coquette

This term carries a distinct air of artifice and playfulness, often suggesting a calculated performance of femininity to elicit admiration. While it can be used descriptively, it frequently implies a level of insincerity or manipulation, positioning the subject as someone who treats romantic interest as a game rather than a pursuit of genuine connection.

In modern usage, the word feels somewhat archaic or literary, evoking images of 18th or 19th-century social salons. It is more specific than "flirt," as it describes a personality type or a persistent behavioral pattern rather than a temporary action.