on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:07 am #
1. Fav. I just love to be called darling, or even darlin’ in an american accent
2. Least. Pet, I am not nor ever will be anybodys pet
3. Fun. Sweetypops, hunnybunch, poglie
Pesky on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:08 am #
FAVORITE: Legs, Red (Hey, you gotta work with what you have), Hun (honey), Sweetie (When my BIL calls the Bombshell this it works for him), Sugar (Gotta admit this only worked with my Southern boyfriend), Dear, My Love.
In historicals it always seems intimate when they move from their title to just their first names, it’s almost like their first names are the endearment.
LEAST FAVORITE: Baby, Doll, Sweetcakes
FUN/CREATIVE: Imp, Pest (Again, gotta work with what you have)
Deb Marlowe on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:09 am #
Danielle–I love your strawberries and cream! How sweet!
Fave: sweet pea, or for my kids: pookie
Least Fave: babe. Hard for that one to come out just right, I think.
Odd attempt at humor: Sensuous–as in the old red neck joke substitute for ‘Since you was’—”Oh, Sensuous! Sensuous up, would you get me a drink?” My brother-in-law finds this one hysterical!
Cay on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:15 am #
Fave – Sweetheart
Least – Babe
Fun – Dearling, Bo Hunk, Sugarplum
jackie on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:24 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) Sweetheart
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) Doll (that is a toy not a person)
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) Bell – as in Southern Bell
Amy S. on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:26 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment – Honey
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment- Sweety
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion – kitten
chrislin on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:29 am #
1 babe said in that oh you are so wonderful tone.
I cant stand Honey. said when they can not remmember your name. Or said by my ex-husband when he thinks he can charm me into going over to the dark side.
3 green eyes.
Rebekah E. on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:30 am #
FAve is sweetie.
Least fave is babe
and Fun/creative is pumkin doodle
Robin/RBL on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:37 am #
Love the topics!! It is so much fun to come here!!
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): Sweetheart is my absolute favorite for any genre.
My love, or My Sweet are also good.
For contemporary: ‘how’s my best girl?’ (whether its said to a woman or a child, I like that one).
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): Sorry NJ, Sweeting and Sweetums are annoying to me for some reason. And “my beauty” reminds me of someone talking to a horse.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): Sweetpea, Lovey,
For sarcastic/fun names I like: Princess (anything else I can do for you, Princess?)
Wench, Woman, Brat
For male sarcastic/fun names I like: Ace, Slick, Hotshot, Big Daddy, Babycakes
Gillian on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:38 am #
Favorite: Babe….I’ve been reading Stephanie Plum lately, too.
Least: doll
Fun: Sugar lumps. Sorry, but that just cracks me up.
Cindy G on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:44 am #
Fav: Sweetie
Least: Babe
Fun: Cutie Pie
Amy on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:47 am #
Faves- sweetie, angel eyes, imp, doll, sweeting, princess
Least- sugar or sugar daddy, lover (the thought of someone actually saying this makes me cringe), babe, cookie, babymama.
Fun- Cutie pie, little cream puff, legs. My husband calls me his brown eyed girl and it melts me everytime.
Nancyg- I have to agree on with you on spouses calling each other ‘mother’ and ‘father’. What is with that? It is just plan creepy, and not at all sexy.
Freedom Writer on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:50 am #
Fav: Honey. I also like my love and sweetheart.
Least Fav: Sweeting. It may be historical, but it pulls me out of the story every time.
Fun: Sweet Cheeks, Honey Bug and Big Guy
marelou on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:51 am #
Fav: Honey
Least: Mama
Fun: Insatiable Imp (don’t ask)
KellyAnn on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:52 am #
My friends and I always call each other, tart, wench, hussy, etc. I could go on and on. We have always found this hysterical coming from historical romance novels. I had a boyfriend who really loved our nicknames, he would call me a saucy wench or brazen hussy! I guess those aren’t terms of enderment for most, but we always get a kick out of it.
Favorite – I agree with sweeting, I love that; again I agree with just – “love”, baby works for me in certain instances, and my all time favorite is “lover” all on it’s own.
Least Fav – pookie
Fun – sassy wench, tart, brazen hussy, vixen (ha-ha) –
we really have a lot of fun with these words that normally aren’t used as terms of endearment, but we use them as such. I’ve even read in some novels where the author shares my sense of humor.
Donna Wise on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:52 am #
1. sweeting-My favorite, probably because it is unique to historicals
2. babe/hon’-These are tied for least favorite, probably because they seem condescending
3. punkin’-I love this, we use it as a joke at my house!
KellyAnn on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:53 am #
Oh my gosh, I forgot to agree on the least favorite of some mentioned above- anything mama and if you call me old lady, I’m going to belt you! lol!
Freshechelle on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:55 am #
KH, my mom’s MIL called her “cupcake” because she couldn’t be bothered to learn her name. Her other pet name for her was too bigoted to write here.
Sue Brandes on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:57 am #
1. Sweetheart
2. Broad
3. Cutie
Thanks for the contest.
CrystalGB on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:04 am #
favorite endearments: sweetheart, honey, my love
least favorite: babe, pookie
Fun endearments: sugar bear, sweet pea
Ma75Ma on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:07 am #
My favorite endearment is Habib/Habibe, but Honey is a good tried and true. My least favorite is BooBoo. My fun creative term is Babycakes, aalthough I think, as cheesy as it seems, Ember would be good for that heroine that burns in the hero’s heart non-stop.
nancyg on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:10 am #
all of these entries are making me smile and laugh!
Add another one to my least favorites “ma’am” – my husband uses it sarcastically when I’m being a “pretty, pretty princess” or voracious bee-yatch, but it makes me think of the 15-year old bagger at the grocery store – “Where’s my cane?”
I will always answer to “Queen of the Entire Universe”; “my liege” or “Your Highness” for short.
We call my teenage daughter “divalicious” or diva for short as a term of endearment…
Rikob on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:10 am #
My favorites are Minx or an endearment in another language (not english).
Sonja on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:11 am #
1. Favorite = ‘my love’ One of my favorite lines from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves was “Hello my love” and it wasn’t delivered by Robin Hood.
2. Least Favorite = “sweet thing” I don’t know why, it just grates on my nerves
3. Fun endearment = “sug” short for sugar….
Miranda on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:14 am #
Fav=Minx
Least=Baby (I always hear the echo of screaming babies in my head)
Fun=Peach (That was the very first endearment my husband used for me)
Denise on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:19 am #
My fav endrearment is ‘D” or babe
Leat fav: when somesmone call you sugar or honey
fun: i always call my daughter monkey or pretty girl
Anna Metcalf on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:23 am #
My favorite endearment: Honeybunch
My least favorite: Boo-boo bear
My most fun: Tweetie pie
denise on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:23 am #
Fav–Love
Lease– All depends on who is saying it……
Fun—Darling
Jayne on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:25 am #
Favorite: Love
Least Favorite: Darling…ewe sounds like something my grandparents would say
Fun: Hon, my husband and I call each other this…even when we are arguing!!
barb wild on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:25 am #
Most favorite is honey because of course im single and no one calls me that!
Least favorite would be DEAR…reminds me of women selling me things in clothing stores where they think i dont have enough money to pay for the upper class things in the store.
Fu: That would be BARBIE because i look like a barbie doll and my name is Barbie… A childhood name i guess
TrishD on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:28 am #
I just love “sweeting” Nicole! I get warm fuzzies every time I read it! Rikob and Miranda, I was thinking “minx” too! I love it when I read a hero call a heroine that. I always feel that he understands who she is and loves her because if it.
Fav? Old Goat… husband calls me this… thinks it’s funny I’m 33 days older than him. I actually like it when he rolls over at night and says “Night old goat” and gives me a kiss. My husband calls my dad “pops”. I love him a bit more every time I hear him call my dad that.
Least fav? Babe… when used by people who don’t really know me. I assist a customer… “Thanks babe.” Uh… nope!
Fun? The endearments I remember my dad calling me as a kid… squirt, pumpkin, fart blossom.
barbfoster on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:28 am #
Favorite: my love
Least: my dear
Fun: sweetie
Deborah Gambone on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:29 am #
Favorite -Munchkin, or Darlin, said with just a hint of humor and lust and a drawl
Least Favorite – Honey or sugar
Fun – Blondie, Sunny
Molly Wilsbacher on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:34 am #
1. FAVORITE: Sweetheart (current) and Beloved (historical)
2. LEAST: Snookums and Pumkin
3. FUN/CREATIVE: Bear, as in “Honey Bear” or Snuggle Bunny
Madeline Hunter on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:39 am #
favorite: darling
least favorite: huggums
fun/creative: sweetie
Kathy on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:39 am #
Favorite: Honey (Only from my husband)
Least favorite: Wench
Fun: Nanabanana
Congrats on the third anniversary!
K
Michelle B on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:40 am #
Favorite – Sweetheart
Least Favorite – Pooky
Creative – Fun Buns
Angela on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:50 am #
Favorite: My love
Least: Babe
Creative: Sugar, especially when spoken with a drawl.
Brenna on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:54 am #
It’s fun to read through some of these answers and interesting how the same words end up on both the love it/hate it lists.
Fave: Babe. Not for myself necessarily, but years ago I’d often over-hear a co-worker talking to his wife on the phone and when he called her “Babe” in a soft, sexy voice, I’d just melt. It left an impression.
Least: Baby. Add the “y” and you lose me.
Fun: My husband sometimes calls me by the name of my favorite doll from childhood. The name makes me feel special and reminds me of how preciousl it is to have history with someone you love.
Lisa H on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:55 am #
Favorite – My love
Least – Sweet Thang
Creative – Hot Fraud Consultant (only works well on my husband)
Claudia Dain on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:56 am #
Beautiful prizes, Nicole!! Wow. Someone is going to get the perfect Valentine’s gift!
Great topic. I’m going to go with my first reaction, uncensored: I don’t like endearments. At all. None. Not in my fiction and not in my real life. It takes all kinds, huh?
Dee63 on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:59 am #
My endearments are few as I don’t get to hear them that much, but they are:
1. favorite: Love, sweetheart
2. least: honey or hon (too sexist for me!)
3. fun/creative: sweetcheeks
Mason on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:02 am #
Fav – Love or My Love
Least – Sweet Cakes
Creative – minx
Anne G on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:02 am #
1. favorite – honey
2. least fave – snookums
3. fun/creative – freckles
Whitney on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:05 am #
Fave–Any that remembers my name
Least–Honey-Boo. So “baby-talk”–UGH!
Creative–(Haven’t got it yet, but will keep trying.)
Why can’t you write faster? You can’t get better!!!!
Marjana Kaly on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:10 am #
1.Favorite: My Love
2.Least: Darling
3.Fun/Creative: My heart or My only one
Shannon T on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:18 am #
Favorite – sweeting, darlin/darling, love
Least – I have to agree with Archer and Karen here, anything that includes baby talk!
Fun – sweet potato (I use this for my DD)
Karen Hawkins on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:19 am #
Fresh, that’s so wrong. My MIL is awesome, but my greatgrandmother was a pistol and she didn’t like my grandmother and vice versa, so my g-grandmother would pretend my grandmother wasn’t in the room. Seriously — my g-grandmother would turn off her hearing aid when my grandmother was around and never talk to her. And then, the second my grandmother left the room, my g-grandmother would turn her hearing aid back on and go on talking like nothing had happened.
Can you imagine? They both lived a long, long time, too, so that went on for oh, 70 years or so. No wonder my granddad died early. I would have, too.
Btw, if someone called me ‘the old lady,’ even in jest, there would Be Words.
Rachel Gibson on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:24 am #
Fav: Love or sweetheart
Least: Babe. Used to like it but I know someone who wore it out.
Fun: Currently, I call the cutest baby in the world “sugar toe.”
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:24 am #
Wow, what a terrific response! And what creative, romantic goddesses we have here!
Welcome to all of our newcomers… we hope you join us on Mt. Oly often for fun, laughter, and romance!
Y’all have made me laugh all morning, and it’s barely 8 a.m. my time!
To comment on a few:
Christine, I’m with you on Studmuffin! I suppose it could be cute and sexy with the right couple, but it doesn’t inspire me, lol.
Rebjy – laughed your “Mama” endearment.
Amy, I agree… other languages- especially French – have wonderful sounding endearments!
Cail, I would love to hear “Little cabbage” pronounced in Gaelic. I think “mon chou” is little cabbage in French, isn’t it?
Sewicked on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:29 am #
(& I apologize now if any of these are repeats)
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) – sweetling, dearling, dearheart, my heart, my love, anything in a foreign language
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) – stud, sweetcheeks & babycakes (my palm itches)
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) Shug (Southern drawl, shortened ’sugar’), & an ‘intimate in-joke [like the hero who called the heroine Boadicea, because she was his little warrior queen or my SO calling me 'ice queen' yeah, it's a long story],
Anna Shah Hoque on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:29 am #
Congratulations on your third anniversary!!!
1. Favourite – honey, babe, sweetheart
2. Least Favourite – sugarlips, pookie, honeybun
3. Fun/Creative – sweetpea, jaan(means life in, I think Hindi), sweetie pie
Happy Reading
carol on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:29 am #
FAVORITE – babe (but obviously not in a sleezy, condescending way)
LEAST – sweetie
FUN/CREATIVE – Charlie Brown. I don’t know why, just something I call my husband occasionally. I might have issues.
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:29 am #
B – I forgot about “my heart”. Love that one! And you better watch out bc from now on you may be known here as Leapin’ Frog, rofl!
NancyG – love my bride, at least if it’s in the right tone of voice like your dh proably uses.
LoriH, I love Ace and Loverboy too!
Danielle, that is a wonderful wonderful story about Strawberries & Cream! And welcome to TGB!
KarenH, I absolutely cringe at Widdle Wubby, lol. And “old lady” would make me hit someone.
Julia London on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:31 am #
I. Covet. Those. Earrings. Hello, I am an earring-aholic. Other women covet shoes, but I covet earrings and I WANT THEM.
My favorite endearment is one I use in Scottish historicals — leannan, which means sweetheart, or thereabouts (I say thereabouts, because there is never a direct translation).
IN historicals, I like sweetheart and love.
In contemps, I like baby or babe.
My least favorite is honey. When I read that word, I hear my mother’s voice. She still calls me that. Not that I have a problem with that, mind you, but it does take the zip out of the romance.
Fun: Does it count if I call babies and puppies fatties or tubbies? I mean, they all are fatties and tubbies, right?
Leora Frise on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:32 am #
My favorite is Darlin (western accent helps)
least Wench
fun Sweetie no I’d go with sweet cheeks
Terri Scott on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:34 am #
Fav: Babe!
Least Fav: Sweeting
Fun: bite me!
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:35 am #
KT – Beloved is wonderful!
ER, you can get me mixed up with the fabulous Mary Balogh anytime! It’s a great compliment, lol. And I’m delighted you liked ECSTASY.
Sheridan, Boo would have to have some really good connotations to make me like it.
Amy, my heart is one of my very faves.
Paula, I really like Hot Stuff!
Robin, “my beauty” does sound like your talking to a horse, lol. Maybe that’s why I like it, horse lover that I am. And welcome to Mt. Oly from RBL! RBL is an awesome board.
Karen on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:35 am #
I’d vote for “Precious” (said in a really creepy tone) in all three categories. It’s disgusting enough to make me laugh every single time.
My friends and I used to compete to make up the most disgusting pet name or phrase for each other. They were so obscene we’d only whisper the initials in public. If you said them just right, you could get a friend to break out in gales of laughter at the most inappropriate times.
What’s love without laughter? A pet name should combine the best of both.
Michelle on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:36 am #
1. Favorite: Darling or sweetheart
2. Least favorite: Wench – I’ve read it before as an endearment but it’s so degrading.
3. Fun/creative – Fruit, vegetable or animal, since it depends on the character, i.e. Peaches, pumpkin, or dove.
Debra Holloway on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:37 am #
FAVORITE Endearment(s) – My Love – especially if in a British accent, and Darlin’ – if said in that slow, sultry Southern way like Cajun men do here in Louisiana
LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) – Babe, Hon – too generic & used on everyone in the south for just about anyone
FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s)- Sweetcheeks, Puddin’
Sewicked on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:39 am #
Hey Dee, my mom calls me (& half the known population – ie the people that she likes) ’shug’ & ‘hon.’ I have a tendency to do that, too; although not in a professional setting, you’ll be relieved to know. But she uses ‘honeychild’ only with children.
Southerners, from what I observe, have a thing about endearments, nicknames & using full names. I have a cousin whom I never think of as Jean, she’s always Jean Marie. Half the time, her mom’s name gets shorted to “Shirl.” We won’t even go into my Mom’s nickname. The entire family thinks it’s her real name & don’t remember that her birth certificate says something different.
My great-grandfather called his wife ‘Mother.’ They both died when I was a toddler but I’ve seen films and they were so loving, in the little ways and touches, that that stuck with me.
krista on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:39 am #
My favorite is Honey. My least favorite is sweetums. Fun/Creative: Ambitious. That way my hubby can feel ambitious today.
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:39 am #
Kelly Ann, those tart and wench and hussy endearments sound like so much fun between friends.
Sonja, I’m with you about Sweet Thing, although Sawyer on LOST can get away with it.
Trish, Old Goat???? Oh my word. That boggles my mind.
Brenna – loved your comment about love/hate lists. So true!!!
“It’s fun to read through some of these answers and interesting how the same words end up on both the love it/hate it lists.”
Karen, Precious always reminds me of The Hobbit, or was it LOTR? Dh used to tease me with it, said in that low, hissing, snake kind of way. Gave me the creeps every time!
Kim Drake on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:40 am #
My favorite in a book is my love. My least favorite in a book is darling – it sounds too contrived. However, in real life I dearly love to be called darlin’, preferably with a slight Texas twang. My real life love calls me babe, and in some cases sugar babe. Not sure why, but I don’t care cause I love him. BTW-I call him honey. I tried sugar bear once (cause he’s a VERY big man), but that didn’t go over too well!
Tanja on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:41 am #
1. Fav: Sweetie. It works for kids and adults
2. Least: Babe. It sounds too much like Babe the Pig.
3. Fun/ Creative: Foodini. My husband calls me that. It’s the name of a comic book character. He said he would call me that until he sold it. That was 15 years ago, he sold it last year. He still calls me that.
LizM on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:42 am #
1. favorite: My Dear, Sweeting
2. least favorite: Hon, Lover(for some reason I really hate that one)
3. fun: Cupcake
Oh, and as someone else mentioned – I hate baby talk.
Becky on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:46 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) : In a historical Sweeting or My Sweet, My Love, Precious
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) : Darling or Babe or Baby
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) : My husband and I call each other Squibb. Just a silly little nickname that one of us joked about years ago and now we lovingly call each other!
Great blog topic Nicole! Love your books!
Karen Hawkins on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:46 am #
Ada, I just realized I stole ‘cupcake’ from your list and not Fresh’s. Sorry! That’s a good one and it always makes me smile, probably because it has the word ‘cake’ in it. How can you go wrong with ‘cake?’
Susan on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:50 am #
1. Favorite – Sweetheart, Darling
2. Least- Hon, Dollface
3. Fun – Thor, DH (for darling Husband)
TrishD on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:53 am #
Nicole, For the longest time I told my dh I hated being called old goat. I think that just gave him more incentive to call me that. Now I can tell by his tone of voice that he’s saying it in a loving manner. It boggles my mind that I’ve grown to like it but nothing about us (including the 15 years between our first date and our wedding) has been normal.
nancyg on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:59 am #
I was reading these and realized I also like “ma chere” or “chere/cher” in the French or Cajun accents. There’s just something very sweet about that phrase to me.
alisha on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:02 am #
1. Brat..I know it sounds crazy, but I like t. I have read the her saying this to heroine in just the right tone and it is cute.
2. Don’t like wench so much
Just got your new book it is on my bed ready to read this afternoon.
alisha on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:03 am #
1. Brat..I know it sounds crazy, but I like t. I have read the hero saying this to heroine in just the right tone and it is cute.
2. Don’t like wench so much
Just got your new book it is on my bed ready to read this afternoon.
Roxhill on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:08 am #
1. Favorites – sweeting, love, honey and baby.
2. Least liked – babe. I really, really don’t like that one. More sexiest than baby IMHO.
3. Fun – How about – sugar lips, or stud muffin.
TrishD on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:10 am #
Nancyg… I forgot about chere/cher too! I love those!!!
I also like when a hero will give a “pet name” to a heroine’s pet. In one of my favorite Linda Howard books the hero calls the heroine’s new puppy “fuzzy butt”. I love it!!
TrishD on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:10 am #
Ok… it’s actually “fuzz butt” not “fuzzy butt”.
lindy on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:11 am #
1. You are my boodidlums. I love it when I my husband calls me that.
2. Sug. It is my least fav.
3. sweetie pea. sugar bell.
jcp on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:12 am #
1. Honey, I havo no favorites to be honest
2. Babe is least
3. something specific to that peson not use wit exes.
Lisa B on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:13 am #
1. Favorite – Minx, I love mischievious, witty heroines who earn this endearment from heroes
2. Least – Darlin’
3. Fun – hmm, I don’t tend to be creative with endearments..sweet cheeks?
Karen on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:20 am #
Usually any endearment is a good one but I especially love sweeting, sweetling and dearling….in books of course as my DH wouldn’t know these words…LOL.
Carolyn G on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:22 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) – Sweetie, honey, darling
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) – boo, sugar
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) – marshmallow
Quilt Lady on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:34 am #
Favorite would have to be sweetheart
least favorite would be beauty or baby
Fun one would be sweety pie, I have a bad habit of using hon all the time.
Tamara Shurling on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:35 am #
Favorite: Angel
Least Favorite: Baby
Fun One: Honey Bunch!
chey on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:37 am #
Fav- I prefer nicknames
Don’t like- anything said in baby talk
Fun- Nicknames again
Heidi Shafer on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:37 am #
Fave- Sweeting, Lov, Cuddles
Least Fave- Honey, Babe, Doll
Something fun- Cuddles is fun, he calls me that because when I sleep I cuddle up next to him.
Honey buns,Sweetthing, Sugarlips
kateemom on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:42 am #
Favorite: Darlin’ … not DarlinG.
Least Favorite: Baby
Fun or Creative: It’s fun to call my husband “Buff Daddy”
D. McEntire on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:42 am #
Fav: sweetie
Least: boo, baby
When I listen to my daughter and her boyfriend doing that baby talk to each other I want to barf, lol.
sandrajod on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:43 am #
favorite – sweetheart
lol
leaste – babe
for fun – mush muffin ( yes there is a story)
Ever wonder what it really felt like to have anyone call you “my heart”? wow.
Kim on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:45 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) – sweetheart
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) – chick
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) – cupcake (b/c I like to bake!)
Gin on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:46 am #
Hi,
My least favorite is Babe. I had a brother-in-law who used it because he couldn’t/didn’t remember the girls names.
Baby is okay when it is just between lovers but I don’t like it used in public such as “hey Baby fancy meeting you here”.
I love sweetheart. Kerry Allyne used it in Summer Rainfall and ever since I have loved it.
susan leech on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:49 am #
Wow this made me think for awhile..I have to say I have been called many. I am married to a very romantic man.
My answers are: 1. Favorite: sweetheart or sweety.
2. Least favorite:babe
3. Ones used a lot..sugarplum, wifey and honey plus sweetheart. Usually wifey has more added such as ” my wifey” “sweet wifey”.
I liked some of the others listed too..quite interesting subject this time of year. susan L.
Kara on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:53 am #
One of my favorites is one my neighbor uses whenever he introduces his wife of 20 years “My Beautiful Bride”; and I like Beloved.
Least favorite is when store clerks call me “Hon” and in one Harlequin Presents that I just recently read…the hero calls the heroine “Lizard” I couldn’t stand reading it.
I love the foreign language endearments like “querido” meaning “my heart”.
Great questions…I really enjoyed reading all the replies on this one!!!
B on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:53 am #
Nicole, after some hour in the am I should be forbidden to come near a computer or any other device which would allow me to communicate to other living beings.
I wonder how many of these posts here are Julia and Karen H trying to get the earring and having them shipped to their neighbor.
You can count me out, by the way. I’m terribly allergic to earrings, I never wear them!
I don’t like “my heart”, by the way. I like “heart” or “m’heart”. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea.
peggy on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:57 am #
1. honey 2. least fav.sugar 3.sweetpea
Mel K. on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:59 am #
Favorites – Lover, Princess, Cupcakes, Honey-bunny, Sweet patootie, and Poppet.
Least Fave – Hon, Chicky, Baby, Sweetheart, Old-Lady or Old-Man.
Fun – Munchkin, Snickerdoodle, Tinklemonkey (love this one from WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS).
RobynL on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:00 am #
favorites: hon, babe, love
least favorites: hot stuff,
fun: sweetie pie, pumpkin,
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:07 am #
Becky, Squibb sounds fun! And I’m thrilled you like my books!
Tanja, that’s a fun story about Foodini. After all these years, you don’t really want him to stop, do you?
DMc – I would probably react the same way to your d & BF’s baby talk, lol. I can just imagine.
Alisha – Brat can be fun in the right context, and thanks for picking up TTADL !
Kateemom, Buff Daddy is really cut!
Sabrina Jeffries on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:07 am #
Great choice for a blog, Nicole! Now I can get ideas. *G*
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): I like sweetheart and sweeting, but I’m also using dearling for this book, which I think is kind of sweet.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): sweet cheeks, though I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in a book.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): Sweetypie.
Boy, I really have an obsession with sweets right now.
RachieG on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:10 am #
1. Favorite – Lovely lady
2. Least Favorite – My boo (what the heck does that even mean?)
3. Fun/Creative – My mom used to call her ex-husband “Pud” it was weird, but kind of cute
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:12 am #
Sandrajod, I would love to know the story behind Mush Muffin! And that’s a great question….
>>>Ever wonder what it really felt like to have anyone call you “my heart”? wow.
I agree, wow!
>>>quite interesting subject this time of year. susan L.
Susan, our anniversary seemed the perfect time to share endearments. Plus I admit I was a bit paranoid about leading off our week for the resident goddesses and following the divine Mary Balogh! Talk about biting nails!
Kara — Lizzard????? OMG. Yech, lol.
But I also love querido!
Suzanne Enoch on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:13 am #
Wow, so many great endearments today!
I could only think of two I dislike: papa/daddy and mama/mommy — there is just something WRONG with calling your mate that. *g*
Diana on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:16 am #
at our house…it’s “buddy”. means we are each other’s best friend. love saying it!
Ivy on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:18 am #
favorite~love
least~sweetie
fun~dh calls me gelfling…
Y’all have a great day!
Ivy
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:20 am #
Oh, and B, that’s why we added the Victorian locket as a prize, in case someone can’t/doesn’t wear earrings.
And you may be right, Goddesses Julia and KarenH covet those earrings so much, I can imagine them going to great lengths to get their lovely little fingers on a pair, lol.
Gibb on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:22 am #
I love imp & hell cat & my love
Don’t really care for sweeting/angel or beauty
I love darlin’ in the southern contemporaries. Makes me shiver just imagining the slow drawl in a deep sexy voice.
Have a great day!
Jan T on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:27 am #
Favorite name: beloved
Least favorite: babyface
Creative: sweetie pie (lol, not really creative, but its cute anyway.)
April Renn on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:27 am #
I like darlin, my love, my dh calls me Lucy go figure.
evlqn on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:29 am #
Fav: Angel(boy/girl), Sweetheart, Luv
Least: old woman, DH called me that, still does when I talk to him.
Fun: Sug, Cher (Nawlin’s accent please), baby-grr ( g-daught er couldn’t say girl), pincess (same reason)
Debbie K. on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:30 am #
Fav: My darling, but usually when uttered by my husband
Least Fav: babe or sweetcheeks
Fun: Punkin’ pie, baby girl, darlin’ boy
Thanks for the great contest. This is fun reading all the responses! And happy 3rd anniversary ladies!
Judith on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:30 am #
Favorite:My sweet
Least :dear (I have misused it at work,too.I admit…)
Fun:my kitten
Suzie Sims on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:31 am #
Hi Nicole!
I’m in the middle of your new book and I am so excited!! I’ve read every last thing you have written even those I had to search far and wide for
My favorite is Hon and darlin’
my least favorite is mama or old lady/old man
fun: caramia/my love
have a wonderful day
Suzie
Amelia on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:49 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) – mon amour
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) -babe, shorty, baby feet
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) – chickie
Anne Fescharek on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:53 am #
My mother used to say “a much loved child has many names.” Too bad she never used them on me.
I call my dog everything from “Sweetie pie to Stinky”. I spend a lot of time working with children and I always call them “Sweetie pie”. It just comes naturally, just like hugs. When I was younger my husband called me “Babe” and I liked it.
The only endearments I dislike are when they are spoken by a stranger.
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:03 pm #
Dianna — I like Buddy!
Sabrina, I know, I know, this is great for us romance writers! So many wonderful ideas…
Gibb, your description of shivering at a sexy Southern drawl just made me shiver, love it.
April – Lucy? There must be a story behind that.
SuzieS, I’m thrilled you like my books! Thank you!
evlqn, re the Old Woman… do you want us to come over and give your dh a good talking-to?
>>>My mother used to say “a much loved child has many names.” Too bad she never used them on me.
Too funny, AnneF.
Marie Smith on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:09 pm #
Favorite – Lover, Sweetheart, Honey,
Least Favorite – Darling, Beautiful, Baby
Fun Creative, Sweetie Pie, My Love
PhyllisC on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:11 pm #
Let me say I am so thrilled to find so many of my favorite authors all in one place. Woo Hoo!! I love it. I’ve just bookmarked this as a favorite.
But back to the subject at hand. I don’t have any endearments that I feel strongly about either way – the biggest thing to me is to not overdo any of them.
Kristina B on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:12 pm #
My family has always showed love by outdoing each other with crazy endearments/nicknames. For years my father referred to me both in private and public as Bodina, which I can only hope was in reference to the warrior queen.
My favorite is either dear/dearling or sweetheart/sweeting either version makes my heart skip.
I do not like beauty or precious; they seem condescending although Beauty worked in To Bed a Beauty.
Creative ones would be any that come from the heart and make you and that special someone smile, even if all your friends laughed for days when your father called you Bodina in front of the entire class
Erin Bast on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:17 pm #
What a wonderful contest! And so many wonderful endearments. I call my 5yo “Beloved” or “Bella” every day! My dad still calls me “Milt.” Goddess Nicole, my mom and I are loving your new book, just yummy!
Lyoness2009 on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:19 pm #
1. Sweetness
2. Least Favorite – gotta agree with Sabrina on this one…sweet cheeks. Yuck!
3. Fun – Honey Pie (I think of Paula Deen!)
Krystal on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:26 pm #
Favorite – My Love
Least Favorite – Hon
Fun Creative – Pumpkin
carol lewis on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:27 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s)-Sexy.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s)-Woman, Gramps, Grandma.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s)-Pumpkin, Cutie, Honey, Sweetie.
Kathy Cuthbert on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:43 pm #
Favorite is Love or Wifey
Least Favorite: Babe
Fun or Creative is Snoopy
April Larabee on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:45 pm #
1. Favorite – My Love
2. Least Favorite – My Angel (Ugh! Too sugary!)
3. Fun/Creative – Little Missy (my husband’s fav for me)
Elaine R on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:45 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): Darlin’ (with a southern drawal), angel, babe
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): Sweetie, sweetcheeks (anything cutsey), boo
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): Pet, doll-babe
claudia on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:49 pm #
Congratulations on your 3rd anniversary!
1. Favourite – honey, sexy
2. Least Favourite – Butterbutt — > not
3. Fun/Creative –Honey Bunny
Moonsanity (Brenda) on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:57 pm #
First I have to say that you probably don’t mean when I call my husband butt-head. Just saying. BAHAHAHAHAHA
Favorite: What I truly LOVE is when an author has the guy use endearments in “the old language” such as in the J.R. Ward books. When Z calls Bella “nalla” I almost faint.
Least favorite: baby, anything with sweet in it…usually.
Creative/Fun: I love sarcasm. Seriously, I live for it. Vamp Boy for instance. So, anything the character would shake their head at and makes me laugh is very cool.
Joanne on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:58 pm #
1. My love, My dearest, Love of my life, wife, woman,
2. Honey pie, Sweety, sweety cakes, sugar plum,
3. Hon, for my husband and I have been calling each other Hon for 40 yrs come August 1st!! We’ve tried calling each other by our names, just can’t do it……LOL
Rhi on 09 Feb 2010 at 12:58 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): Sweetling. Dear heart
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): babe. It just sounds weird. Maybe if it’s in a particular area of the country, that would work but no.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): Mon petit chou; liebling
Erika on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:05 pm #
1. love, sweetheart
2. Dear, Beauty
3. my spitfire, cutie
Cinder on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:06 pm #
1. Favorite: Love
2. Least Favorite: Hon… as you hear it from those pushy salespeople type folks… ugh!
3. Fun/Creative… well, as in the song: How do you call your loverboy… hey, loverboy.
Linda-Rose on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:06 pm #
Favorite: Baby, when used in the right setting! (If you know what I mean) Honey, Sweetheart, Sweetums
Least Favorite: Lady, Hey, Woman
Special: “Ralph”, Skeezics
Serenissima on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:06 pm #
Favourite – My Precious (so romantic)
Least favourite – babe, baby (so yuck!)
Fun/Creative – Cupcake (so sweet)
Cory on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:12 pm #
Luv and sweetheart are my favorites.
I’m not a huge fan of ‘babe’ because it can so easily come across as something other than an endearment.
creative ones… hellcat, witch, or any other thing that is somewhat original to the character.
Bev B on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:22 pm #
Fav: Sweathear
Least Fave: sweeting
creative one: hmmmm not creative!
Dawn on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:23 pm #
fave: Darlin’, cara mia
Least : dear (as in yes dear, anything you say dear…)
fun/creative: my witchy woman, enchantress
hotcha1 on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:24 pm #
HI, MY DH CALLS ME “WOMAN” WHEN OUT IN PUBLIC OR AT HOME. SINCE MY NAME IS LINDA ALSO AND THERE ARE A LOT US US, I KNOW HE IS TALKING TO ME! LOL SORT OF LIE EVERY CHILD CALLING MAMA OUT LOUD AND EVERY MOM TURNS HER HEAD!! LOL
MY DH IS SOOOOOOOOO UNROMANTIC THAT I AM AMAZED THAT WE ARE STILL TOGETHER AFTER 36 YEARS!!
Dawn on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:28 pm #
With the fondest hopes of this horrible winter ending soon…I’ve decided to plant more roses and turn of the century plants this spring. Our house is over 100yrs old so I just might make it ‘goddess garden’ after seeing your site header
kj coker on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:29 pm #
1. Faves would have to be Honey, Love, or Doll (but only if it’s from my Grandpa)
2. Least- Pork-chop, My Diva, booboo, Pigeon
3. Msncub (my son), Tinkerbell (or Stinkerbell depending on the time of day- my daughter), Dahling (between girlfriends) **tough these would also be among the faves list.
kj coker on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:30 pm #
And obviously there should have been an ‘h’ in that last line….not meant to be ‘tough’ but tHough.
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:30 pm #
Phylis, welcome! Hope you come back often and become a regular poster…
And that goes for all our other newcombers!
Kristina – Bodina is fun! And I’m relieved you thought Beauty worked in TO BED A BEAUTY!
And I LOVE your comment:
“Creative ones would be any that come from the heart and make you and that special someone smile”
That’s so perfect.
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:36 pm #
Erin – I love Bella. And I’m so pleased you and your mom are enjoying Dangerous Lord.
Carol, I’m not fond of gramps and grandma either! And I dislike Grannie intensely. Unfortunately I’m almost to the age where those terms will apply *G*.
Moons – love Vamp Boy, and as you said, anything said with sarcasm to pull the character’s chain, at least if it’s done in an affectionate way.
Joanne – big congrats on your 40 years of marriage! That’s a great achievement!
Rhi – love mon petit chou and liebling!
Misty Wright on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:36 pm #
1. Hon, Baby or Babe, Darling(I think men know we want something if they hear Darling…or IF we hear it! HAHA!)
2. Sweeting, Sweety (not sure why but those are the ones I cringe when I hear them. LOL)
3. Honeybun, sugarplum (these are things that go back and forth between my hubby and I when we are picking on each other about taking out the trash or something silly)
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:39 pm #
Linda-Rose, Woman is like nails on a blackboard to me! Only a few steps down from Old Lady.
hotcha1 – maybe you should print out all these wonderful endearments for your dh!
Dawn, I’m so sorry about your endless winter. I think you’re getting all the cold and snow that Utah should be getting but isn’t!
KJ, I’m not sure I care for Pigeon either, lol.
>>>Honeybun, sugarplum (these are things that go back and forth between my hubby and I when we are picking on each other about taking out the trash or something silly)
Awwww, Misty, that is just so sweet and fun.
Meredith Peters on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:41 pm #
I really think I should have lived back then. The fashion! But, no doubt the underwear is more comfortable now!
evlqn on 09 Feb 2010 at 1:43 pm #
Thanks for the offer, but he lives in one state and I live in another; the marriage is working out much better this way. Periodically we check on each other to see if one of us has kicked off yet. I’ll call him in a couple of days, the 14th, it’s his b-day.
Amy on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:02 pm #
My favorite in a Romance novel is – Sweetie
Least – babe
Fun/creative (for me) – Pookie, Sweet Pea, Sugah, Luv-Bug and occaisionally Honey gimme’ Money lol
Thanks for this chance ladies!
x0xx Amy
I LOVE the blog!
evlqn on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:10 pm #
My son and DIL call one another Pookie-bear.
Our g-kids and their friends are plaguelings when we are in charity with them.
Amy on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:16 pm #
I forgot Lass. Just the thought of a rough highland warrior calling me lass… sigh!
Julie on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:17 pm #
Personally, I’ve never liked the standard endearments. I think they are over used and therefore lack meaning. The “special names” that I enjoy and find “endearing” are the ones that carry a special meaning that is unique to the relationship or past experiences shared between two people or group of folks. I would never let another person call me “kid” but because of the shared past between my husband and me that “endearment” has a special meaning and communicates a deep feeling of closeness and love when he says it.
Renee C. on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:17 pm #
I would have to say that my favorite term of endearment is “my love”
My least favorite is probably “doll.” Even though dolls are beautiful, who wants to be compared to a emptyheaded plaything?
How about “peach” for a creative endearment?!
xoxo~ Renee
SuzyQ on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:18 pm #
1. fave – Love
2. least – baby (but I’m ok with Babe – go figure)
3. fun – HB (honey bunny)
Great topic!
Lucy on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:23 pm #
My favorite term of endearment is my darling. It’s just so romantic to me. My least favorite is my lady. I can hear Will Farell from SNL using that from a skit. A creative endearment would be dahwing. That’s all I can say about that. This is fun to read everyones responses. Thank you.
makeupgirl21@comcast.net
Heather W. on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:26 pm #
1 – favorite is sweetheart
2 – least favorite is doll, or baby!
3 – fun – Wench!
Rhonda Catrett on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:40 pm #
Fav- My Love
Least Fav- Boo
Special- Snookums
martha h. on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:47 pm #
fav.mylove
least.sweeting,sweet cheeks
special.dear heart
Madeline Hunter on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:50 pm #
ew, someone reminded me of when men use Mommy with their wives. I really don’t like that one, although maybe it works for them.
My love is another fave, of mine. I didn’t think of it because my DH tends to use it most in writing.
I guess “she who must be obeyed” isn’t a term of endearment, huh? Even said with a smile?
Naomi on 09 Feb 2010 at 2:59 pm #
My favorite term of endearment is “sweetheart”
My least favorite term of endearment is “honey”
I think that the funniest is “my little chickadee” spoken by W. C. Fields or “precious” which is what my parents who were married for 55 years used to call each other when they wanted something one from the other.
TrishD on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:00 pm #
>>I guess “she who must be obeyed” isn’t a term of endearment, huh? Even said with a smile?
I don’t know Madeline, I think it’s an endearment. It shows that the one who is saying it is a smart man who speaks the truth!
Maureen on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:07 pm #
Favorite endearment: BELOVED
Least favorite endearment: SWEETING just doesn’t do it for me…sorry. Truthfully, I like DARLING but most people can’t pull it off, so it sounds strange.
Fun and creative: I don’t know…stud-muffin? hot stuff? bright eyes?
evlqn on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:11 pm #
I hate “Baby daddy”, it makes me think neither parties were smart enough to remember the party hat.
lclewis on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:13 pm #
1. Favorite – Darlin’, bella, precious and sweet pea, and my personal favorite as my husband always says it to me “love of my life”.
2. Least Favorite – Tootsie, sweet….(cakes, cheeks, etc – sweetheart is OK though), love muffin
3. Fun – Rinky-dink is an endearment a friend of mine was given because she is only 5′ tall. Wench can be fun too on the right occasion.
Janice Rivest on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:13 pm #
1 – Favourite – Sweeting (love the old fashion endearment)
2 – Least Favourite – Sweetheart (sounds too much like someone talking down to you)
3 – Fun/Creative: Sweet Cheeks, hot lips and wench
Ruth C. on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:24 pm #
I don’t really mind any form of endearment except BABE.!!!!!!!! Or any derivitive thereof.
Oh, and I dislike when a married couple call each other Ma/Mom and Dad — have friends that do this and it works for them but NOT for me.!!!! I am NOT married to my father and I am NOT the mother of the person I am married to.
My DH is VERY QUIET and is definitely NOT DEMONSTRTIVE — I’m tempted to put a red circle around the date on the calendar when he IS demonstrtive.!!!
Of course, after almost 44 years (on July 29th) I have become used to it. We have never called each other by anything but our first names.
I like when characters say the following:
terms of endearment in a foreign language that is the setting of the book – i.e. J’taime, Cara mia, etc.
Jane on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:25 pm #
1. Baby, Babe and Love
2. Dear
3. Cupcake
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:39 pm #
This is so much fun!
Martha, I love dear heart! Only I can just hear my dh saying it in that sarcastic tone when he’s ticked at me. But I can imagine for a romance hero it was sound heart-melting.
Madeline, She Who Must Be Obeyed is fab! lol. I’m gonna insist my dh consider using it.
Mareen – I can see why sweeting doesn’t work for some readers! I guess if I really stop and think about it, it could sound effeminate and silly instead of sexy. I’ve got a bunch more options now, thanks to all the great suggestions here!
joy on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:43 pm #
1. Doll
2. Babe
3. My LULIS
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:44 pm #
Evlqn, I’m not fond of Baby Daddy either, lol.
LcLewis, Love Muffin would have to have some VERY special connotations for it to work for me.
Janice — I like Hot Lips… sounds very playful.
Ruth, 44 years and counting is wonderful! And I adore J’taime.
It’s funny… my original title for this blog was
“Love love, Baby Love” after the old pop song, My Baby Loves Love,
But then I decided we might have too many new visitors to Mt. Oly today. That title would have scared off a lot of folks who didn’t know what The Goddess Blogs are all about, which is great fun and camaraderie with a shared love of romance!
Joelle BB on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:48 pm #
1. FAVORITE – Names made up reg. the person getting them. Something special that makes it uniquely theirs.
2. LEAST Favorite- My precious (Lord of the Rings anyone…Shudder.)
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) We call each other various versions on monkey. So, I’d have to go with Monkey. (A.K.A.: Monkus, Monkiest of them all, etc…)
Josie R on 09 Feb 2010 at 3:56 pm #
Favorite: Sweetie (this is what I call my husband)
Least: Babe
Fun/Creative: Freckles (my niece’s husband calls my niece this), RatBastard (A term of endearment for my husband)
Jennie Knight on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:13 pm #
My favorite would be either sweeting or Love. My least favorite is Lady. I can remember my father calling my mother that instead of her name. As for fantasy name, One my DH has called me: Punting. I don’t really understand what the word means but he sure sounds sexy when he says it.
Leni on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:15 pm #
Favorites: Sweetheart,Darling,Love, Babe
Least Favorites: Sweetie
Suzie on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:18 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): Dar’lin (in a southern accent), dear, sweetness,
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): Honey
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): Sporty — as in you are built like a sports model:)
Cathy Phillips on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:26 pm #
1. Favorite Endearments: sweetheart, darling, honey, dear
2. Least Favorite Endearments: dummy, babe, baby
3. Fun/Creative Endearment: sweetums
Rosalia on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:30 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): In a recent book the gentleman used the term “my loving”. It was not one I recalled hearing before, but it grew on me.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): In another book the Duke refered to his future bride as “little one”and I didn’t care for that. It is up there with the contemporary “Who’s Your Daddy? / Big Daddy”.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): It is rarely used in the books I read but I do like Hellcat for the more wild heroine.
MariElle Betz on 09 Feb 2010 at 4:40 pm #
Favorite; Honey
Least: don’t have a least
Most Creative- “Juicyfruit pumper”— my hubby’s variation on “sweetheart” *^)
barbinabasket on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:00 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): Lass, My Heart, Love. Anything in Italian or any other language besides English for that matter.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): Dear (Sounds like a reply to nagging, as in ‘yes dear’)
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): Wench or what I call my hubs when he’s annoying me: Butthead to which his reply is: Butthead Lover.
Rita @ South Africa ;o) on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:05 pm #
Congratulations on your 3rd anniversary!!!
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) – Angel
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) – Baby/Babe
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) – Kitten
Marsha G. on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:07 pm #
1. Favorite~ Love, Sweatheart, Honey
2. Least~babe
3. Fun/creative~ Weazie(my hubby calls me this for my middle name), sweetums
I am late because I was at work and unable to check the computer for fun stuff!!
Mary C on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:17 pm #
Favorite – darling, love
Least – baby
Creative – sugah or something sarcastic
Lucile on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:21 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) Princess
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) babe or anything parental sounding
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) kitten
Kathleen O on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:21 pm #
1. Fav- Love, Dear, Sweetheart
2. Least fav- Babe…I cannot stand to hear this term especially when I hear this and look at the receipent of the term.. They are anything but a babe.. turns me off ..
3- Fun/Creative.. I will use the word “Pumpkin” sometimes, or sweetie heart, but mostly when I am talking to the kids.. I used Princess a lot when speaking to my two little nieces.. And when I am talking to nephews I might say “Hey big guy”..
Terri Dell on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:22 pm #
Favorite is Honey
I hate sugar
creative would be babydoll
chris on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:33 pm #
1- Fave: hon/babe
2-least:honeysweetheart
3-creative: hotlips/tightass
Pat Cochran on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:45 pm #
Faves: My Love, Honey, Babe, Sugar.
Least Faves: Lover, Woman, Baby Mama/Papa.
Fun: Angel, Sweetness, Beautiful.
Fun post, only it made think so hard that I now have a headache!! LOL!!
Pat Cochran
elsiehogarth on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:48 pm #
Favorite: Sweeting, Sweetie pie, Cookie and Suki
Least: Dumpling, Baby Doll and Hon
Fun & Creative: Sugar Plum, Pookie, Pumpkin, ChiChi
Wendy on 09 Feb 2010 at 5:51 pm #
My favorite – Sweet Potato (my Dad calls my little girl this)
Least favorite – Babe
Fun & Creative – Boog (as in Love Bug) and ChiChi (don’t know what i got it but I call my husband that)
Donna Coe-velleman (LIRW) on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:06 pm #
Fave – Babe, angel, lass, precious
Least – cupcake or anything to do with food. The heroine is not something you can eat part of, then wrap
up and put in the frig. The exception is pumpkin. Sweetcheeks is another irksome term.
Creative – I haven’t come up with one. I need some chocolate to think. Have fun while I raid my stash.
Pam Griffith on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:19 pm #
My favorite – Angel
My least favorite – sweetheart
Fun and Creative – My love
Shelley D. (spgirls) on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:29 pm #
I very much enjoyed reading this blog. As for what I’d pick here it goes:
1. Favorite Endearments – Sweetheart
2. Least favorite: Hun
3. Fun/Creative: My Love or Lover
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:30 pm #
Barbina — Bh Lover, too funny!
MarshaG — I like Weazie! And you have plenty of time. We won’t draw the prize winners until late tonight — Handmaiden Kim knows the rules. But even then everyone can still post their endearments for the enjoyment of us all.
Pat, sorry about the headache! But it was worthwhile. I really like both Sweetness and Beautiful, and I’m not sure we’ve seen those suggested today.
Wendy, Sweet Potato is really fun, except that it’s a food group. Maybe the readers who don’t like food groups will give that one a special dispensation, lol.
Donna! A chocolate stash!! You’re a goddess after my own heart. Will you please share? We’re big on sharing around here, lol.
Kiki on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:39 pm #
Favs to use – sweetie, honey
Favs to hear – my love (say it in Gaelic and watch me melt – is that “mo gra”? — Italian and French would work, too)
Least fave – babe (unles its Ranger saying it to Stephanie in the J.E’s Plum novels)
Fun – sugarlipshoneybun
Babbie on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:46 pm #
Fav: Pookarina
Least Fav: Baby
Creative: hotstuff
ashley neautl on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:52 pm #
1. Favorite My love or my own
2. Least favorite Babe, I am not a talking pig.
33. Fun sweetie pie
chelleyreads on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:55 pm #
1. love, darling, sweetie
2. doll/doll face, babe, princess, angel
3. apricot, gum drop
Angie Frawley on 09 Feb 2010 at 6:58 pm #
fav- bonnie— any scottish endearment!!..of course anything Gerard Butler might utter!
least fav- babe,gosh I hate to hear that!
creative- pooky, It was my name my dad would call me
and that is why I can’t write a book! I have no imagination!! So I will let you pros have it and I will keep enjoying your work!
Denise on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:09 pm #
Fav: Honey, Sweetheart and Babe (if spoken in the right tone of voice.) I actually like sweeting in the historical romances. I think it fits the genre.
Least: Doll
Creative: Cupcake (My SO is a baker so I am partial to this one!)
Louisa Cornell on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:17 pm #
Goodness the party is in full swing already!! I knew this anniversary week was going to be the crush of the season!
Nicole, I started To Tame a Dangerous Lord today and I LOVE it! It almost got me in trouble because I am reading it on my breaks and at lunch and I was late returning to work from all of them because I wanted to finish the book! I know I”ll be up all night tonight. The opening was amazing and I REALLY love Rayne and Madeline!
And I happen to love the endearment “sweeting” in the historicals I read and the ones I write.
Favorite : Historicals – sweeting
Contemporary – baby
Least favorite : Historicals – Brat, but only because my brothers called me one!
Contemporary – babe (it means you can’t remember her name!)
Creative : My DH used to call me Elf or Munchkin most of the time, but his romantic endearment for me was
Angel Eyes.
His best friend, a Cajun from Louisiana, has always called me “cher” and it warms my heart to
hear it.
My Austrian vocal coach gave me the nickname Divina (little diva – I’m only 5ft tall) and the young
Austrian baritone with
Jody F. on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:19 pm #
1. My faves are honey, sweetheart, and sweetie.
2. My least favorite is doll.
3. The most creative that I can come up with this late at night is snuggle-butt (in honor of my Snuggie).
Debby on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:19 pm #
I really hate Babe. But I like darling. Hmm for a suggestion, the only one I can think of sweet thang!!
Louisa Cornell on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:19 pm #
whom I sang in many operas always called me that in a voice like rich, dark liquid sex. Good thing I was married or I would have rocked that kid’s world (he was 7 years younger than me!) Anything can be a term of endearment if the right person says it!
Louisa Cornell on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:20 pm #
And I had a contest judge call me out on using “sweeting” as an endearment spoken by a mother to her adult son. What do you think, Nicole, arbiter of all things endearing?
Lois M. on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:21 pm #
Hmm, never thought about this since I do not have a significant other guy to call me any of the above. Sure love it when I read someone say my love. . . as for fun, well, sure loved this one episode of the X-Files where Mulder and Scully are posing as a married couple, and she calls him poopyhead as an endearment!
(okay, well, gotta give me the fact it’s different, if not, ah, the most romantic LOL)
Lois
Pam Thompson on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:36 pm #
Fav endearment: My love
Least fav: babe
Fun: pumpikin
Lissa on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:39 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): love (say it with a british accent and it’s even better! lol)
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): Doll would have to be one of my least faves. xD.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): I think this one I’d have to say varies…fun nicknames should be a reflection of some aspect of a relationship between two people, imo.
colinfirthfan on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:47 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): baby (to my kids much to their horror
)
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): Girly (i knew someone in school who called the other girls that… drove me slightly demented)
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): Boo
Esther on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:49 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s)
“Sweeting,” and “My Love”
Once in a while, the right character from a foreign land charms me with “Piccola” or “Ma Petite”
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s)
Kitten
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s)
My husband and I have a running joke with endearments, along the lines of, “Hey Sugar Bunny Honey Muffin Bunches of Oats” or something equally long and oh-so-charming.
MarthaE on 09 Feb 2010 at 7:53 pm #
Favorite – Honey, Sweetheart
Least – Babe: just Yuck! Too flippant.
Fun/Creative – Sweetie pie, honey bun, sugar bear, Boris – as in “Strong as a bull, Boris”!
Fun post! Thanks
Bobbie Pilkinton on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:02 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): Baby. I know it’s kinda sexist, but I love it! When my man crooks his finger and says, ” come over here baby “, I lose my mind! Oh yeah, and a few articles of clothing! LOL
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): Sweetheart ( especially coming from a girl! ) I’m from the South, and it seems like everyone I meet is calling me this, but they just don’t know: I’m FAR from a Sweetheart!!
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): I call my husband ” Purty ” because it fits! Sometimes for fun I just make names up off the top of my head. His favorites are: Sugar lips, my little dumpling, honey buns. And if I’m feeling really naughty I call him ” Sailor” !
beth on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:15 pm #
Favorite: honey – it’s just a classic
Least Favorite: Boo – why why why!!?? it’s just wrong wrong wrong!!! sugar lips – ugh!
Fun: Sweet Pea
Stacy S on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:20 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) Darling, sweetpea.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) Babydoll, babe.
Congrats on the 3 years!!
mslooneytune on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:39 pm #
FAVORITE – in historicals, anytime the male calls her an endearment in another language, especially when she isn’t sure what it means, and finds out later in the book that is something chosen just for her. . . aaaahhhhhh . . . I also like when the male shortens her name . . . (Catherine is Cat) and no one else calls her that, just him.
LEAST – babe
FUN – sugarbooger . . . okay, kinda gross, but it rhymes and its fun
June on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:40 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) BABE ( Its all in how it is said and Ladies my man says it right )
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) Sweetie ( I am not your sweetie and who said I was sweet? )
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) June Bug ( well as you can see my name is June and I get June Bug alot )
enyl on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:58 pm #
My favorite term of endearment is “Love”, my least favorite is ‘Baby”, the term Iuse most often greeting on the phone or in person is “Hey You”.
E.R. on 09 Feb 2010 at 8:59 pm #
I agree that those endearments in foreign languages are SO fine. I like the French one, cara mia, bella, mi corazon. *sigh* “My heart.” *sigh* Special meaning for that last one.
And kudos to guys speaking those endearments in books. Wish that more real guys do that in reality.
Missy Roth on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:05 pm #
A cowboy can say anything and I’m happy.
My favorite special one is one I used in one of my stories: Mein Liebe (German, of course)
Ah, Bella’s a good one, too…I just read that in the post before mine. And punkin’, which is what my southern man calls me.
Katie on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:08 pm #
favorite,Sweet Pea,love
least favorite,honey ,dumpling
Fun-Sweetie Darling (as done in Absolutely Fabulous)
Katie on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:10 pm #
OH I forgot Cocoa Pops (which I call my BF)in turn she calls me Lucky Charms
Sue A. on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:13 pm #
1. Favorite: My heart
2. Least favorite: Baby
3. Fun/Creative: Pumpkin
Connie Northrop on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:13 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) Lover!
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) Sweetums…..ick
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) Little boy….it’s a fun one when you’re a cougar (like me)…LOL
debra field on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:13 pm #
Baby! I wasn’t even sure if my husband remembers my name. He’s alway called me baby.
Misty on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:16 pm #
I love the word sweeting! I like -ing and -ling words, I guess, because I also love darling and dearling. I call my pet rats ’sweatmeats’ and ‘darling ratlings’.
I don’t like ‘dear heart.’ It just sounds old-fashioned and somehow condescending.
Ro Abreu on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:18 pm #
My DDH used to call me Toots. I loved it
My favorite when used in books is also Sweeting, but I’m fond of Minx as an endearment. Anything from the Romance languages makes me happy.
I truly do not like Baby. Unless it’s couched with something, like Sugar Baby, or Baby Darlin’.
Fun ones… Sweet Cheeks (another from my DDH), Honey Britches (did I mention I’m from the South?)
Ohiogirl on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:21 pm #
Fav – I confess, I LIKE sweeting! In the right context of course : )
Least fav insult/attraction – “You cad!” Really? I’d just call them something unprintablel!
Fav contemporary? I always tease my husband that he’s my poolboy. “Oh poolboy!”
In the winter I have the ever handy “fireboy” who builds and then “fluffs” the fire in our livingroom.
Having a fireboy is very, very nice.
Elizabeth on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:23 pm #
1 “Wife” (but this may be totally because my husband of 31 years uses this as an endearment. I, in turn, call him “husband”). Second choice: “Love”
2. “Baby” (just hate this one. ugh.) But “Babe” is fine
3. I think the creative ones connect to the specific person. Like Temperance Brennan being called “Bones”. This could get silly, very easily, but has possibility: “Purl” for a knitter (sounds quite old fashioned . . . I had a great aunt Pearl)
Jete59 on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:27 pm #
1. got to love “sweeting”
2. Babe
3. sweet pea,
Jete59 on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:28 pm #
1. got to love “sweeting”
2. Babe
3. sweet pea, my man!
Jessica on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:34 pm #
1. Favorite Endearment: Sweetling
2. Least: Pudding, Hon or Babe
3. Fun / Creative: Squishy, Gobbles
The fun / creative come from my sister and what I heard her call her ex-boyfriends
Barbara R. on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:35 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) Sweetie Pie
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) Hon or Dear
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) Boobie or cupcake
Thank you for the creative question.
Pat Freely on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:36 pm #
1. Mi Amor, (My love) or Dearling
2. Hate Babe or Hon
3> Honey Buns is cute
Stacey on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:39 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): Little Girl or my naughty girl from my husband
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): snookhums
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) : Sweet tart
Jennifer Louden on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:39 pm #
This is such a fun topic for near Valentines. Here are mine.
1. Favorite: Punkin’ (southern drawl) not pumpkin like here in the north. It can be used romantically or not.
2. Least Fav: Lover (paaaahhhllleeeese)
3 Fun/Creative: Cupcake (someone I knew that was really light and quippy said that) and it stuck for fun.
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s)
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s)
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s)
Beverly G on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:41 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) M’love , Sweetheart,Love,hellcat,brat imp
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s)Sweeting,darling,beauty,angel ( seems these r just used too much to me anyways)
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) : dearest
just to name a few awesome post tho
CindeyS on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:44 pm #
I agree with E.R.: something whispered in a foreign language (and of course it HAS to be whispered, barely audible!) would curl my toes inside out! But Nicole, all of your heros are good, and sexy, no matter what they would say!
Least favorite: “darling” ….. kinda makes me think that this guy is trying to feed a line of bull….
Nicole, just keep up the good work ….. wish you could write a book a month cuz I’d be in line buying every one the day they hit the stands!
Juanita Stender on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:48 pm #
1. FAVORITE: BABE, HONEY, SWEETHEART OR DOLL.
2. LEAST FAVORITE: SWEETIE – HOW DO YOU KNOW I AM A SWEETIE! SWEETING TOO.
3. FUN/CREATIVE: BIG DADDY LOVE CAT. LOL
Sheree Warner on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:50 pm #
#1 Favorite Endearment – Love
#2 Least Favorite Endearment – Snookums
#3 Fun/Creative Endearment – Soldier Boy, Cause I like him at Attention!
TammyW on 09 Feb 2010 at 9:52 pm #
1. Favorite: Honey, hon, sugardear
2. Least Favoirte: Baby, Babydoll, Angel
3. Fun/Creative: Tomi Girl (I am the only girl and have 4 brothers; this is what my dad calls me)
JenH on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:05 pm #
1. Favorite: Darlin’ (spoken by a southern man), Honeybuns
2. Least Favorite: Lover
3. Fun/Creative: Babydoll, Sweetcheeks, Sexy, Hot Mama, Geek, Peach
Katie Naegle on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:07 pm #
1. FAVORITE : mi corazon; darlin’
2. LEAST Favorite : babe
3. FUN/CREATIVE : beautiful; sweetie
ginnieb on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:09 pm #
1.favorite-sweets
least fav-babe,doll,boy toy
fun/creative-lover ,sweet cakes
Julie on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:09 pm #
1. Favorite: Darlin’ is my favorite, followed by my love, my sweet, my soul’s desire, dearest. Yes. I’m kind of mushy.
2. Least Favorite: Dumpling, Pudding, Peaches or Anything to do with food. Sorry!
3. Fun/Creative Endearment: My DH calls me by my Mother’s Maiden Name, Crazy ( then my real maiden name) Girl, HBR (Stands for Hot Blooded Romanian), and once he called me Well-Fed-Midwestern-Beef. Lovely. At first I thought that the man had a death wish. But then I realized that he meant it as a real compliment, since he said it with the same look on his face that the dog had when she ate a plate full of brownies.
Janet Kay Gallagher on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:10 pm #
1. Honey, Sweetheart
2. Used to love hearing my husband call me “Babe.” Now, it sounds odd to hear him call his present wife that. She is 4th or 5th wife after me. Did he call them all that?(When you have children you are always exposed to running into the Ex’s.)
3. Sugar
Jane on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:14 pm #
Favorite: Love, sweetheart, darlin’
Least: Hon, Beauty
Fun/creative: Studmuffin (my husband), Flannel Goddess (me)
Mickey M on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:21 pm #
Favorite – Dearling or Sweet (like the old fashioned terms)
Least – Babe (Blah)
Fun – Darlin’ mine
Cheryl Conway on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:27 pm #
FAVORITE Endearment: Baby, sugar
LEAST Favorite Endearment: Babe
Santa on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:30 pm #
Favorite: Sweetness (first heard it on the soap, Days of Our Lives), Hello, Beautiful – it’s how my DH wakes me up every morning.
Least: Lover – TMI while at the same time, redundant.
Fun: Sandarella – it’s what my dad used to call me. His little Sandarella.
Gayle Oreluk on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:32 pm #
My favorite is Love or Dearling.
My least favorite is Sweeting or Babe.
A fun endearment is Lovey like from Gilligan’s Island, Lovey Howell or even Cutiepie.
Sheila B on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:33 pm #
My favorite is Angel and darlin’ if my man calls me darlin but no one else.
Least fave is hun,gal sugar or baby.
Creative-I cant think of a one.
Neris on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:36 pm #
1. FAVORITE: Sugar (like Nicole said, if possible paired with a sexy, Southern drawl.) and Love
2. LEAST: Baby/Babe. A dear friend had a jerk husband that called her that. Hated the nickname hated him. lol
3. FUN/CREATIVE: Nerd Bird (yep, there’s a story.) & Ivanchu (a play on the name Ivan, made to sound like a slurred ‘I want you’ lol)
@Julie “Well-Fed-Midwestern-Beef” and I thought Nerd Bird was a questionable complement. :-p
LLL on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:36 pm #
1. FAVORITE: Love, Beloved
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment: Baby, Little One, Sweetums
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion: Sweet Pea, Snookums
Melissa Cleaver on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:47 pm #
1. Favorite Endearment: Baby
2. Least: Pookie
3. Special: Sweetie, Honey
Miranda Wood on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:49 pm #
1. FAVORITE: My Wife (said very sweetly while holding me tight – Makes me feel all warm and safe)
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment: Lumpkins (I don’t know where he came up with that but nothing can cool me off faster)
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion: My dirty dirty girl (said with that special growl in his voice)
Jessica DuLong on 09 Feb 2010 at 10:52 pm #
1. Favorite: Beauty (my husband calls me this), Darlin’ and Ma’m (because I associate these with a good looking cowboy tipping his hat in appreciation and respect).
I usually take a persons name and twist it to their personality. My silly friend Autumn becomes ‘Oddly Autumn’ – Oddly for short. My other friend Laurie who always has news is ‘Low-Down’ – Lo for short.
2. Least: Anything having to do with ‘Mama’ , ‘Daddy’ or ‘Uncle’ – ick!
3. Fun – making the endearment specific to the person. I call my husband ‘Monkey Man’ sometimes because his legs are shorter than mine, but his arms are longer. My son calls me ‘Most Glorious Supreme Empress of All’ – he made this up since I’m so bossy
tina on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:02 pm #
my favorite endearment is honey…for some reason that simple statement always makes me melt.
least favorite……hummm cupcake…makes me sound unflattering and just well cakey! lol
fun i call my hubby honey bunches…its cute fun and makes him smile
Ranurgis on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:14 pm #
Favorite endearment – liebchen (hard to pronounce for anyone not knowing Scottish “loch”)
Least favorite – love (Some people use it for everyone; overuse breeds contempt.)
Fun/Creative – our family has always been too serious for me to be that “fun or creative.” but “sweetie” is one I sometimes use.
trudy on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:20 pm #
my fav endearments: babe; and only for my little son- sweetie jr. and his father- sweetie sr.
least fav: filly
my special fav: dearling and babylicious
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:21 pm #
Debbie– Sweet Thang- Great!
LouisaC, thank you! That means so much to me coming from another writer, and a Golden Heart writer at that! I love Angel Eyes and cher, and Divina too.
Lois — too funny about the Ex Files.
Esther – I think Muffin Bunches of Oats is darling.
Bobbie — Purty works for me, lol.
Katie, love Lucky Charms.
Paula on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:21 pm #
Favorite endearment- sweeting
Least favorite- baby, babe (reminds me of the movie about a pig)
Fun/creative- my spouse and I sign notes and cards YFP (your favorite playmate). Our children (ages 36 and 29) don’t know what it stands for, I don’t think. If they did, they would tease us about it. We also sometimes call each other “dear”. We couldn’t agree on any other term of endearment when we were first married 33 years ago.
margaret on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:21 pm #
1. Fave : sweetie
2. Least : hon ( like Atilla ? )
3. Fun/Creative : Zuess German for sweet, Sunshine
Klass on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:21 pm #
Fave is “baby” by the hot hero (not sure how I like it in real life though) also like “cara” like the use of “slick” towards the H – Some of my faves all depend on how it reads in the story. i’ve read some of these in a context that just isn’t right.
Least fave is “darling” yick, just yick, I cringe everytime the hero utters it.
Love to hear more of ‘petal’ or “numb-nuts’ but usually to come from the heroine as I use them daily.
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:23 pm #
Ro — Honey Britches is very unique!
Ohiogirl — fireboy, I want one of those, please.
Stacey — love Sweet Tart!
Cindey, thank you so much for the compliments!
Julie, too funny about the beef, lol.
Pesky on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:23 pm #
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:28 pm #
Jane– Flannel Goddess is great. I have a sweatshirt that says Barn Goddess, but I love flannel too.
Neris — Ivanchu, lol!
JessicaD, I loe Most Glorius Supreme Empress! I’m teaching that to my dh tomorrow. Today I taught him She Who Must Be Obeyed, lol.
Trudy, I love dearling!
Nicole Jordan on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:29 pm #
Paula, YFP is wonderful! And congrats on the 33 years!!
Margaret – Sunshine is really fun and fits a few people I know.
Klass, I like Slick too.
Kim S on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:31 pm #
Great post Nicole! My daughter and I were just having a discussion on pet names the other day.
Mine are;
Favorite>>>>>Baby, Darlin.
Least>>>>Darling(why Darlin and not Darling??? sheeesh!)
Fun>>>>>Babydoll and Sugarlips.
Aileen on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:48 pm #
1.) FAVE(S) – Love/Luv, Babe, Sweetheart, Cherie
2.) LEAST FAVE(S) – Darling, Baby
3.) UNIQUE – CutiePie, SweetiePie, SugarPie, HoneyBunch
Donna on 10 Feb 2010 at 12:03 am #
1.) FAVE(S)—- Lass/me darling girl
2.) least—–babycake
3.) fun sugarplum,honeybun,sweetcakes,
dorotha holloway on 10 Feb 2010 at 12:05 am #
Fave: lover
Least Fave: dumplin
Unique:munchkin
Brenda B. Hill on 10 Feb 2010 at 12:08 am #
Favorite endearment – My Heart or My Love – these sound so sweet when being said by your hubby
Least favorite – Cutie – just doesn’t say anything to me
Fun/Creative – Puddin or Punkin or Lady Bug – These sound so cute
Irene Nash on 10 Feb 2010 at 12:10 am #
Most favorite – sweeting, I just love this expression, and lass in scottish books
Least favorite – dear, sounds like a name for someone’s mother
Fun – sweetikins, lol
Michelle B. on 10 Feb 2010 at 12:13 am #
How about “Cher” as drawled by a sexy creole accent??… I like “She-cat” or “Kitten”…
Michelle B. aka koshkalady
Kayla J. on 10 Feb 2010 at 12:58 am #
1. Baby, babe, love, sweet, sweets, lover. I like in paranormals when authors use “my_____” [fill in the blank with said species; example: “my vampire likes that, doesn’t he?” or “my wee little halfling” etc, etc.
2. Not a fan of “boo” or “darling”. I find darling to be overly formal for even historical romances.
3. Hell Cat {sounds so fun!}; vixen
Tine Lua on 10 Feb 2010 at 1:03 am #
favorite endearment is the way my boyfriend personalized my name. he calls me “tiney”. its sweet the way he pronounced it and the way he calls me. it’s really is special when he personalized my name according to his liking. more special than calling you common endearments because this is uniquely just for you. i myself personalized his name to my liking as well.
least favorite will be “sugar” & “honey”. its pretty ironic.
fun endearments are cuppycakes, babycakes, big bear
blodeuedd on 10 Feb 2010 at 1:03 am #
Fav: Cutie
perhaps calling you with someone else s name
Least fav: I actually love everything
3. Smurf
Mayra B on 10 Feb 2010 at 1:12 am #
1.Favorite is a tie between darlin’ (texan accent) and my sweet
2.least favorite is hon, just say the whole thing dang it
3. sorry had to steal one from another post “babycakes” but a name that refers to any sort of desert has be used carefully
Char Mercer on 10 Feb 2010 at 1:27 am #
WOW!! 3 years already? Time flies when you’re having fun and Goddesses’ blogs are definitely fun!! A lot of these comments are crackin’ me up!! – and Nicole, I love your sense of humor! Kinda’ quirky – just like mine!! (That’s a compliment, by the way!) ;o)
Anyway, favorite endearments are anything that someone would call a person that they really love. Even really cheesy names like Pumpkin and Sweetpea sound wonderful if it fits the story/person.
Least fave is anything used in a condescending way… ‘Hon’, ‘Babe’, ‘My Old Lady’…
I do love the terms, ‘My Love’ and ‘My Heart’. You’re his one and only and he’s letting you know. ‘Sweeting’ in historicals, and ‘Darlin’ said in a Southern drawl (toe curl), are also favorites, but my absolute fave is ‘Sweetheart’, hands down. It works in any time frame and any situation and just sounds so… endearing and personal.
I use more ‘quirky’ names in real life. I call my daughter ‘Dollface’ and ‘Beauty Queen’. My son is ‘Bug’, and my hubby is ‘Sweetie Petie’ even though his name is Frank. ;o)
Well, good luck everyone and I sure am looking forward to another 3 years!!!
Kolbrun Osk on 10 Feb 2010 at 1:55 am #
1. Lovey, ducky and the classic Darling
2. Babe, Baby.
3. candy cane, snuggle bear ( I use this for my hubby), tender bud.
Char Mercer on 10 Feb 2010 at 1:59 am #
P.S. I forgot this one… I tell my hubby when he’s aggravating me, “You are such a butt hole.” (I know! Its soooo disrespectful but said in fun!!) and he replies, “Well, you’re a whole butt!”, then we usually laugh and hug! Weird, I know, but I had to add it!!! LOL!!
Laura Emerson on 10 Feb 2010 at 2:14 am #
1. Favorite endearments: gorgeous, beautiful, (I know at my age none of these apply but he says them with a smile which reaches his eyes, so I know he means them. I love his rose colored glasses!. I also love Twinkle Toes. I am not sure what it means but it makes me smile.
2. Least favorite: Sweet Cheeks (I am not sure if that is a shot at my “sitting end which is so noticeable, or my cheeks which resemble a chipmunk!) Honey Bear, Girlie , Bug a Boo.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all the Goddess’s around the world!!
Cheri Oggy on 10 Feb 2010 at 2:23 am #
Fave is: Darlin’ girl
Least fave: Porkchop ( my husband’s pet name for me for 30 years now)!
cories on 10 Feb 2010 at 2:52 am #
Favorite is sweetie which can be used for kids as well.
Least is baby and all variations thereof (babe, babycakes, etc.).
Fun is sweetums which is also the name of a large, hairy Muppet.
Stacey Ellis on 10 Feb 2010 at 3:38 am #
Hi there, Wow love the locket!! I only read historicals and really like the sound of wench when used in the appropriate context. Other Favs would be imp and Angel…I’ve read every one of your books but by far the one I’ve read and re-read is The Seduction…you use Angel alot in that and it’s awesome! I hate hate hate Darling as it seems so patronizing and corny. My husband used to call me telechubby…can’t quite see it in a novel but hey…you just never know do you!! I only read four authors..luckily for me they are all on here this week!!! I’ve just finished your latest book and need to re read it…I consumed it in a day and would like to savour it once again immediately!! Keep up the fantastic work!! You’re awesome!
Vanessa on 10 Feb 2010 at 4:59 am #
1. FAVORITE – well, it really depends on the tone and context…
2. LEAST – anything with fat or little included – hello, so not complementary
3. FUN/CREATIVE – something obnoxious said nicely like when I call the hubby an a**hat or compliments used obnoxiously…
Gigi on 10 Feb 2010 at 5:25 am #
1.Favorite-Sweetheart
2.Least- Baby
3. Fun and Creative=Honey Bun, Peanut, Kitten, Boo
I loved the info in the blog. I never really thought about all the different endearments we use and have been used over time.
deb c on 10 Feb 2010 at 5:53 am #
1) Favorite- My wife My husband will just look and me and say this and I reply “my husband”. It says it all.
2) Least-Sweet Cheeks I don’t think they’re talking about the ones on my face
3)Fun and Creative-My Little Cake Baker Of course, he only calls my this when I’m baking, but, it’s special
Ang B on 10 Feb 2010 at 8:39 am #
Favorite: My Love, Love of My Life, My Sweet, My Darlin’, My Lovely Wife, (I think you get the idea…)
Least: Hun, Babe (sometimes it’s not that bad, depends on the tone…),
Fun and Creative: Sugar Pie Honey Bunch You Know I Love You! (yeah, singing the song!), Goddess Divine (let’s not forget that one!)
Janie on 10 Feb 2010 at 8:46 am #
Favorite: I always call my husband Honey. My youngest son calls me Baby.
Least Favorite: I don’t really have one. Any endearment is special.
Fun and Creative: My dad always called my mom Sugar Babe and I think it’s cute.
Keana on 10 Feb 2010 at 9:04 am #
Favorite: Love, Minx, Babe, Honey
Least Favorite: Wifey, Boo, Little Woman
Fun & Creative: Sweetness
tcoley on 10 Feb 2010 at 9:11 am #
Favorite: “My dear” (what can I say, I love Jane Austin) and I love it when a bright funny Victorian lady is referred to as a “Hellcat” or “Bluestocking” because it tells me they don’t take anything from the men in their lives.
Least: Honey- it’s so common these days to hear this that it doesn’t feel special anymore.
Fun and Creative: My dad always had to have nicknames for us all and he was calling me “Snicker -doodle” long before anyone ever made a cookie by the same name. Haha!
mountie9 on 10 Feb 2010 at 9:12 am #
Least Fav – baby, sweetie, little lady
Favourite – love, sunshine, darlin (only when said by hot texan)
Fun and Creative – my little hellion, sugar booger (Jimmy Neutron)
Jennifer Johnson on 10 Feb 2010 at 9:13 am #
Great post I love this there are so many to choose from hmmm I guess my favorites would be…
Lover- that one is used in many paranormals and historicals I’ve read
mo chride – my heart that one is from Outlander it’s Gaelic
And call me old fashioned but I love it when they call them – My love or my angel! When said in the right circumstances and sincerely it just doesn’t get much better than that does it?
Nicole Jordan on 10 Feb 2010 at 9:19 am #
AngB, I love Goddess Divine! Goes right up there with Empress, lol.
Janie, Sugar Babe is so cute and loving.
Mountie- I forgot about Hellion — that can be fun!
>>>>sincerely it just doesn’t get much better than that does it?
Great way to put it, Jennifer!
Kristina B on 10 Feb 2010 at 9:27 am #
Last night I was attempting to go to sleep (which is always hard when I really want to be reading in stead of sleeping in preparation for my very long Wednesday full of US history classes – I teach 6 of them) and another favorite endearment came to me.
I LOVE Minx, when said with exasperation, affection, and of course desire!
dorothywc on 10 Feb 2010 at 9:27 am #
Favorite – Lovey
Least – Babe
Fun- Pooh Bear
But you can call me anything as long as it is used the right manor!!!
Danielle on 10 Feb 2010 at 9:47 am #
Fav: anything that sounds like it some one would actually say it.
Least: anything that sounds stupid. ex: sugar puff, shnuggle dooddle etc
cant really say that I have any suggestions for you. I havent read a book from any of the authors on this blog that i thought “ok now that sounds stupid” so thank you for all your great work and giving me something to entertain myself with while i exercise
Beygirl on 10 Feb 2010 at 9:55 am #
Favorite: Sweeting, Love, Angel, Cheri, Beauty, and Sweets..
Least: Hun, Babe, Baby, Darling, and My Love.
Unique: My husband calls me “his Tulip”, because he says the Tulips are very beautiful flowers.
Cindy C. on 10 Feb 2010 at 10:08 am #
1. Sweet, Love, Sweetling,
2. Babe, Baby
3. Ladybug, Honeybun
Jolee on 10 Feb 2010 at 11:06 am #
1. Bunny (love it when man calls me that)
)
2. ‘mother’ (he insists that this IS an endearment….I think it is only from our children
3. Honeypot
moon_princess111 on 10 Feb 2010 at 11:49 am #
My favorite is Darling, but my husband HATES it and I never use it. Go figure.
My Least favorite is probably Babe. I just think it’s over-used is all really. I use it, my husband uses it, but it’s still probably my least favorite.
My Favorite Contemporary one is either Pookie (pet name, but when said with love, it;s great) and Sug, as in Sugar, specially with a southern accent attached to it!
Natasha on 10 Feb 2010 at 12:11 pm #
1. Favorite: Sweetness
2. Least favorite: Babe (ugh, so sexist! It reminds me of skeevy bar pick up lines)
3. Goddess (of course!), Treasure, Mine Only (sigh!)
Melanie on 10 Feb 2010 at 12:11 pm #
I call my husband Sweetie, and he calls me Honey, and that sounds good to me. We have an acquaintence who call her SO Lover, and that is just horrible. Our funny endearments all have to do with bodily functions – not very romantic sounding, but thy are fun for us.
Biki on 10 Feb 2010 at 12:31 pm #
1 – Fave – Ma Petite
2 – Least – Hon or babe for the lazy
3 – Special: Mi Amour, My Sweet
tdhauser on 10 Feb 2010 at 12:33 pm #
Fav: sweeting
Least: sugar
Fun: puddin’
Nicole Jordan on 10 Feb 2010 at 1:46 pm #
I’m so glad our goddesses are continuing to contribute their faves and not-so faves!
Becky Jean on 10 Feb 2010 at 1:51 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) – my love, my heart, sweeting
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) – sugar, baby-doll
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) – love lump
Kay Burke on 10 Feb 2010 at 2:00 pm #
1.FAVORITE Endearment(s) – I love you or lover
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) – Babe Yuch
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) sugar flirt
sue hieber on 10 Feb 2010 at 3:43 pm #
i like the simple and direct like HON or HONEY
i absolutely loathe the affected DARLING
and i think i good endearment for the heroine would be plain old MY SWEET
maered on 10 Feb 2010 at 3:55 pm #
1.FAVORITE Endearment(s) – sweetheart or darling or sweetling
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) – baby talk, it’s gross.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) – how about muffin or pumpkin??
flip on 10 Feb 2010 at 4:08 pm #
1. Dearest is number 1. I also like sweetheart
2. Babe is my least favorite
3. Peach
Chelsea B. on 10 Feb 2010 at 6:02 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment– Sweetheart, angel, and love.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment– babe and honey
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment– Not sure, but I love it in romance books when there is a foreign endearment the hero calls the herione
Linda F. on 10 Feb 2010 at 6:42 pm #
Favorite – beautiful …with sweeting 2nd – my husband calls me beautiful – always warms my heart.
Least favorite is wench or brat – guess it all really depends on the story or situation
Karla on 10 Feb 2010 at 7:46 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment– My heart, Corazon, mi vida
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment– babe or Baby – I am neither of those things
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment– snookums
elainec on 10 Feb 2010 at 8:45 pm #
Favorite : Cara
Least Favorite : Babe
Fun : I like Sweeting when I read it in historical novels.
Lauren on 10 Feb 2010 at 8:49 pm #
Favorite: Honey, Babe
HATE: Old lady – that one drives me crazy….and not in a good way.
Creative: Huggy Bear.
Lisa G on 10 Feb 2010 at 10:21 pm #
Fave- Bella, Angel
Least-Babe ,Sugar
Creative- Mia, Mi Amour
Nicole Jordan on 10 Feb 2010 at 11:32 pm #
Oh, I love Beautiful!
And all these foreign languages really make me melt.
Great going, goddesses!
Theresa Shafer on 11 Feb 2010 at 6:22 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): Honey, Love, Almost anything said in a southern voice is sweet.
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): Babe.
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): Honey Bunny, Silver Dragon, Bug-gub,
Any words can be sweet when spoken tenderly as any dog shows. You can tell them the most awful stuff about them if you say it tenderly and they will wag their tails while trying to give you kisses. “You really are a stinky bottom puppy, aren’t you?”
Sarah on 11 Feb 2010 at 7:30 am #
1. My Favorites: Honey, hon, sweetie, sweetheart. love, baby, mi amour,
2. My Least Favorites: lover, old lady, old man, dear, dearest, boo
3. Fun Favorites: love muffin, cutie, honey bunny, snookums, baby doll
Keira on 11 Feb 2010 at 9:57 am #
Here are ones I would like to see (more of) in romance: hellcat, spitfire, (saucy) minx, little shrew, vixen, worrywart, sassafras (sassy), and plumpy.
Taylor on 11 Feb 2010 at 11:49 pm #
The first four, are endearments that make my pulse race a bit faster whenever addressed towards me =)
Favorite:
• Sweeting
• Beauty
• Lass
• Mi amor
• Love
• Honey bunny (I blush at this one, it’s embarrassingly cute)
Least Favorite:
• Pumpkin – not to get technical, but I’m not a vegetable… last time I checked
• Princess
• Baby cakes
• Pretty much all endearments involving foods (I reflex cringe every time… & then get hungry inexplicably lol)
• Pookie (I can never keep a straight face with this one. Two words: Victor Victoria!)
• Snookums (seriously? Lol)
Fun:
• Sex kitty (a fun, charming man can make you giggle to this one, I like to think)
• I’ve always been keen towards these type of teasing endearments:
o Delilah
o Enchantress
o Lorelei
o Temptress
o siren
o Minx
o Vixen
• Definitely something personal that applies mainly to me would be most enjoyable. But I mustn’t think of what, that would simply take away all the fun.
• Tru Luef (essentially, true love. I’ve always liked it from a Shana Abe book. It reminds me of a Gaelic word, but I don’t think it is a word, just a wonderfully fictitious one)
Kelly on 12 Feb 2010 at 4:20 pm #
Favorite: Sweets
Least Fav: Baby or Daddy or Mama (anything that implies a relationship that wold land us both in jail)
Suggestions: just call me beauitful, simple and too the point or better yet just call me yours
Janie Bowen on 12 Feb 2010 at 5:52 pm #
Favorite – My love or my darling
Least Favorite – Babe
Cutesy – Sweet pea
Nicole Jordan on 12 Feb 2010 at 6:55 pm #
Taylor, I agree, Sex Kitty and Temptress are fun!
>>>just call me beauitful, simple and too the point or better yet just call me yours
Love the just call me yours comment, Kelly!
>>>Any words can be sweet when spoken tenderly as any dog shows.
LOL, Theresa! That’s perfect…. and perfectly true.
Cathi O on 13 Feb 2010 at 9:20 am #
Fave: Babe, Red, Angel
Least fave: Boo, Mistress
Stella on 14 Feb 2010 at 12:18 am #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s) BABE, sweetie
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s) sugar booger, honey
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s) My Queen
LOL
Wanda Prince on 14 Feb 2010 at 8:07 pm #
1. FAVORITE Endearment(s): sweetness, honey, sweet heart, sunshine, my angel, my love,
2. LEAST Favorite Endearment(s): madam, sir, my lord or my lady
3. FUN/CREATIVE Endearment Suggestion(s): my heart, precious; sunshine