He behaves as though you are in a committed relationship and appears to be genuinely interested in you. However, when it comes to officially acknowledging each other as boyfriend and girlfriend, he expresses a distaste for labels associated with relationships. What could be the reason for this?

1. He's happy with how things are

Maybe he wants to maintain the current positive state of things and believes that labeling the relationship could make it more serious and committed, which might ruin the casual and easy-going atmosphere. However, if a guy is genuinely interested in you, he should be enthusiastic about making you his girlfriend. No ifs, ands, or buts.

2. He's keeping his options open

If he is averse to relationship labels, he would not be comfortable with updating your relationship status on Facebook. By avoiding labels, he can preserve his freedom and not commit to one relationship too soon. However, you deserve to be a priority, not an alternative, and he needs to begin demonstrating that if he wants to keep you around.

3. He's not sure if you're the right one for him

It's possible that he's delaying labeling the relationship because he's still unsure if you're the right fit for him. If you suspect this may be the case, particularly if he's indecisive about including you in his future plans, it's crucial to have a conversation about where the relationship is heading, particularly if you've been dating for three months or more. You should not invest your time in someone who is still unsure after such an extended period.

4. He's not looking for commitment

If he expressed an aversion to labels, be attentive to indications that he is not interested in committing to a relationship in general. Don't fret; these signs will be challenging to overlook. For example, he might mention that he gets anxious when relationships become too serious, and that thought disturbs him. If he does, pack up your belongings and bolt.

5. He's scared of expectations

Undoubtedly, being in an exclusive relationship can make guys feel pressured. When you become his official girlfriend, certain expectations come with being in a relationship, such as taking you to a Taylor Swift concert, even if he'd rather watch sports with his buddies. He'll have to introduce you to his friends and family. However, has he taken into account the benefits of being in a relationship?

6. He's dating other women

If he continues to dodge calling you his girlfriend, it's possible that he's seeing someone else. Have you explicitly discussed exclusivity? If he introduces you to people by name instead of using the girlfriend title, it's time to have a conversation to determine if you're the only one in his life. You have the right to know.

7. He's on a different page than you

You may believe that you're moving towards a committed relationship, while he's still enjoying casual dating. It's no surprise that he's averse to labels as they would signify the end of his fun. But the question is, do you wait for him to catch up or do you part ways? It depends on how much you want to remain in the casual dating arena, feeling like a fling or a bed partner, rather than a valued partner.

8. He doesn't have to make the effort

By always being available to him, you're enabling him to avoid putting in the effort to commit to a relationship. Essentially, you've given him a "get out of an exclusive relationship free" card. You sleep with him, spend time with him, and don't mind if he doesn't hold your hand in public. He'll exploit this situation for as long as he can to continue having the best of both worlds. Don't put up with that. If he's not reciprocating your efforts, stop making an effort.

9. He's not over his ex

If he started dating you soon after the end of his previous relationship, it's possible that he's not yet over his ex or hasn't resolved issues from that breakup. Maybe he's hesitant to commit until he has processed his emotional baggage. But you shouldn't wait for him to sort out his issues on your time.

10. He's not quite ready to ditch the single life

If your relationship started as a whirlwind romance, he might have one foot in your relationship and the other with his friends at the bar. After the initial rush, he might start missing aspects of his single life and question whether he's ready to leave it all behind. He should be mature enough to understand that he can have his boys' nights out without being single, unless what he truly misses is the freedom to date multiple women. It's time for him to make a decision.