Most-hated pet names for partners revealed

'Babe', 'sweetcheeks' and 'snookums' have emerged as the most hated pet names for the nation's women, it has emerged.

The research into the most loved and hated terms of affection found 'Babe' to be the most loathed way to refer to a loved one.


[How a simple touch could reignite your relationship]


'Muffin', 'pumpkin' and 'baby doll' are also likely to prompt a cold shoulder from your other half, according to the report.

By contrast terms like 'gorgeous', 'beautiful' and 'lovely' are still considered acceptable, according to a new survey by domain website siteopia.com

The Americanised terms of 'Baby Girl' and 'Baby Doll' don't seem to wash with Brits and make the most-hated list, but modern pet names like 'Babycakes' and 'Sexy Pants' will also backfire.

Just one in five Brits actually calls their partner by their full name most of the time, with the same number reserving a private nickname they use when it's just the two of them.

And the men studied admitted they refer to their partner with names they would only use while she was out of earshot.

[Why you're still Googling your ex]
[Money and love: Will your relationship change if your earnings do]


'The Mrs' or 'The Wife' are common terms still used by men today, while a sixth of men quietly refer to their partner as 'The Boss'

'Her indoors' is a popular name for an absent wife or girlfriend, while a braver one in 14 refer use 'The ball and chain'.

Three per cent of men polled admitted using the unflattering epithet 'The Wicked Witch of the West'.

A softer one in ten blokes admitted they let their partner call them a soppy nickname that they would dread their mates ever finding out.

But one in ten Brits has been found out on a private nickname - 44 per cent used it accidentally when others were around, while friends accidentally reading private texts or cards brought it out in the open for three in ten.

Do you agree with the full list?

20 most hated

1. Babe
2. Sweet cheeks
3. Snookums
4. Baby doll
5. Baby girl
6. Muffin
7. Ducky
8. Baby cakes
9. Sexy pants
10. Pudding
11. Muffin
12. Angel pie
13. Pumpkin
14. Puppy
15. Sugar lips
16. Treacle
17. Baby
18. Pickle
19. Honeybun
20. Sugar pie

20 most acceptable

1. Gorgeous
2. Beautiful
3. Lovely
4. Love
5. Darling
6. Honey
7. Sexy
8. Angel
9. Dearest
10. Precious
11. Treasure
12. Snowflake
13. Blossom
14. Sweetie Pie
15. Sexy legs
16. Lover
17. Buttercup
18. Flower
19. Princess
20. Sweetness