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Sometimes the word "Bee" is used affectionately to describe a woman you care about. Examples: "Hi Bee". "I love you Bee". People also use the word "Boo" in a similar way. Would this be a moniker? I feel like there must be a better word to use to classify it?

Bee
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    I'd call that a "pet name" rather than a "moniker", unless "Bee" is the name by which one is known more generally. – nnnnnn Jan 15 '20 at 05:57
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    Are you sure you aren't thinking of bae? – Mike Graham Jan 15 '20 at 06:26
  • @MikeGraham no i wasnt thinking of "bae". Tho it does seem to often be used in the same context. Isnt it an acronym for "before anyone else," or a shortened version of baby or babe? But perhaps it could fall under the same classification of word. – Bee Jan 15 '20 at 06:41
  • @nnnnnn "pet name" seems to slang its self. Im looking for a more formal classification. – Bee Jan 15 '20 at 06:42
  • "Pet name" isn't slang, it's a pretty standard term which in my opinion is perfectly acceptable in formal English. "Term of endearment" is another common option. Regarding "bae" (which is slang), it's not an acronym, it's a bacronym. – nnnnnn Jan 15 '20 at 07:00
  • If Bee is in widespread use as a pet name, I would have expected such a definition to be high at https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bee – Mike Graham Jan 15 '20 at 07:01
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    I think Bee is just an abbreviation of Beatrice. Boo could be short for Boudicca - after the Queen of the Celtic Iceni tribe - but as she was pronounced Bo-de-seer until quite recently the traditional abbreviation would have been Bo. – Old Brixtonian Jan 15 '20 at 07:11
  • Yes, Bee (or Bea) is short for Beatrice in my experience. We once had a fearsome female prison inmate of that name on an Australian TV series and she is my prototype for that name (but I’m sure you are much nicer than her, Bee): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner_(TV_series) – Orbital Aussie Jan 15 '20 at 12:32
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    Whether Bee is being used as the shortened form of Beatrix or not, I’d call the name a “nickname” (a familiar name or shortened name). To me “pet name” has “cutsie” overtones, like an adoring husband calling his wife “Sweetie-pie”. – Orbital Aussie Jan 15 '20 at 12:55

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