On being called Darling and Love

Bridey

As a northern lass i call everyone male or female " flower ", its common usage in my area .

Or petal?

Definitely regional, my part of the South of England, it can be Love or Hun but it's not used excessively. Having worked as a NHS Clinical Professional patient facing, the term occasionally said by patients is with respect and friendly it's never ever bother me.

I worked in South Manchester in my twenties, and was often called chuck, which I haven’t seen anybody mention. We had a Yorkshireman in charge of one of the departments, and he would call women, regardless of age, lass, and men, lad.

I like it, but I do object to 'M'am', and 'aw bless' is irritating too.

Yes Oreo Petal is used quite widely also.

henetha

I quite like it really. Anything that is kindly meant is welcome.

Me too ......

My absolute favourite was being called "my queen" once in Liverpool. Made my day. Do they still use that term round Liverpool?

ExDancer

I like it, but I do object to 'M'am', and 'aw bless' is irritating too.

Oh how could you object to M’am? I’d love to be called that and is a reason I’d like to go to America.

Fatoldlady Yes Queen is still used in Liverpool. My uncle called my mother “mush” at times.
“Lad” often turned into “soft lad”😁
I loved being called “petal” by someone from the northeast.

I hate to be “deared” by anyone, also “guys”.

How strange. When I visited friends in America Gran22 I found the M'am really really grating, it somehow didn't seem genuine.
Still, as someone said earlier, it wouldn't do to all be alike. I hope you get to visit and enjoy it.

What does tend to irritate me is the seemingly endless ‘Perfect’.

‘I booked a table in the name of…’
‘Perfect.’
We’d like to order…
‘Perfect’
Etc. B

In the South, I’m called dear, love and darlin. At my age I know they’re not trying to get their leg over as the saying goes. I get doors held open for me, allowed to go ahead in a queue. What’s not to like?

Anything meant kindly doesn't bother me.

I like polite kind behaviour, don't get my back up over much.

It is regional and don't usually mind if it's genuine. But as above Aw bless is a bit sickly and insincere.

"For me" gets on my wick.
Just pop your signature there "for me"
Take a seat "for me"...

MissAdventure

"For me" gets on my wick.
Just pop your signature there "for me"
Take a seat "for me"...

Those things irritate me, too, especially "pop". I dislike "grab", as in "grabbing" a coffee.

Even worse is when dh says ‘for you’ as in I’ve taken my dirty plate out to the kitchen for you.

Yes, that would irritate me, too.
Just for you....
Nice of him!

Mostly ‘lovely’ by a whole range of women in all kinds of situations. Fine by me. I do dislike ‘aww bless’, patronising and an attempt to dismiss you as incapable in my opinion. In Birmingham and the Black Country ‘Bab’ is very common, I am ok with that, rather to my own surprise!

I think its risky to blunder on with pet names, as some people really don't like it.
I've been told off in here for talking about "ladies".
That offends too, apparently.

I agree... in a harsh world these regional differences and signs of warmth and friendliness of Brits is welcoming imo ... But I am a northerner ❤️

I find it quite delightful if someone refers to me with a word such as hen.

I only heard it for the first time i my early 50s.

I sat on the train, secretly hugging myself with glee that i was a "hen".

I’m northwest so grew up with ‘love’ as a usual form of address. I’m happy with it. I’m not happy being called sweetheart or darling by people younger than me. I happens frequently in medical centres

MarieElla

I prefer it to Madam...
Madam is awful, aging and condescending!
Darling/love is endearing and gender neutral.

maDAM from a French person sounds respectful,
even better if sit’s a saucy French man.

When I was little I thought my mum’s name was Darling

Liverpool terms of endearment for a lady are Queen, man is
ourkid, soft lad, me Judy(girlfriend), either can be Chuck, which is also Manchester. Residents from Liverpool use the same rude term describing Mancunians, especially on match days. Strangers are mate or girl.

Paul McCartney refers to his his relatives as
‘the rellies’ which we’ve adopted now.

A neighbour from the Isle of Wight called
my little boy ‘my loverrrrr’

Cornish neighbour referred to and addressed
my 14 yo daughter as ‘Maid’

Nottingham folk say hey up me ducks as greeting

Its good to have these regional and identifying
Shibboleths,

MissAdventure

I think its risky to blunder on with pet names, as some people really don't like it.
I've been told off in here for talking about "ladies".
That offends too, apparently.

Ladies, and Gentlemen are used for arms length people,
“the lady on the checkout”
“the gentleman who helped me with my suitcase”

as two examples,

in the way the French separate tu and vous, the informal
/formal