The evidence that’s out there is largely based on a smattering of surveys, which didn’t capture an entirely representative sample of forms of love. I began to wonder: Is there any science behind using pet names? Is it a mark of a healthy relationship, or unhealthy? Are couples who give each other names, ranging from the generic “Honey” and “Sweetie” to the creative “Loopy Lop,” more likely to stay together? And in our digital age, are these nicknames any more important?Ī quick search of the literature reveals just how little these issues have been studied scientifically. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I got to thinking about terms of endearment and about the world of interpersonal language that romantic partners develop just for themselves. These names stuck around for months, even years – to the point where hearing “Elizabeth” or “Liz” in certain contexts would suggest a truly serious situation, or that I was in trouble. I’ve just been in a few relationships where cutesy, affectionate nicknames emerged as inside jokes. I have been called a little owl, a swan and even a “panda-fish.” No, I’m not a supernatural, shape-shifting creature or a character in a children’s storybook.
