Being called “baby” or “babe” by the person you are seeing has become part and parcel of the modern dating experience. It is probably used more than the ubiquitous phrase I love you so much.
There’s hardly a couple out there who don’t use this term of endearment to get each other’s attention.
Whatever stage of your relationship you’re at, when the person you’re involved with calls you “baby” for the first time, you may need a moment to think through how to react.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to how to respond when a guy first calls you “baby,” whether you’ve just matched with them on a dating app, have been friends for years, or have been together a while.
How to Respond when a Guy Calls You “Baby”
- Oh, I like it when you call me that.
- This guy I like just called me baby, so obviously that’s nice.
- That’s new. Since when do you call me “baby”? Keep doing it, I like it.
- Oh, I’m your baby now, am I? Don’t worry, I quite like the sound of that.
- You’ve never called me that before. It sounds good.
- Not gonna lie, you calling me “baby” makes me smile.
- Ah, we’re at the “baby” stage now, are we?
- Feel free to keep calling me that. I like how it sounds.
- Did you mean to call me that or did it just slip out?
- Is that my pet name now?
- So, if you call me “baby” now, what should I call you?
- You know…I’ve never been called “baby” by someone who wasn’t my boyfriend. Are you suggesting something? 😉
- I’d love to get there with you, but I’m just not sure I’m ready for you to call me “baby” yet. Let’s keep getting to know each other and see where things go.
- I really hope I haven’t given you the wrong impression. I only see us as friends and don’t really appreciate you calling me “baby.”
- I’m not your “baby.”
- Oh, gosh. I like you, but I hate that pet name. Can’t you call me “babe” instead?
- I feel like “baby” is very 1960s. I like that you’re showing affection, but I prefer just being called by my name ☺
How to respond when a guy calls you “baby” (with examples)
Whatever the situation, regardless of whether you have been seeing a guy for a week or six months, there will probably come a time when they call you “baby” for the first time.
The first question you’ll ask yourself, especially if you’re in the early stages of your relationship, is what it means that is calling you “baby.”
It’s possible that he’s been wanting to call you that for a while and it just felt right to him in the moment. Or it’s possible that it just came so naturally that he doesn’t even realize that he’s called you something he normally wouldn’t or hasn’t before.
If you enjoyed having the guy you’re seeing call you “baby,” encourage him to call you it more often in the future by telling him you liked hearing it.
It is commonly understood that we use pet names in relationships, but if you don’t like being called “baby,” set the record straight as soon as possible so that you can nip your partner’s habit of doing so in the bud.
1. Oh, I like it when you call me that.
This is a straightforward response that gets right to the point.
There’s no reason to beat around the bush if you just want the guy you’re seeing to know you like hearing him call you “baby.”
If you tell the guy who said it that you liked it, he will be more likely to keep calling you that.
This of course, is also true for other expressions of affection. How you respond to I love you more, or any other expression of love, will of course determine how often you partner wants to say it to you.
Example:
A: Hey baby, good to see you again.
B: Oh, I like it when you call me that.
2. This guy I like just called me “baby,” so obviously that’s nice.
This is a good response if the guy you’re seeing calls you “baby” in the context of asking you what you’re up to.
It introduces a bit of flirtatious banter to the conversation and matches the interest he showed by calling you “baby” in the first place.
Example:
A: Hi baby, what are you up to today?
B: Not too much. This guy I like just called me “baby,” so obviously that’s nice.
3. That’s new. Since when do you call me “baby”? Keep doing it, I like it.
When a guy you’re seeing calls you “baby” for the first time, you can absolutely acknowledge the significance of the moment.
While you don’t want to draw so much attention to it that you make him feel uncomfortable, there’s no point in pretending you didn’t notice that he called you something he hasn’t before.
Quickly saying, “That’s new,” gets any potential awkwardness out of the way. Then, you can tell him to keep saying it and let him know that you liked it.
Example:
A: Hey baby, can you pass me the water?
B: That’s new. Since when do you call me “baby”? Keep doing it, I like it.
4. Oh, I’m your baby now, am I? Don’t worry, I quite like the sound of that.
The less time you’ve been seeing a guy, the bigger a deal it is for them to call you “baby.”
Don’t be afraid to poke a little fun at the fact that he’s introduced a new term into the lexicon of your relationship! However, to make sure he knows it’s gone down well, tell him you like the sound of it.
Example:
A: Hey baby, how was your day?
B: Oh, I’m your baby now, am I? Don’t worry, I quite like the sound of that.
5. You’ve never called me that before. It sounds good.
This is another response that acknowledges the significance of the fact that the guy you’re seeing has chosen to call you “baby.”
It is a reaction that strikes a good balance between acknowledging the novelty of his word choice and of not spending too much time dwelling on what exactly it might mean about his feelings.
Example:
A: Hey baby, you look beautiful tonight.
B: You’ve never called me that before. It sounds good.
6. Not gonna lie, you calling me “baby” makes me smile.
There are also more subtle ways to acknowledge the significance of a moment without coming right out and saying, “Wow, you’ve never called me that before.”
One way to do this is to tell the guy you’re seeing that hearing him call you “baby” puts a smile on your face.
He’ll get the message loud and clear. You won’t have to spell out specifically that you’re surprised and happy he’s chosen to use the B-word to refer to you.
Example:
A: Baby, I miss you.
B: Not gonna lie, you calling me “baby” makes me smile.
7. Ah, we’re at the “baby” stage now, are we?
Sometimes, calling attention to a change in the dynamic of a relationship can, like a natural disaster, bring a couple closer.
If you poke healthy fun at someone’s decision to express their feelings, they may enjoy being ribbed a little and feel comfortable giving back what they get.
When you and your partner can both tease each other, it improves the interpersonal chemistry in your relationship.
Example:
A: Hey baby, I’ll meet you in front of the restaurant at 8.
B: Ah, we’re at the “baby” stage now, are we?
8. Feel free to keep calling me that. I like how it sounds.
This is a cute, simple way to acknowledge that the guy you’re seeing has used a new term of endearment. It also lets him know that you enjoyed hearing it.
This is a very versatile response that can be added on to the end of most sentences. It can even be said once you have responded to the initial question he may have been asking you.
Example:
A: Hey baby, did you manage to watch that show I told you about?
B: Yeah, I did, I really liked it. Feel free to keep calling me that, by the way. I like how it sounds.
9. Did you mean to call me that, or did it just slip out?
Sometimes people develop certain speech patterns when speaking to someone of the opposite gender.
While most of us want to be called “baby” by a guy if we like them, we want to know that they used that term of endearment with us in mind and because they care specifically about us.
If you know that a guy is kind of a serial dater and you aren’t sure whether he just uses the term “baby” as a matter of course, or if you know that he was in a relationship recently and are wondering whether he is using the term habitually, why not just ask?
He surely won’t be offended. If anything, if he cares about you, he’ll be glad to know that you that you care enough about him to want clarification about his feelings.
Example:
A: Baby, you left your keys on the table!
B: Did you mean to call me that, or did it just slip out?
10. Is that my pet name now?
Again, a shared sense of humor and the ability to joke with the person you are falling in love with are crucial for developing a healthy relationship.
While you never want to make the person you’re seeing feel like you are making fun of them, a little teasing here and there can actually strengthen the bond of a blossoming partnership.
This response is a great way to get clarification about the guy you’re seeing’s feelings for you while also giving them a light ribbing. This response forces them to express their emotions.
Example:
A: Hey there, baby!
B: Is that my pet name now?
11. So, if you call me “baby” now, what should I call you?
This response is another great way to acknowledge that the guy you’re seeing has newly started to call you “baby.”
By simply acknowledging the new term of endearment he’s using to refer to you, you’re showing that you’re quite happy for him to keep using it.
Then, by asking what he wants you to call him, you’re showing that you care about what he wants to be called and that you want to return the sentiment of care.
Example:
A: Hey there, my beautiful baby.
B: So, if you call me “baby” now, what should I call you?
12. You know…I’ve never been called “baby” by someone who wasn’t my boyfriend. Are you suggesting something? 😉
Perhaps you’ve been casually dating the guy calling you baby for a number of months and are getting a little tired of just how casual he seems to be taking things.
If you want to apply a little bit of pressure on him to up the ante and ask you to be in a real relationship, why not use his decision to call you baby to make clear to him that you expect him to commit to you sooner rather than later.
This response is great because it doesn’t come on too strong, but it does express in no uncertain terms what it is that you are hoping to get from the situation that the two of you find yourselves in.
Adding the winky face emoji at the end of the sentence (provided you’re sending it as a text message) makes sure that your message is taken in the humorous way it is meant and not as an ultimatum. He’ll know exactly what you mean. After all, emojis have become part of our lingua franca and are essentially as well understood as actual words.
Example:
A: Hey baby, you’re looking mighty fine tonight.
B: You know…I’ve never been called “baby” by someone who wasn’t my boyfriend. Are you suggesting something? 😉
13. I’d love to get there with you, but I’m just not sure I’m ready for you to call me “baby” yet. Let’s keep getting to know each other and see where things go.
Some people feel more comfortable with pet names in the early stages of getting to know someone than other people do. This, of course, is completely fine.
However, just because the guy you’re seeing would quite like to call you “baby” after only a week of knowing you doesn’t mean that you have to let him.
If your reaction to being called “baby” is essentially, “Look, dude, I hardly know you,” then make clear that while you aren’t ruling out the potential of a more serious future relationship, you haven’t reached that stage yet.
Example:
A: Hey there baby! I’m glad we matched yesterday ☺
B: I’d love to get there with you, but I’m just not sure I’m ready for you to call me “baby” yet. Let’s keep getting to know each other and see where things go.
14. I really hope I haven’t given you the wrong impression. I only see us as friends and don’t really appreciate you calling me “baby.”
Nothing could be more straightforward than this response.
By letting the guy you’re talking to know that you only see him as a friend, you’re taking the kindest possible exit route out of this uncomfortable situation.
Example:
A: Hi my baby!
B: I really hope I haven’t given you the wrong impression. I only see us as friends and don’t really appreciate you calling me “baby.”
15. I’m not your “baby.”
If a guy who is just a bit of a creep messages you and calls you “baby,” you can simply tell him in no uncertain terms that you are not his baby.
Nothing more to it.
Example:
A: Hi baby!
B: I’m not your “baby.”
16. Oh, gosh. I like you, but I hate that pet name. Can’t you call me “babe” instead?
Now, you may feel a little uncomfortable at being called “baby” not because you don’t like the guy you’re talking to, but simply because something about the term “baby” gives you the ick.
If there’s a term you prefer, why not just suggest to the guy you’re talking to that he call you that instead?
For example, many people prefer “babe” to “baby.” If you’re in their number, just let your guy know that you prefer “babe.”
Example:
A: Hey there, my beautiful baby!
B: Oh, gosh. I like you, but I hate that pet name. Can’t you call me “babe” instead?
17. I feel like “baby” is very 1960s. I like that you’re showing affection, but I prefer just being called by my name ☺
It may be that you simply aren’t big on cutesy pet names. If so, just ask the guy you’re seeing to call you by your name. It’s as simple as that!
Example:
A: Heya my baby!
B: I feel like “baby” is very 1960s. I like that you’re showing affection, but I prefer just being called by my name ☺
Hey, it’s me, Steven. Dating and relationships have always fascinated me. On Dategosu, you will find my best tips to make sure your next date is a great success!