When a guy who’s not your boyfriend calls you babe, this may raise a few eyebrows. Even yours.
Babe is usually considered a term used for partners in a romantic relationship. However, some use it for all girls they love and care about, typically friends. Clearly, this guy belongs to the latter group.
He calls me babe!
Now, the question is, is there anything more to be inferred from this situation? Does he consider you his girlfriend and you’re unaware of it? Is he giving you hints by calling you babe? Do you need to do something about it?
Before you try figuring out answers to these questions, you first need to find out his reasons for calling you babe and his intention behind it. This article lists the common reasons why a guy would call you babe when you’re not his girlfriend.
What Does It Mean When A Guy Calls You Babe?
A guy may call you babe for many reasons even when you’re not his girlfriend. Sometimes, he may do so without giving much thought to it as well. He may just like you and he’s letting you know how he feels about you. This can happen even in a platonic relationship.
Or he may be crushing on you and is feeling awkward or scared to approach you. He may think that this is an easy way to let you know how he feels about you.
If you like him to call you babe, there is nothing more to it. However, if it makes you uncomfortable, there’s no need for you to feel hesitant about voicing your concern. It’s perfectly okay for you to ask him to stop calling you babe. If you feel like it, you can offer an explanation or you can remain silent on this aspect.
Let’s find out why this guy is calling you babe when you’re not dating.
1. He would like you to feel special
Babe is a term of endearment usually reserved for the most cherished girl in a guy’s life. Typically this is his girlfriend. However, he may consider other girls equally important, even if the relationship is platonic. He may call other girls babe because he wants to let them know that he cares about them and considers them special.
He may call you babe to make it clear to you how much he cares about you. He would also like you to know that he appreciates that you’re present in his life.
He may think that telling you all this may make you feel awkward and he may even be scared of losing out on your friendship. By calling you babe, he is making it easier for both of you.
2. He is trying to flirt with you
He has been in your friends circle and you have known him for some time now. You may have never considered him boyfriend material and he too may not have any interest in you. But boys are boys. They are always looking for some fun.
He may not be interested in a serious relationship or anything of a serious nature. He may be single at present and between relationships. So, he may be looking for someone to have a good time with. He may have thought of you as the ideal candidate for this.
He may also be unsure about how you would react. He may be testing the waters by calling you babe. If you don’t protest or show interest in him, he will feel encouraged to carry on with the flirting.
But beware, this will last only until he finds the next girlfriend.
3. He is interested in you sexually
This is taking it a step ahead to flirting. He may find you sexually attractive and want to have a sexual relationship with you. Nothing more, nothing less. He is not keen on having a serious relationship with you. Or else, he would have approached you in a better way.
He’s again testing your reaction by calling you babe. He knows that he can always bail out if you get angry with him. However, if you give him encouraging signs, he will get what he wants. A casual affair. Sometimes even a one-night stand.
4. He is really interested in you
You may have known each other for some time now and even became friends. When he develops feelings for you, he wants to ask you about this directly but is unsure about your reaction. He calls you babe as a simple way to get the point across to you.
By calling you babe, he’s letting you know how he feels about you. He will be eagerly waiting for your response. He may be worried about rejection as he may have been rejected before. By calling you babe, he’s kind of creating an opening for the more serious talk later on.
Moreover, he may be afraid to approach you directly and get rejected as this will spoil the beautiful friendship you share. He may be worried that he will lose a friend and not gain anything in the process.
Fear of rejection is a serious issue among guys. You may think of them as bold and brash. But most of them are scared to approach a girl and reveal their feelings.
5. He is being funny and frivolous
There may be nothing to it. He loves to play around and tease you. He calls you babe to taunt you and to get a reaction from you.
Either he may know how much you hate being called a babe and how you would explode and hit out against him for it. He loves to see your reaction and this may be the reason for him to call you babe.
He may mean nothing wrong but having some fun at your expense. Even when he calls you babe, he makes it clear that he’s not serious about it. He wants you to remain friends and doesn’t want any misunderstandings. Most probably, he’s sure that you will take this in the right spirit and play along with the charade.
6. He calls all girls babe
He uses babe as a common term of endearment to all girls he comes across. If this is the case, all you need to do is to pay attention to how he behaves with other girls. If he calls all girls babe, then you need not worry too much about it.
Clearly, he means nothing by calling you babe. This guy uses it just to let you know his fondness for you by addressing you as a babe. You need to take this seriously only if he’s giving you more attention than he’s giving other girls. Or if you are not keen on being addressed as babe, you may have let him know about this.
Is it all right that a guy you’re not dating calls you babe?
You may be good friends or recently met him. He may call you babe for many reasons. Maybe he’s just flirting with you or attracted to you sexually. He may want to have a serious relationship with you or he is probably just teasing you. He may want you to feel special or he calls all girls he knows babe.
Whatever his reasons are to call you babe, you can always make your position clear. If you’re okay with it and want to play along, go ahead and do it. If not, you can always tell him to stop addressing you as a babe. If he ignores your request and continues with his “babe”, you can remind him to stop every time. If you persist, he will get your message and stop the “babe”.
Should you start calling him babe in return?
So, you haven’t started dating but you would like to. When he calls you babe, you want to use the opportunity to get serious with him. But is it okay if you start calling him babe as well?
Babe is often used to indicate fondness for the person and need not always imply romantic interest. However, there’s always a possibility that the guy will take this as a sign of your interest in him. This means you can start calling him babe if you are interested in him or feel it won’t create any misunderstanding. If you’re unsure, it’s better to avoid it.
When you start calling him babe, he may take it seriously and it may get you into a tricky situation. The best thing is to avoid calling him babe if you’re not interested in him.
How should you react when he calls you babe when you’re not dating?
Your reaction depends on how you feel towards this guy. If you are interested in a relationship with him, you can do everything to encourage him and even call him a babe. If not, you can either ignore him or tell him outright to stop calling you babe as you’re not dating.
Let’s list out your options.
1. You can ignore him
If you are not interested in this guy, either as a close friend or as a potential boyfriend, you can choose to ignore his “babe”. Irrespective of what his intentions are, you can take a stand and stick with it.
He may continue to call you babe for some more time, but ultimately he will get to the point that it is not helping him in any way. However, you should be ready to put up with the annoyance until he stops. If you’re finding it too much to tolerate, you can either tell him to stop or even avoid his company.
2. You can confront him
With some guys, the “ignoring” strategy works. If this is not effective, you may have to take the bull by its horns. That is taking a direct approach and asking him right out why he calls you babe when you’re not his girlfriend. This confrontation may take him by surprise and put him on the back foot.
You can make it clear that you don’t want to be called babe and give him options on what he can call you. It can be your name or a pet name. You can tell him that he needs to follow this if he values your friendship. You can also dispel any idea in his mind about you being interested in him romantically.
3. You can keep him at arm’s length
When a guy calls you babe, most probably, he wants to have a casual or serious relationship with you. If you’re not interested in either, the ideal thing for you to do is to tell him about it and to stop calling you babe. But he may not stop pursuing you, thinking he can convince you with his persistence.
In this case, you can keep your distance from him. If this is impossible to manage or he’s still annoying you, you can take steps to avoid his company altogether. You need to remember that your actions may have repercussions.
4. You can make it clear to him that you already have a boyfriend
This may or may not help you to get rid of the unwanted attention from this guy. He may still choose to pursue you with his “babe”, thinking he can convince you to leave your current boyfriend.
You can also get help from your boyfriend in dealing with this guy. For this, you may have to take your boyfriend into confidence and tell him your predicament.
5. You can go along with it if you’re interested in him
If you feel attracted to the guy and like being called babe by him, you can either remain neutral or give him signs of encouragement. You can start calling him babe in return and give him warm smiles.
6. You can remain silent if you aren’t sure
You may not be sure whether you want to be in a relationship with this guy. This makes it hard for you to take either path – blocking or encouraging him. In this instance, remain silent and see how things are developing. Soon you will know his true intentions – whether he wants a casual or serious relationship with you.
Once you see his true colors, you may find it easier to decide.
The Bottom Line
If a guy uses the term “babe” to address you, even though you’re not officially his girlfriend, there are several potential interpretations. It’s conceivable that he employs “babe” casually with his friends, and in that context, it might not carry much significance. Alternatively, he might be using the term to create a sense of uniqueness and isn’t necessarily harboring any romantic motives. On the other hand, it’s also feasible that he’s using this endearing term because he’s attracted to you and desires to progress the relationship.
Regardless of the rationale behind it, if you find his use of “babe” uncomfortable, you have the option to communicate your feelings and request that he cease. If you’re unsure about his intentions, the most effective approach is to have an open conversation with him and directly inquire about the reasoning behind his choice of words. This will help in clarifying any potential misunderstandings.
