By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts .

Over our 44 years of marriage we have met thousands of couples that deeply loved each other. We have interviewed many, many of them for our several books on successful marriage .

In nearly every case, successfully married couples have an affectionate nickname for each other – a sort of private “code” for saying, “I love you.” Some of the nicknames are ones you have probably heard many times before – “lovey-dovey,” “sweetie-pie,” “sugar,” “snookie-poo,” “honey,” “darling,” “sweetness,” “sweetpea,” “baby girl,” “lover boy,” “sunshine,” “sugarplum,” “baby-doll,” “hey, handsome,” “hey, beautiful,” and so forth.

Some of the nicknames are unusual and funny. Names like “Butch” in reference to a very petite wife seem unusual, but to her husband, it is an endearing term.

“Snookems,” in reference to a very manly-man” does not compute with most people, but to his wife, the term is an expression of love and affection. There are many other examples we could share related to this notion.

Over the years, the funniest “affectionate” nickname we ever heard was from a wife who lovingly referred to her husband as, “turkey-fart!” It is not important to understand the origin of “turkey-fart.” What is important is that the name has special meaning to the husband and wife team that coined it.

You see, love has a private code. People in love understand!

In love and marriage the simple things matter . Love well!

By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitz

**For hundreds of tips to enhance your relationship get the Doctor’s best-selling and multiple-award winning book Building a Love that Lasts: The Seven Surprising Secrets of Successful Marriage (Jossey-Bass/Wiley 2010) Available wherever books are sold.
Winner of the INDIE Book Awards GOLD Medal for Best Relationship Book
Winner of the Mom’s Choice Awards GOLD Medal for Most Outstanding Relationships and Marriage Book
Nautilus Book Awards Winner for Relationships

Author's Bio: 

As America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts and award-winning authors, Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz help international audiences answer questions about love, marriage and relationships. With 28 years of research on love and successful marriage across six continents of the world and their own 44-year marriage, the Doctors know what makes relationships work.

Get started with America's #1 Love and Marriage Experts by taking their Marriage Quiz or sending your questions to Ask the Doctors for Marriage Advice .

Additional Resources covering Marriage can be found at:

Website Directory for Marriage
Articles on Marriage
Products for Marriage
Discussion Board
Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz, the Official Guides To Marriage