Your Partner’s Contact Name Could Be Telling, Here's Why
What’s In A Phone Contact Name? A Lot, Actually—Especially When It’s Your Partner
According to therapists Eloise Skinner and Georgina Sturmer, the way you save your significant other’s name in your phone can reveal a lot about the dynamics of your relationship.
Couples often have affectionate names for their partner that can range from cute to downright embarrassing, and that’s not a bad thing. In fact, Skinner believes that if you have your boyfriend or husband logged is into your contacts as “Handsome” or “Big Sexy,” it’s a strong indication that your relationship and connection is solid as a rock.
“Since the name on our phone is a visual symbol of our partner, and a reminder of our relationship with them, using personal jokes or nicknames can reflect a deeper or more intimate connection,” Skinner shared during an interview with The Independent published April 13.
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Affectionate names—or pet names, as Psychology Today calls them—can play a key role in building lasting relationships. Studies show that as couples grow closer, they tend to use more personal idioms and inside jokes. Research suggests that the use of these unique, shared expressions is a strong indicator of relationship solidarity.
On the flip side, Skinner noted that saving your partner’s full legal name in your phone might suggest they don’t place extra emotional significance on your communication, but she clarified that this doesn’t apply to all couples. Maybe you’re just practical and find it easier to search for your boo under their full government name—and there’s nothing wrong with that.
It’s okay to keep things simple.
Sturmer pointed out that keeping things simple might actually be a good thing, especially if your devices are synced. Having an outrageous pet name like “Thickums” or “My Juicy Daddy” pop up on your laptop during a meeting or over your car’s Bluetooth while driving with friends can be painfully embarrassing.
“Most of the time, these details are fairly private to us,” Sturmer, a registered therapist, shared with The Independent. The relationship expert added that going the simple route can also offer a level of protection for you and your partner.
“When we take a measure like this, we are incorporating an element of protection. After all, if we have saved someone’s name, then there’s a risk we might need to change or delete it if the relationship doesn’t work out.”
How do you have your significant other saved in your phone? Tell us in the comments section.
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