Guys like it when their significant other calls them a pet name, and “babe” or “baby” are popular pet names.
That said, they have a preference to be called babe over baby.
He would prefer using the pet name of “baby” for you.
Baby has a romantic and endearing ring to it.
Plus, it has two syllables.
This makes it a little bit more of a sophisticated word that he would want to use for his girlfriend, which would be you.
By calling him “babe,” you would be using a shortened form of the word “baby.”
As a guy, this is quicker and speaks to his masculine sensibilities.
To him, it is short, sweet, and impactful.
It’s not that he will go crazy if you call him baby.
He still loves that you call him a pet name.
Nonetheless, if you do end up calling him “baby” at times, he would prefer you do it in private.
Given that “baby” is a softer version of either word, he is less self-conscious about hearing it from you in private than he would be in public.
When in public or amongst people, his preference would be that you call him babe.
Since a guy is often conscious of how masculine and strong he is perceived by strangers and loved ones, he would prefer you call him a pet name that doesn’t contradict his masculine sensibilities around said people.
Although the word “baby” has metamorphosed into several meanings, including that which pertains to love and romance, the original definition of it is that of someone who is an infant.
Basically, a very small human being.
On a subconscious level, your boyfriend isn’t all that keen on being compared to a helpless infant.
Oftentimes, a baby is also defined as someone who lacks maturity and is childish or whiny.
On a subconscious level, he wouldn’t want this comparison either.
Not to say that he considers you to be an immature child when he calls you “baby,” but he believes that he is more suited to be the one who protects the softer and weaker sex in the relationship.
As a man, he is genetically designed to protect you, his soft, delicate flower.
When he calls you “baby,” he equates that to someone he loves deeply and wants to protect irrespective of whether he has to risk his life to do so.
You are his baby, and a baby needs protecting.
Furthermore, his preference to call you “baby” enables him to add a bunch of romantic words to it.
He can call you “baby girl,” “baby lover,” “baby princess,” “baby sweet pea,” etc.
As his love for you deepens, there is a potential for a litany of these combinations.
This doesn’t work as well if he were to call you babe.
“Babe girl” doesn’t have the same ring as “baby girl.”
When he wants to change things up, it feels fulfilling to start with “baby” and add something else to it.
It also makes it interesting for you.
When he suddenly comes out of nowhere by calling you “baby” alongside a new word, it instantly grabs your attention.
You laugh, gush, blush, etc.
Either way, he has added something new to the word “baby,” taken you by surprise, and you are now curious about what combination he will use next.