By Kaelyn Delaurier

Ever wonder how terms for love, dating, and attraction have changed over the years? Well, below is a list of some of the words used throughout history for the dating scene. This is not a comprehensive list, but we’ve included some of the weirdest ones we found. Please note that most of these terms are gendered and many are considered sexist or offensive today. Others are just strange and probably won’t land you a date in the modern world.

Words with a similar meaning to ‘baby’ today:

1300s: cinnamon, bird, dove.
1400s: turtle, daisy.
1500s: sweetkins, heartkin, ladybird, ding-dong ding-dong.
1600s: flittermouse, cherub.
1700s: pet, lovely, cabbage.
1800s: boop, diddums, sugar/sugar plum, kitten, muffin, beloved. Bunbury (boyfriend), duchess (girlfriend), pigeon (girlfriend).
1900s: lovebug, pumpkin.
1960s: old lady/man.
1990s: boo, boo thang.

Words for kissing:

Necking – first appeared in the 1800s. Very popular in the early 1900s.
Parking – term for kissing in the 1940s and 1950s.
Back Seat Bingo – making out in the back seat of a car. 1950s.
Honey cooler – term for a kiss in the 1930s.
Bank’s closed – a term for no kissing or hugging in the 1920s.

Words for attractive women:

1990s: phat.
1980s: Betty.
1970s: bunny, brick house, foxy mama, stone fox.
1960s: fox.
1950s: Dolly.
1940s: cookie.
1930s: doll, hot mama, sweet patootie.
1920s: tomato, skirt.
1800s: vixen.

Words for attractive men:

1960s: hunk.
1950s: dreamboat.
1940s: dish (used for any gender).
1920s: sheik, looker (used for any gender).

Other fun dating-related words:

Schwing – a term from the 1990s that is said after a sentence as an exclamation when you see someone you’re attracted to. Mimics the sound of a sword being drawn.
Casanova – a term from the 1970s meaning ladies’ man.
Wally wally, blood and dolly – a term from the 1970s that meant being so in love with someone you’re blinded to their faults.
On the make – a term from the 1960s used when someone was looking for a date.
Come on snake, let’s rattle – a phrase from the 1950s that, when said to a woman, meant you wanted to dance. If said to a man, it meant you wanted to fight.
Bird dog – a term from the 1950s for someone who tries to steal your girlfriend.
Dear John – coined during WWII, this term refers to a woman sending a letter informing her partner that she was ending the relationship.
Doll dizzy – from the 1940s, this was a term for a boy who was crazy about girls.
Khaki wacky – from the 1940s, this was a term for a girl who is crazy about boys.
Big butter and egg man – a term from the 1930s for a rich man who spent his money on women.
Moll – a term for a gangster’s girlfriend in the 1930s and 1920s.
Flat tire – a term for a bad date in the 1920s.
Carry a torch – to have unrequited feelings for someone in the 1920s.
Fancy man – a term from the 1800s for a man that a woman is having an affair with.

Sources: Your Dictionary, "The language of love: English terms of endearment through the ages” Catchwood Branding; “27 Victorian Terms of Endearment” Poplisticle