If he starts messages with 'hi lovely'...

[ColdHandsColdFeetWarmHeart]

... how do I start mine?

He calls me 'lovely' and 'sweetheart' which I definitely like, but can't think of anything to reply with - what affectionate terms can you use for a man?

I'm 50+ and so out of practice with this!

Honey, sweetie, darling, babe, my love

[quote waterlego]@Nanny0gg, I think it probably started as ‘My lovely’.

I call everyone ‘lovey’ which probably makes me sound like a thespian. It probably annoys some people but I don’t really realise I’m doing it most of the time.[/quote]
I like it. Fwiw if you called me lovey it would make me feel warm inside

Should point out my boyfriend calls his daughter sweetheart, and his granddaughter (and other kids he knows) poppet etc, so it's not always a case of cheating, I think he uses terms of endearment for everyone. Whereas I don't, ever.

You could always use say Hi Hun. Yuck.

Awww @Holly60, that’s good to know. Thanks lovey! 😀

@waterlego

Awww *@Holly60*, that’s good to know. Thanks lovey! 😀

My best mate calls me 'Sugar Tits'
He's the only one that can get away with it tho

I use buddy and pal for DH but also my love

Honey
Dearest
Sweet pea
Sugar tits 😂

How can 'lovely' or 'sweetheart' possibly cause offence when used in this context?!

Some people just can't be pleased.

OP take no notice and enjoy your new relationship 😀

Hey OP,

I’m with you - I bloody love a nice pet name. Sweetheart etc is lovely. Sure, players might use this tactic but it doesn’t mean that it can’t be used genuinely too!

I call people all sorts of things 😂

For relatively early in a relationship/dating I’d probably go with “hey you” - implies an intimacy and very different than just “hey”. Or if I was feeling a bit cheeky I might go with “hey sweet cheeks” 😂 I also like “hey lovely man”.

If his name is too formal could you shorten it to the initials or something- so “hey J 😊” rather than “hey John”.

Nice to hear a romance going well ❤️

Tiger
Sprout
Handsome
Honey

Hun or hunny?

@portandchocolate

How can 'lovely' or 'sweetheart' possibly cause offence when used in this context?!

Some people just can't be pleased.

OP take no notice and enjoy your new relationship 😀

Thanks! Some people will make an argument out of anything!

Nothing is going to kill my new relationship buzz at the moment, don't worry

Thanks for all the nicer suggestions by the way, plenty to keep me going there!

[quote waterlego]@Nanny0gg, I think it probably started as ‘My lovely’.

I call everyone ‘lovey’ which probably makes me sound like a thespian. It probably annoys some people but I don’t really realise I’m doing it most of the time.[/quote]
At least it's not an adjective!!

Lovey I have no problem with.

@Nanny0gg

When did 'Lovely' become a Thing?

It's an adjective!

YES! YES! I am so glad somebody said this! To me it looks like he forgot to finish his sentence!

[quote waterlego]@Nanny0gg, I think it probably started as ‘My lovely’.

I call everyone ‘lovey’ which probably makes me sound like a thespian. It probably annoys some people but I don’t really realise I’m doing it most of the time.[/quote]
My lovely what?

Hey you

I’m surprised nobody has suggested “Babes” (ideally read in a strong Essex accent)

@tintodeverano2

Maybe he can't remember your name?

Do you think it's a 'mass mailing' text, the same for lots of 'darlings'.

Just use what feels natural to you. Don’t feel you have to respond in kind.

It is a bit sickly at the very beginning of a relationship, but that’s just me

I think the lovely (!) thing about pet names is that they don't come out of overthinking. It's just something that springs to mind about that person.

I'm not very good at the cute ones, I tried "honey" and "darling" early on with DP and just felt so awkward. "Mate" works for us now (in a weird reclamation of the blokey "mate" between men which we both hate) and a couple of animal-based ones that absolutely no one outside us knows about and which I am not even going to tell MN.

In the early days, I used to call mine "Hi Cheekbones" (he has very prominent ones). Now I call him "Babe" or "Darling"or his nickname. He calls me my nickname.

@ColdHandsColdFeetWarmHeart

Oh you lot are just hilarious and so bloody unromantic!

It's a term of affection, it's a new relationship and it's really sweet in my (obviously unpopular) opinion...

I use 'hi lovely' for close female friends, just doesn't feel right for him. Using his name feels a bit formal so unless anyone has got any better ideas I'll stick with emoticons, I'm good at them!

I agree with all of this.