Hi,
I need some help here. I’m flirting with a girl from Baden-Wurttemberg . Until recently she have been started her emails with Hallo du! or Hi Barico!. Yesterday she started with Liebe Barico. Is that a step back? I find it very formal. I’m depressed.

She is calling you ´dear`. Doesn´t mean much, but it is not a step back.

Thank you. That’s what I’m afraid of. A dear john email

But it's not. As PES said, it's neither a step forward nor a step back. Can mean anything or nothing really.

What weight, if any, would these specifically have then:

"mein lieber <<name>>"

oder

"mein <<name>>"

i could see the end coming with my ex and I when his e-mail endings went from "kisses, Bob"* or "love, Bob" to "-Bob". i noticed it, told him and he said it didn't mean a thing. it was over soon after.

*names changed to protect the guilty.

I always end e-mails to my girlfriend/s with "yours sincerely". That way you never get asked: "How come you don't sign of with X or kisses anymore?".

I’m happy, she is acting her usual self today. So maybe the lieber incident was a false alarm. If I master the courage I’ll ask her about that. Or maybe not. Women tent to smell insecurity like sharks the blood.

Yeah, but your name is Barico. Not John. Remember.

No Dear John e-mail! I also use Liebe/r to write to friends. It may not mean a thing (because I use it with friends all the time), but of course it can mean something. But it definitely does not make it a Dear John e-mail. I suppose I use Liebe/r XY to sound a little less casual, or more personal...