Hear us out: Nicknames are a form of intimacy. Using a flirty nickname for your boyfriend or girlfriend is a way of feeling emotionally close. After all, the rest of the world calls them by their name, but only you get to call them "Darling" or "Babycakes" or "Honey Bee." Nicknames can be silly or they can be sweet, but they're always special to the people in the relationship. We've collected some of our all-time favorite nicknames for girlfriends, from ones that honor her beauty to ones that will make her laugh out loud.
You can try a few of these nicknames out on your next date night to see which ones suit your relationship best. If you're looking for other ways to keep the romantic spark alive, check out our collections of questions for couples to deepen their romance, sweet "good morning" messages to send, and the best love quotes.
Sweet Nicknames for Girlfriends
She means so much to you — let her know about it! These really wear their tenderness on their sleeves.
- Angel
- Beloved
- Cherished
- Darling
- Lady
- Love
- Mama
- My Dear
- My Joy
- My Other Half
- One and Only
- Precious
- Princess
- Queen
- Sweetheart
- Treasure
Food-Related Nicknames for Girlfriends
A rush of sweetness without the cavities, these names feel like a treat.
- Baby Cakes
- Cookie
- Cupcake
- Honey
- Jellybean
- Lollipop
- Marshmallow
- Muffin
- Peach
- Peanut
- Pumpkin
- Sweetie Pie
- Sugar
- Sugarplum
- Tootsie
- Mochi
- Snickerdoodle
Cute Nicknames for Girlfriends
Who says cutesy is bad? Own it with one of these adorable pet names.
- Bae
- Boo
- Bubbles
- Cuddles
- Cutie
- Dimples
- Dolly
- Dreamy
- Giggles
- Hottie
- Lovey
- Lovebug
- Lucky
- Missy
- Pinky
- Pookie
- Pixie
- Shorty
- Shuggy
- Smiley
- Smoochy
- Snuggles
- Sparky
- Squish
- Sunny
- Sweetness
- Toots
- Wuvy
Nicknames for Girlfriends That Honor Her Beauty
Her inner beauty always shines through, but these will make her feel like she's up on a pedestal.
- Angel Face
- Beauty
- Beautiful
- Bella
- Bombshell
- Bonita
- Dollface
- Goddess
- Good-Lookin'
- Gorgeous
Nicknames for Girlfriends in Other Languages
Look up the terms of endearment they use in a place where your families are from, or where you've traveled together.
- Buah Hatiku (Indonesian, literally "fruit of my heart")
- Cara Mia (Italian for "beloved")
- Canim (Turkish for "my life")
- Chuchuzinho (Portuguese for "pumpkin" — or more literally "squash")
- Habibi Albi (Arabic for "love of my heart")
- Jaan (Hindi and Urdu for "life")
- Knuddelbärchen (German for "cuddle bear")
- Liybimaya (Russian for "my love")
- Matakia Mou (Greek for "my little eyes")
- Media Naranja (Spanish for "my better half," literally "half an orange")
- Mi Cielo (Spanish, literally "my sky")
- Mo Chroí (Gaelic for "my heart")
- Mon Petit Chou (French for "my little cabbage")
- Muru (Finnish, literally "bread crumb")
- Principessa (Italian for "princess")
Nature-Related Nicknames for Girlfriends
Mother Nature is an endless source of inspiration, and pet names are no exception.
- Blossom
- Buttercup
- Dewdrop
- Flower
- Flutters
- My Rose
- Moonbeam
- Poppy
- Rainbow
- Tulip
- Sunshine
- Snowflake
- Starlight
- Willow
Actual Pet Names for Girlfriends
All things small, fuzzy and cute make good fodder for "pet" names. Then again, you never know if a Tiger is a better fit!
- Birdy
- Bunny
- Bug
- Dovey
- Foxy
- Honey Bee
- Kitty
- Kitten
- Lambchop
- Snuggle Bear
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
