According to some researchers, pet names are one of the many indicators that you're in a strong intimate relationship. Apparently calling your honey "woobie" every time he doesn't something nice for you is more than just vomit inducing: it's healthy.
According to Carol Bruess, the Director of Family Studies at University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota,
"You are saying, symbolically, that you care enough about the other person and the relationship to develop your own way of speaking. You've got your own private world, your own mini culture."
Sure, it makes sense. Closely knit siblings make up their own language, best friends have distress signals to use when a creepy guy is hitting on them in bars. It fits. I get it.
But does it always have to be so cheesey?
Another expert claims that yes, it does have to be cheesey. More importantly it has to be sweet. They say that using names for sweet things, such as honey, cupcake, or peaches, always has a positive connotation. When you say "peaches", you don't think of molded, rotten peaches that have fallen from the tree. You think just the opposite.
But there's more to it than having a secret language, code, or private super special nickname. The ability for two people to agree on a cutey-patootie nick name for one another is not going to make a bad relationship last.
I wouldn't jump to conclusions and say that using pet names for each other is going to make that relationship last. After all, there are only so many times he can call you "babycakes" after accidentally ruining your favorite patent leather pumps before you start reconsidering your stance on pet names and your relationship.
So, what embarrassing pet name do you call your significant other when no one is around? What do you wish you could call them? Full disclosure: I have a pet name for my boyfriend. It's "boyfriend". Clever, I know.