Personally, I have never gotten the hype by the names “baby,” “babe,” “bae,” “honey,” it feels forced to me. I’ve seen those TikTok videos where as a joke people will address their spouses by their real names and the spouses get mad and say something like “my family and friends can call me that, but you can’t.” I’ve never gotten the seriousness of it. If we already know we’re boyfriend and girlfriend, or husband and wife, why should I have to address you by those names? Again, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with saying them, but using real names should become more common as well.
As a pet name fan, it does kinda feel like we’re dating again when I use a proper name. That said I do use it occasionally in private, usually when I’m talking about something fairly serious, or when I’m trying to get their attention. “Hey so-and-so, can you please…” or somesuch. I always use the proper name in public.
Anyway, I don’t think real names are that unusual.