Hey babe - Our favourite partner pet names

Over half the UK adult population (55%), that’s approximately 27 million people, use pet names for their partner according to new research revealed today.

2,000 Brits were surveyed in the run up to Valentine’s Day and it has been revealed that ‘Babe’ is the nation’s favourite pet name for a partner with 39% using the word to address their loved ones. Furthermore ‘Darling’ has proved most popular across the ages with partners ranging from age 18 to 55 using the timeless term.

Top five pet names used in the UK today:

1. Babe (39%)
2. Darling (26%)
3. Gorgeous (20%)
4. Sweetheart (17%)
5. Honey (16%)

Less popular ‘love’ names includes SweetPea (8%), Angel (4%) and (Peaches (under 1%), as used in Hallmark’s TV ad using real life people and real pet names!

The report also revealed that as our relationships grow stronger we actually use affectionate terms for our partners less! A whopping 89% of those in a casual relationship use pet names whilst this figure falls to 60% for those in a long term/ steady relationship and 48% amongst married couples.

Pet names are most popular in East Anglia with 66% of the region using a personal nickname for a partner, whilst north of the border in Scotland it seems the colder climes may chill affections a little with just 46% calling their partner by a pet name.

These findings are being published today as part of a national Love Report conducted by leading card company Hallmark who have employed their own official Head of Romance to decipher the results.

Kendra Keller, Head of Romance at Hallmark Cards said "We conducted the Love Report to see how romantic modern-day Britain really is and after analysing the results, pet names for partners is something the nation loves to use."