Why It Feels Weird Calling Your Boyfriend By His Name (And How To Get Over It)

Do you have a hard time saying your boyfriend’s name?

You might feel super weird when you say it, or maybe you can’t get yourself to call him by his first name at all!

Don’t worry, although it’s not talked about that much, lots of people find it difficult to use their partners’ real name.

Read on to find out why it feels weird and how to get comfortable using your boyfriend’s name!

Why it might feel weird calling your boyfriend by his first name

Why is it easy to call your boyfriend a nickname or pet name, but using his first name just doesn’t feel right? 

When we have an emotional connection with someone or something, it’s human nature to start calling them a sweet name to show our affection.

We use nicknames for our pets, for little kids, and even things like stuffed animals or our car. 

With our boyfriends, we not only have a deep emotional connection, but we feel like we know them better than anyone else, since we often get to see a side of them that other people don’t. 

Because of this, calling your boyfriend by his first name might feel less intimate, since everyone else calls him that too. 

It also might feel strange because you’ve gotten so used to his nickname that his first name no longer fits how you see him. 

Why you should call your boyfriend by his first name (sometimes)

So, why should you call your boyfriend by his name if it feels awkward and weird?

Of course it’s okay, nice even, to call your boyfriend a pet name like “babe” but studies have shown that people really like being called by their first name.

A name is a person’s identity, given to them when they are born, and it’s how they differentiate themselves from others. A person’s name is the greatest connection to their own identity and individuality.

Maybe your boyfriend has asked you to call him by his first name more often, or maybe he doesn’t even realize you haven’t been saying it.

Either way it’s good to use his name sometimes because it recognizes him as an individual and shows him you are invested in him as a person.

Remember, using his first name doesn’t mean that your bond is any less special!

Is it normal for it to feel weird calling your boyfriend by his name?

So, now you know calling him by his first name is important, and you should do it at least once in a while.

But you might still be wondering, is it normal that it feels so unnatural?

In a word – Yes!

It’s ok that it feels weird calling your boyfriend by his first name.

You’ve most likely gotten so used to not using it that you don’t associate it with him anymore, so it feels strange.

How to get over calling your boyfriend by his first name

If this is new to you, you might be wondering how you can get over feeling weird about it.

Here are some tips!

1. Practice saying it by yourself

Have you ever stood in front of a mirror and spoken to yourself?

Maybe you like to say words of affirmation every day.

The same concept of telling yourself things over and over applies to using your boyfriend’s name. The more you say it out loud to yourself, the more familiar it will sound.

You can even practice looking at a picture of him and calling him by his name to start associating his face with his actual name.

2. Call him a nickname close to his name

Is your boyfriend named Timothy, and everyone calls him Tim? How about going with Timmy. What about Rob? Maybe Robby would work. Are you dating a Kevin? Could you call him Kev?

You’re still using his name but changing it slightly in a way no one else uses.

Using a variation of his name is just as special as any other nickname while still allowing him to keep his identity.

It will also help you to ease into eventually calling him his full name.

3. Talk to him about it

If you’re still unsure, don’t be afraid to talk to him about it. Ask him if he has noticed that you don’t say his first name often, or ask him what he likes you calling him.

You can find out how to feels when you use his name and explain why you want to use it more.

Coming up with a solution together will bring you closer and help take the weirdness out of calling him by his first name.

Changing any habit we’ve become used to is hard, and using our boyfriend’s first name is no exception. 

Don’t get upset if it feels weird at first; that’s completely normal and will go away once you’re used to it. 

Practicing saying his name, finding a nickname close to his actual name, and talking to him about it are great ways to get over the weirdness. 

You can do this! 

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