What pet name do girls like the most?

75 Cute Nicknames for Girlfriends That’ll Steal Her Heart

Whether you’re looking for something sweet, romantic, flirty, funny or cute.

By Marisa LaScala Published: Aug 27, 2021

Morsa Images // Getty Images

It’s time for you to make the big commitment with your girlfriend. No, it’s not about getting down on one knee and popping the question. It’s about deciding what pet name to call her.

Nicknames for girlfriends are not to be chosen lightly. Ideally, you’ll want something that’ll stick for the whole relationship, and not something you’ll get sick of quickly. That means staying away from something over-the-top (unless you guys get a kick out of that sort of thing).

And ideally, you’ll want to pick a pet name that is somehow connected to her personality. It could highlight her sweetness, her beauty, her unique sense of humoror places you’ve traveled together.

Of course, the best nicknames for girlfriends are inventions of your own — something that only you two as a couple could come up with. Maybe it came from an adventure that happened while you were out on a date night, or something that inspired you from a romantic movie you saw together. It wouldn’t make sense on a list like this, because no one else in the world would get it! But if you need some inspiration to conjure up those memories, these cute nicknames for girlfriends can get you started.

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See if any pop out and remind you of her, then try it on for size. (And you can check some cute nicknames for boyfriends, too, if you need.)

Sweet Nicknames for Girlfriends

Nicknames are supposed to convey how much she means to you. These get right to the heart of the matter, no dancing around it.

• Angel
• Beloved
• Cherished
• Darling
• Love
• Mama
• My Dear
• My Other Half
• One and Only
• Pinky
• Pookie
• Precious
• Princess
• Queen
• Sweetheart

Food-Related Nicknames for Girlfriends

With a girlfriend so sweet, you need a pet name to match. These are likely to give her a sugar rush.

• Baby Cakes
• Cookie
• Cupcake
• Honey
• Jellybean
• Lollipop
• Marshmallow
• Muffin
• Peach
• Peanut
• Pumpkin
• Sweetie Pie
• Sugar
• Sugarplum
• Tootsie

Betsie Van Der Meer // Getty Images

Nicknames for Girlfriends That Honor Her Beauty

You can never go wrong with complimenting your girlfriend! Here are a few ideas that keep her up on that pedestal.

• Angel Face
• Beauty
• Beautiful
• Bella
• Bombshell
• Bonita
• Dollface
• Goddess
• Good-Looking
• 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

She’s lovely in a way that can only be rivaled by Mother Nature, and you can show her that by comparing her to various natural phenomena. (Cue «She’s a Rainbow» by The Rolling Stones.)

• Blossom
• Buttercup
• Flower
• My Rose
• Poppy
• Rainbow
• Tulip
• Sunshine
• Snowflake
• 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

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Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.

The Sweetest Spanish Nicknames for Boyfriends and Girlfriends

Love is a universal language, regardless of your nationality, you have the opportunity to meet new people, and if you have a lover who speaks Spanish, here is a list of incredibly cute Spanish nicknames.

Like in English and other languages, in Spanish, we are used to giving our boyfriend or girlfriend nice nicknames. In case that the terms of endearment are not your thing, you don’t have to worry.

In Spanish, there are infinite ways to call your boy or girlfriend, some more popular than others, more romantic or funny, but no matter what the reasons are, there will always be an ideal nickname for you and the person who is the light in your life.

Beautiful Spanish phrases to express love to your partner

Before starting with the list of Spanish nicknames, it is valid to remember the most used terms of endearment to express your feelings in Spanish, the indisputable complement if you want to captivate your lover.

Te Amo

“I love you”, you know what it means. Little details are everything.

Yo También Te Amo

Don’t forget to say “I love you, too”!

Te Quiero Mucho

Te Amo’s little brother, you can employ it if the relationship is just starting, you can even use it with friends.

Te Adoro

Flirting, starting a relationship, or in the middle of it. It is a gesture that will be very well received.

Estoy Enamorado/Enamorada de Ti

Without a doubt, if your boy or girl speaks Spanish you should say it repeatedly, in English it means: I am in love with you and we are sure your boy or girlfriend would enjoy hearing it.

Me Gustas Mucho

Say it to your partner! This one reaffirms the pleasure of being together.

Looking for someone special? Girl or boy, take a look at the following nicknames:

Cute Spanish nicknames for loved ones

Spanish is a fascinating language with really charming nicknames, you will always find the precise way to express your emotions.

Spanish nicknames most commonly used

If you prefer to go reliable, many generic nicknames are used by millions of couples, they are very practical and you should not worry about the issue of originality, in Spanish, they are very well seen and your partner will appreciate them equally.

Mi Rey: My king / Mi Reina: My Queen

It doesn’t mean that person is royalty. It means you are surrendered to the other and that he/she is very important in your life.

• Buenos días, mi rey:Good morning, honey.
• ¿Cómo está mi reina?:How’s my queen?

Princesa/Príncipe

It translates Princess or Prince and is a common way to call your partner.

• Esa chica es una princesa:That girl is a princess.
• ¡Mi princesa, mi tesoro!:My princess, my treasure!

Media Naranja

It’s another little way to tell that a special girl/boy is the one and only for you. This is something your lover expects from you!

• Eres mi media naranja:You’re my soulmate.

You can also say mi alma gemela which also means “soulmate” .

Darling: Mi Amor: My Love

This term of endearment is very common, use “darling” with your girl, boy, or even a friend. Mi amor is used in everyday situations.

• Where are you, darling?:Mi amor ¿Dónde estás?:
• Aquí estoy mi amor:My love, I’m here.

Darling means also querido / querida .

Bebé

It means “baby” and it’s among the terms of endearment used in practically all languages, so why not in Spanish?

Of course, “babe” is more popular than “baby” in English. In Spanish, it could refer to many compliments (as usual) and it would depend on the affinity.

For a person you don’t know that well, you may find him/her handsome or beautiful (flirting). For a friend, it could be similar to corazón which we explain further down the list.

Finally, it would definitely be something to use with your couple like “darling” .

Tesoro

Call tesoro your sweetie or your beloved sunshine of a child.

• Ay, gracias! Eres un tesoro:Aw, thanks! You’re a doll.

If you want more sugar, add the ending -ito to get tesorito , which would make it a diminutive, and it would mean the same as darling ( cariño ).

Mami/Papi

It literally translates to mommy or daddy but it has nothing to do with our parents in a love context.

This word is used more frequently in Caribbean countries . Don’t feel awkward if someone tells you mami or papi in a store.

Cariño

It means “honey” and it is very sweet for telling someone they are special.

Mi Cielo

My heaven? My sky? Mi cielo is not exactly that; it’s great to tell your girl or boy how special they are and that he/she is as big as heaven. Touching, isn’t it?

• ¡Mira el cielo, mi cielo!:Look at the sky, honey!
• You’re the star in my heaven:Mi estrella en el cielo.

Nene

It translates also to bebé or baby , with the same meaning. Employ the name in any context or situation.

Piece of advice, guys usually like being called these names because they are referred to as being handsome.

Corazón: sweetheart

Its literal translation is Heart , so as you will understand it is safe and very traditional. It is a very versatile word, no problem if you call a friend this name.

• Consigue los nombre y me llamas, corazón:Sweetheart, get the names and then call me back, sweetie.

Falling in love is part of life and there’s that moment in our lives when we feel the person in front of us is the one. So here are some of the wittiest phrases for Flirting in Spanish .

Bella/Bello

It means handsome , another form to compliment your girl or boy regardless of whether she/he is really beautiful or gorgeous.

Also, hermoso / hermosa , guapo / guapa , bonito / bonita refer to the same thing.

• Ese nene es bien guapo, he querido hablarle:That boy is very handsome, I’ve been meaning to talk to him.

Angel or Angelita/Angelito

It is a diminutive for an angel and, beyond its literal meaning, it expresses purity and love for your partner. If you mean to provide a small detail to your sweetheart in the form of words, this is the one.

Bombón

Chocolate candy? Not quite. It refers to the taste you have for your partner. If someone calls you “Bombón” he/she really likes you.

Mi Alma

“My soul” . You should not take it lightly, it expresses great commitment and love.

Mi Vida

It means “my life” , is there anything more important than life?

• ¿Qué tienes, mi vida?:What’s wrong, love?

Dulzura

It means that something is very sweet, and it’s often used to express affection for your girl or boy, particularly for those tender and angelic couples.

Muñeca/Muñeco

In English, a doll . Say it to insinuate that you love her/his physical appearance, although sometimes it’s said for no apparent reason.

Mi Sol

It translates as “sun” and symbolically refers to the light your partner provides to your life, just as the sun is the center of our universe.

• Mi sol hermoso:My beautiful sunshine

In some countries, it’s employed with light-skinned or light-haired people.

Chiquita/Chiquito

It means “little girl/boy” or “little one” in English.

• ¿Qué haces, chiquita?:What are you doing, little girl?

It can also mean “little girl” when you’re talking to a niña (child) .

Mi Pedacito de Cielo

A romantic expression, it means “my small piece of sky” and it refers to the affection you have for your chiquito / chiquita .

Flaca

In English, it is translated as “skinny” but it’s a word that is often used for anyone, flaca or not, it expresses affection. Use it also with friends.

Sure, “skinny” could be about the current physical state. Young boys usually like “skinny” but girls, not so much

• ¡Oye, flaca hermosa!:Hey, beautiful skinny girl!

Gorda

It literally translated as fat , but not as an insult , you can use it with your boy or girl without any problem. However, if a girl is fat and you don’t know her enough, we don’t recommend using it.

These were just some common nicknames used in Spanish to express affection for your boy or girlfriend, there are many more. A quick search will give you another perspective and other options to tell your partner. Now, if you want to go a little against the flow, check out our list of unconventional nicknames.

Spanish pet names so adorable your dear one will melt out of cuteness

When giving names in Spanish-speaking countries , some have a unique meaning in one place and other completely different meanings in another.

Unconventional Spanish nicknames can be the fruit of each couple’s imagination.

Some Spanish nicknames may refer to objects, movie characters, and even diminutives of animals with no translation in English.

Remember not to use diminutives (little) of any animal. Always use animals that are cute and cuddly. Nobody would like to be called pet names like “piggy” or “cow”.

Pollito/Pollita

Literally, a little chicken. A pollito is adorable, use this cute name to express affection for boys and girls.

Chicken is not taken as a “coward” in this context. For that, we employ gallina. Remember, taking context into account is really important while learning a new language .

Conejito

It’d be “little rabbit” or “baby rabbit” in English. Aside from being a funny name, the word symbolically expresses tenderness for that special someone. It’s actually very popular among pet names for guys or your one girl.

• Aquí estoy, conejita:I’m here, bunny girl.
• Te espero, conejita:I’ll wait for you, bunny girl.

Mariposa

A butterfly is beautiful, telling girls this word will not be a problem, and will surely be well received. Call girls this name if you think they are delicate and sweet.

This was usually a female-related word only, however, people started using it to imply a boy was gay given that it’s a female word in Spanish (even though there are also male butterflies)

Gata

It means cat . A Spanish pet name used to tell girls they are sexy. In some Latin countries, it’s a Spanish slang word used to express girls who are in a relationship.

Osito

It means “Little bear” or “baby bear” , another common cute Spanish pet name. Girls employ Osito with guys to call them sweet, in Spanish this name is used to express that someone is tender, and sometimes, funny.

Perrito

A puppy is cute and everyone loves it. It isn’t used that much for a girlfriend.

Tigre

It means tiger and it’s used when someone is sexually attractive. Use this Spanish pet name wisely.

Sirenita

It means Little Mermaid as the movie. Use this cute word as a reference to this character or because you like the name in a romantic tone .

Hechicera

It means sorceress and it’s used to express the feeling of enchantment produced by your girlfriend.

Final Thoughts!

Spanish is perfect to express feelings, and giving an adorable nickname to your girlfriend or boyfriend is relatively simple. But you shouldn’t give a name just for the sake of it, you should feel it!

Let your partner know what Spanish nicknames you like. If your partner is a Spanish native, he/she will appreciate it and consider it a sweet and funny gesture.

You should never use Spanish nicknames that may have a negative or insulting connotation.

Have fun putting these Spanish nicknames into practice with your significant other. And if you feel the need to expand your Spanish vocabulary in the matter, try to sign up for a free private class or a 7-day free trial of our group classes to see why thousands of students trust SpanishVIP!