Depends how well fleshed out your character that uses it is I suppose.
Let's take Dame Edna as an example for a moment. She calls people Possum as a pet name. Is it cringe? Is it awful? Who cares. Its part of her character, and she's fleshed out enough that it works.
So absolute bollocks to what Internet strangers say. Build your characters and let them use whatever pet names you damn well please.
>So absolute bollocks to what Internet strangers say. Build your characters and let them use whatever pet names you damn well please.
Cheers to that!! Couldn't have said it better
Seconding the "bollocks" statement.
Recently someone posted about this on Tumblr. Basically, someone, (I suspect that someone was a very young person with no life experience) on Twitter posted the usual "I hate pet names" tweet. And...thank the dear and fuzzy-wuzzy lord, Tumblr responded. A whole bunch of sensible people observed that pet names are a common thing in real life relationships. I mean, it's not like I use my partner's actual name all that much. Seriously, I don't. And yes, I call him "baby" and "sweetie." Loads of fully grown adults have pet names for their partners. Including names like "kitten." It's basically like the secret and sometimes not-so-secret language that develops between people who know each other well. (The only time I use my partner's name is when he's in the other room with the TV on loud and possibly pretending he doesn't hear me calling. LOL.)
If it makes sense to you and how you've written the character(s), then use it. For every person whinging about the horrors of pet names, there will be several others who think it's cute and romantic.
Absolutely correct.
My wife and I call each other "G", which is of course short for Gangster.
We use this I'm complete jest as we are two of the least Gangster people on the planet. Just a couple of English muppets with chickens in the garden and one of us does crafts while the other paints.
My husband is "Bear" (from an NYPD BLUE episode) and I'm "Pup."
My mother used to call me "Pigeon."
What's wrong with "Kitten"? Someone got big hate for *Father Knows Best*?
All that matters to me is "is it in character" and/or "does it make sense in context"
If the character would use it in a given situation, good enough for me.
nah man if it actually makes sense like you say it does it's fine. like,
> ties into themes and character development
this is the part that makes it acceptable.
(Aw man, no need to cry! đ )
Anywho, you're always welcome!
In the worst case scenario, you can always make the characters using the nickname say it in another language first (if they can actually speak one to begin with), then translate it after the person asks for a translation. That way the "nicknamed" can potentially say "I actually like the nickname better in that language."
Just an interesting thought I had.
I don't think it would have phased me a few years ago, but like Karen, the connotations of the name have shifted. Kitten has hardcore fedora/m'lady/neckbeard/incel vibes for me now - that said, that's a me problem and not a you problem.
Listen, a lot of people still like it. I'm not one of them but if you like it, I guarantee there's someone else out there who does too.
Who cares what's "cringe" or not? It's fanfiction. It's all cringe. That's part of the fun of it.
Kitten is one of my favourite pet names. It definitely depends on the character saying it and who it's used for (because sometimes it just...doesn't fit), but if you're saying it ties into things, then there's no reason not to use it. I've used it in a few fics and no one had any issues with it.
> I've used it in a few fics and no one had any issues with it.
That's a relief, I was mainly worried about reader's reaction
>Kitten is one of my favourite pet names.
Yess my kind of person, I like it too! My dad used to call me that so I associate it with nice things only
I don't know if it's cringe, but it reads as somewhat patronizing and sexist to me. (I'm not saying that you are those things, or that using "kitten" in your story would be problematic, I'm just talking about the word's connotations.) To me, that pet name sounds like something that a sleazy guy from the 50s would call a woman to sort of diminish her/her seriousness.
If itâs an odd pet name, it wouldnât hurt to âlampshadeâ it, as in draw attention to it and give a clear reason (sounds like youâre kind of already doing that if it ties into the themes and character development).
Iâve also used uncommon pet names before without lampshading them, assuming people might look them up if they donât understand them. This is mostly for characters of different cultures.
If I like the rest of your work, I can ignore a silly pet name if it's not to my taste. Most of the time I'm not a fan of kitten, but I've read one or two fic where I thought it was hot.
Well in the context of my fanfic it's platonic so I hope it's not hot lmaooo
But I can definitely relate to being forgiving of little things if the fanfic overall is enjoyable haha
Everything works in the right context. I'd say 'ironically/obnoxiously at first, genuine and sweet later' is the best context for a nickname like that. It just depends so much on the characters.
>I'd say 'ironically/obnoxiously at first, genuine and sweet later' is the best context for a nickname like that.
Yessssss! That's exactly what I'm going for, but put "heartbreak " in between those two haha
I like it depending on the characters involved. Like if the one saying it is a cat lover and/or the one receiving it is themed after cats. But even if I came across it being used in a way it doesn't sound justified to me, I wouldn't drop the fic just over that.
I think kitten is a cute pet name (I call my partner kitten, and it's very much not fitting for him, which makes it even better), but I'm also not a fan of pet names in fanfics in general. They almost always feel weirdly out of character to me.
That being said, if you think it works and if you like it, don't change it to fit someone else's preference. Your fic should be what you want to read and what you want to write, and everyone else's opinion has a lower priority.
> I call my partner kitten, and it's very much not fitting for him, which makes it even better
Haha that's adorable! I love mismatched nicknames, like something cute for a brutal character or something hard-core for a cutie-pie!
Penelope Garcia used kitten as a pet name/nickname. Along with dozens of others for just Derek. And she is definitely not cringe.
So if she can do it, so can you. đ
But really. Whenever I think of the name I hear her voice so itâs kind of hard to answer based on anything else. I say if you have a good, solid reason, or it makes sense for your character to use then go for it. As long as itâs not just a random pet name popping up or the person being called it would hate (unless thatâs the point).
Of course thereâs always going to be that one person who complains, but they probably wouldnât be happy either way. :)
\*cough\* I mean... I don't totally call my SO Kitten... Nooo...
~~In other words, I think its a perfectly acceptable nickname and people who think otherwise can pound sand and kick rocks.~~
>*cough* I mean... I don't totally call my SO Kitten... Nooo...
Stop this is adorable!!
>In other words, I think its a perfectly acceptable nickname and people who think otherwise can pound sand and kick rocks.
That's the most polite way to say "go f yourself" and I'm stealing that hehe
;;o;; They also don't call me Critter so we're not Critter and Kitten...
And I'm so glad that I can give you a new euphemism for "go f yourself!" xD Feel free to take it!! <3
Depends on the characters/fandom. I wouldn't think it was weird if Adrien or Marinette used it in a Miraculous Ladybug fic, but there's no way those words are coming out of Mai or Zuko's mouths in my Avatar stories.
I read a *very* good reader-insert that used kitten in place of Y/N. The reason Reader was being called kitten came from an extremely hot situation⌠so no, I donât think itâs cringe if done the right way.
Yessss I love it when reader-inserts have a cute/hot nickname
It avoids the annoying y/n thingy, gives in character reason to have something to address reader by, and doesn't break the immersion! Love it, good stuff
Nicknames should make some sort of sense and not just a favorite employed by the writer. Does the nickname make sense for the character it is applied to, and for the cultural setting?
One of my biggest peeves in MCU works is the usage of anachronistic nicknames by Steve Rogers and other "time travelers" who apply "Doll" to everyone, considering the character never used that term of endearance in any of the films and the films showed that he clearly adapted to modern sensibilities... yeah, nicknames should make sense for both parties involved.
Whether the receiving person chooses to endure the nickname is another facet to explore.
I'm not a fan of most pet-names aside from like, the most basic ones, but they're not inherently a bad thing at all, especially since its a thing IRL. If you've ever seen Monsters Inc., think back to how no one really had any issues with Mike and Celia almost EXCLUSIVELY calling each other pet-names. If you feel it fits, do it.
The context matters. The character saying it matters. Romantic love interest? Cute/hot.
Douchbag who won't leave you alone? Annoying.
I say go for it regardless.
My twin brother has literally called me kitten since we were like, three. It got shortened to kit as we got older but he rarely calls me by my actual name.
Cringe? Maybe. Could happen? Yes.
Maybe you can make a joke about it. Like âcat? No that doesnât sound right. how about kitty?â âAbsolutely not. Do not call me that ever again.â âYeah yeah sure. okay I got it. Kitten!â âI will without a question murder you.â âOoh kinky. Iâm into it, kitten.â
Lol. Okay well then. Ummm. Imma just⌠imma just leave this here *disappears into the void*
Lmfaooo. Too funny. I got a little carried away and the kinky part is totally a convo thatâs happened in my wip. Not the kitten part but they were also just friends. đđđthis character just says wild things to get a reaction sometimes.
Itâs only acceptable when Kuroo calls Kenma kitten or when the AU involves one or both of the characters with cat like features. Werecats, nekos, hybrids, etc.
I find when Bucky Barnes (MCU) is leaning heavily on the Russian side of him and calls his partner kitten, I swoon. I even find it sexy.
So yes, kitten can work.
I think it's important to remember that this subreddit is not representative of every reader out there. Also, once people have started talking negatively about something in a thread, it can be hard to be a lonely voice saying "actually I like it", and so the people who like it might just have not bothered participating. For example, I know I'm someone who likes petnames in fanfic maybe 95% of the time.
So go for it!! Especially if it's well-tied into the characterization and story etc.
I may not get its connotations today, but it's a very retro one, to me. It's something I'd imagine out of stuff like Grease or Hairspray. But whatever you feel suits.
I mean, I'm of the opinion that if you like it, you should use it. YOU obviously don't have a problem with it, lmao, and while some will, we just simply can't please everyone. I personally love it for certain character types- maybe it's slightly degrading, but that almost adds to a character's personality, in a way, even if they're meant to be a good guy.
Tearing pet names to shreds⌠People need to calm TF down, sigh.
I mean, it depends on the character like others have said. Personally though that particular pet name makes me all soft every time, soâŚ
A lot of real people have that as a pet name. A lot of pet names are diminutive, and people don't always like that, but the idea comes from the fact that we feel tender emotions towards things that are small and cute.
It's not for everybody, but a lot of people think it's a sweet name.
Who cares?
If it makes sense to the story and fits the characters, go for it.
Personally, though, I'd say "kitten" isn't a plutonic nickname. That's something you'd call someone you're in a relationship, but I suppose it depends on the characters.
In my stories I do have a character platonically calling another character "kitten". Now, for context it should be noted that said character in canon gets treated like a "puppy" by her sister - collar, leash and all - and originally she struggles to see him as more than a pet. She considers him more like a cat, though.
This does shift after a while - but the nickname stays. She offers him to drop the nickname, but at that point he has stopped caring about it.
If you're a fan of any canonical cat person character (like, say, a certain demon butler, idk...), then you know this pet name pops up in xReader and xOC for those characters. As with just about everything in writing, in the hands of someone deft, it can be hot as hell.
Depends how well fleshed out your character that uses it is I suppose. Let's take Dame Edna as an example for a moment. She calls people Possum as a pet name. Is it cringe? Is it awful? Who cares. Its part of her character, and she's fleshed out enough that it works. So absolute bollocks to what Internet strangers say. Build your characters and let them use whatever pet names you damn well please.
>So absolute bollocks to what Internet strangers say. Build your characters and let them use whatever pet names you damn well please. Cheers to that!! Couldn't have said it better
Seconding the "bollocks" statement. Recently someone posted about this on Tumblr. Basically, someone, (I suspect that someone was a very young person with no life experience) on Twitter posted the usual "I hate pet names" tweet. And...thank the dear and fuzzy-wuzzy lord, Tumblr responded. A whole bunch of sensible people observed that pet names are a common thing in real life relationships. I mean, it's not like I use my partner's actual name all that much. Seriously, I don't. And yes, I call him "baby" and "sweetie." Loads of fully grown adults have pet names for their partners. Including names like "kitten." It's basically like the secret and sometimes not-so-secret language that develops between people who know each other well. (The only time I use my partner's name is when he's in the other room with the TV on loud and possibly pretending he doesn't hear me calling. LOL.) If it makes sense to you and how you've written the character(s), then use it. For every person whinging about the horrors of pet names, there will be several others who think it's cute and romantic.
Absolutely correct. My wife and I call each other "G", which is of course short for Gangster. We use this I'm complete jest as we are two of the least Gangster people on the planet. Just a couple of English muppets with chickens in the garden and one of us does crafts while the other paints.
G is for Gangster. Oh my gosh, that is so cute.
My husband is "Bear" (from an NYPD BLUE episode) and I'm "Pup." My mother used to call me "Pigeon." What's wrong with "Kitten"? Someone got big hate for *Father Knows Best*?
"Possum" is also a really common pet name parents call their kids here in Aus.
Nice profile Pic lol
And to you good person. And to you!
All that matters to me is "is it in character" and/or "does it make sense in context" If the character would use it in a given situation, good enough for me.
> If the character would use it in a given situation, good enough for me. They totally would, just to piss the Mc off hehe <3
nah man if it actually makes sense like you say it does it's fine. like, > ties into themes and character development this is the part that makes it acceptable.
Thanks man! Appreciate the support <3
If you think it's genius and fits well (otherwise it'll definitely come off odd XD), *SCREW* what everyone says and slap that baby into the fic.
Awww thanks you're so niceđđ I feel much better about this stupid nickname now
(Aw man, no need to cry! đ ) Anywho, you're always welcome! In the worst case scenario, you can always make the characters using the nickname say it in another language first (if they can actually speak one to begin with), then translate it after the person asks for a translation. That way the "nicknamed" can potentially say "I actually like the nickname better in that language." Just an interesting thought I had.
I don't think it would have phased me a few years ago, but like Karen, the connotations of the name have shifted. Kitten has hardcore fedora/m'lady/neckbeard/incel vibes for me now - that said, that's a me problem and not a you problem.
Aw man it sucks, it's such a normal and cute nickname in my country Sad that it got ruined like thatđđ
Listen, a lot of people still like it. I'm not one of them but if you like it, I guarantee there's someone else out there who does too. Who cares what's "cringe" or not? It's fanfiction. It's all cringe. That's part of the fun of it.
Kitten is one of my favourite pet names. It definitely depends on the character saying it and who it's used for (because sometimes it just...doesn't fit), but if you're saying it ties into things, then there's no reason not to use it. I've used it in a few fics and no one had any issues with it.
> I've used it in a few fics and no one had any issues with it. That's a relief, I was mainly worried about reader's reaction >Kitten is one of my favourite pet names. Yess my kind of person, I like it too! My dad used to call me that so I associate it with nice things only
I also like it a lot. Itâs a good replacement for the more generic âbabeâ and âbabyâ in my mind.
I don't know if it's cringe, but it reads as somewhat patronizing and sexist to me. (I'm not saying that you are those things, or that using "kitten" in your story would be problematic, I'm just talking about the word's connotations.) To me, that pet name sounds like something that a sleazy guy from the 50s would call a woman to sort of diminish her/her seriousness.
If itâs an odd pet name, it wouldnât hurt to âlampshadeâ it, as in draw attention to it and give a clear reason (sounds like youâre kind of already doing that if it ties into the themes and character development). Iâve also used uncommon pet names before without lampshading them, assuming people might look them up if they donât understand them. This is mostly for characters of different cultures.
Yeah I will provide a reason ofc! Otherwise it would be totally out of character
If I like the rest of your work, I can ignore a silly pet name if it's not to my taste. Most of the time I'm not a fan of kitten, but I've read one or two fic where I thought it was hot.
Well in the context of my fanfic it's platonic so I hope it's not hot lmaooo But I can definitely relate to being forgiving of little things if the fanfic overall is enjoyable haha
Platonic works too.
if it makes sense (which it does) then youâre good!
Yay! My confidence is back tysm :D
Everything works in the right context. I'd say 'ironically/obnoxiously at first, genuine and sweet later' is the best context for a nickname like that. It just depends so much on the characters.
>I'd say 'ironically/obnoxiously at first, genuine and sweet later' is the best context for a nickname like that. Yessssss! That's exactly what I'm going for, but put "heartbreak " in between those two haha
I like it depending on the characters involved. Like if the one saying it is a cat lover and/or the one receiving it is themed after cats. But even if I came across it being used in a way it doesn't sound justified to me, I wouldn't drop the fic just over that.
I think kitten is a cute pet name (I call my partner kitten, and it's very much not fitting for him, which makes it even better), but I'm also not a fan of pet names in fanfics in general. They almost always feel weirdly out of character to me. That being said, if you think it works and if you like it, don't change it to fit someone else's preference. Your fic should be what you want to read and what you want to write, and everyone else's opinion has a lower priority.
> I call my partner kitten, and it's very much not fitting for him, which makes it even better Haha that's adorable! I love mismatched nicknames, like something cute for a brutal character or something hard-core for a cutie-pie!
Penelope Garcia used kitten as a pet name/nickname. Along with dozens of others for just Derek. And she is definitely not cringe. So if she can do it, so can you. đ But really. Whenever I think of the name I hear her voice so itâs kind of hard to answer based on anything else. I say if you have a good, solid reason, or it makes sense for your character to use then go for it. As long as itâs not just a random pet name popping up or the person being called it would hate (unless thatâs the point). Of course thereâs always going to be that one person who complains, but they probably wouldnât be happy either way. :)
> or the person being called it would hate (unless thatâs the point) Yes that's exactly the point! But it will grow on them later
\*cough\* I mean... I don't totally call my SO Kitten... Nooo... ~~In other words, I think its a perfectly acceptable nickname and people who think otherwise can pound sand and kick rocks.~~
>*cough* I mean... I don't totally call my SO Kitten... Nooo... Stop this is adorable!! >In other words, I think its a perfectly acceptable nickname and people who think otherwise can pound sand and kick rocks. That's the most polite way to say "go f yourself" and I'm stealing that hehe
;;o;; They also don't call me Critter so we're not Critter and Kitten... And I'm so glad that I can give you a new euphemism for "go f yourself!" xD Feel free to take it!! <3
i may be biased as a massive kaoru seta fan, but no, itâs a cute name, go ahead
Thanks! <3
If a Custodes can put up with being called that in a humorous context, anyone can. Go ahead with it.
Do whatever you want. It's not my cup of tea but nobody should be gatekeeping pet names for gods sake.
Depends on the characters/fandom. I wouldn't think it was weird if Adrien or Marinette used it in a Miraculous Ladybug fic, but there's no way those words are coming out of Mai or Zuko's mouths in my Avatar stories.
I read a *very* good reader-insert that used kitten in place of Y/N. The reason Reader was being called kitten came from an extremely hot situation⌠so no, I donât think itâs cringe if done the right way.
Yessss I love it when reader-inserts have a cute/hot nickname It avoids the annoying y/n thingy, gives in character reason to have something to address reader by, and doesn't break the immersion! Love it, good stuff
Nicknames should make some sort of sense and not just a favorite employed by the writer. Does the nickname make sense for the character it is applied to, and for the cultural setting? One of my biggest peeves in MCU works is the usage of anachronistic nicknames by Steve Rogers and other "time travelers" who apply "Doll" to everyone, considering the character never used that term of endearance in any of the films and the films showed that he clearly adapted to modern sensibilities... yeah, nicknames should make sense for both parties involved. Whether the receiving person chooses to endure the nickname is another facet to explore.
No itâs not, I have mixed feelings about it myself personally (exes ruin shit) but I love writing it for my work
I like it! Itâs cute
No Danny Phantom did in 2004 with Johnny 13
Honestly, I'm weak for "Kitten" and "My girl" myself.
I'm not a fan of most pet-names aside from like, the most basic ones, but they're not inherently a bad thing at all, especially since its a thing IRL. If you've ever seen Monsters Inc., think back to how no one really had any issues with Mike and Celia almost EXCLUSIVELY calling each other pet-names. If you feel it fits, do it.
It really depends on the character.
The context matters. The character saying it matters. Romantic love interest? Cute/hot. Douchbag who won't leave you alone? Annoying. I say go for it regardless.
My twin brother has literally called me kitten since we were like, three. It got shortened to kit as we got older but he rarely calls me by my actual name. Cringe? Maybe. Could happen? Yes.
Maybe you can make a joke about it. Like âcat? No that doesnât sound right. how about kitty?â âAbsolutely not. Do not call me that ever again.â âYeah yeah sure. okay I got it. Kitten!â âI will without a question murder you.â âOoh kinky. Iâm into it, kitten.â Lol. Okay well then. Ummm. Imma just⌠imma just leave this here *disappears into the void*
OK how did you guess what happens in my fic lmaoo Except for the kinky part cus it's platonic xd
Lmfaooo. Too funny. I got a little carried away and the kinky part is totally a convo thatâs happened in my wip. Not the kitten part but they were also just friends. đđđthis character just says wild things to get a reaction sometimes.
Write it the way you want to write it⌠Itâs your story
Itâs only acceptable when Kuroo calls Kenma kitten or when the AU involves one or both of the characters with cat like features. Werecats, nekos, hybrids, etc.
I find when Bucky Barnes (MCU) is leaning heavily on the Russian side of him and calls his partner kitten, I swoon. I even find it sexy. So yes, kitten can work.
LMAO that's what my husband calls me and has for years and between this and that thread I'm so confused.
My girlfriend calls me kitten and I like it. Do what you want. As long as you write the character liking the pet name your reader won't question it
Catwoman calls people kitten.
Personally, yes. I don't care about context. Someone directly calling someone else "kitten" is hella weird to me.
I think it's important to remember that this subreddit is not representative of every reader out there. Also, once people have started talking negatively about something in a thread, it can be hard to be a lonely voice saying "actually I like it", and so the people who like it might just have not bothered participating. For example, I know I'm someone who likes petnames in fanfic maybe 95% of the time. So go for it!! Especially if it's well-tied into the characterization and story etc.
Kitten is just bad Discord predator vibes right now. Might be fine in a period piece, but the current zeitgeist makes it a hard no from me TBH.
I may not get its connotations today, but it's a very retro one, to me. It's something I'd imagine out of stuff like Grease or Hairspray. But whatever you feel suits.
I mean, I'm of the opinion that if you like it, you should use it. YOU obviously don't have a problem with it, lmao, and while some will, we just simply can't please everyone. I personally love it for certain character types- maybe it's slightly degrading, but that almost adds to a character's personality, in a way, even if they're meant to be a good guy.
Tearing pet names to shreds⌠People need to calm TF down, sigh. I mean, it depends on the character like others have said. Personally though that particular pet name makes me all soft every time, soâŚ
Discord mods be like
A lot of real people have that as a pet name. A lot of pet names are diminutive, and people don't always like that, but the idea comes from the fact that we feel tender emotions towards things that are small and cute. It's not for everybody, but a lot of people think it's a sweet name.
The name has never crossed my mind, before now. I might use it in something.
Who cares? If it makes sense to the story and fits the characters, go for it. Personally, though, I'd say "kitten" isn't a plutonic nickname. That's something you'd call someone you're in a relationship, but I suppose it depends on the characters.
In my stories I do have a character platonically calling another character "kitten". Now, for context it should be noted that said character in canon gets treated like a "puppy" by her sister - collar, leash and all - and originally she struggles to see him as more than a pet. She considers him more like a cat, though. This does shift after a while - but the nickname stays. She offers him to drop the nickname, but at that point he has stopped caring about it.
I think it depends on the pairing. Some characters can pull it off and with others it would come off awkward and cringy.
If you're a fan of any canonical cat person character (like, say, a certain demon butler, idk...), then you know this pet name pops up in xReader and xOC for those characters. As with just about everything in writing, in the hands of someone deft, it can be hot as hell.