Short answer to: Why do Quakers call themselves 'Friends'?

The earliest title which this group gave themselves was Children of (the) Light (because of the vital importance of the 'Inward Light').

Very early Quakers also called themselves Friends in the Truth or Friends of the Truth and that seems to be where Friends originated.

The Religious Society of Friends did not emerge as the formal name of the group until the end of the 18th century.

This and much more is from:

   John Punshon Portrait in Grey: a short history of the Quakers

      Quaker Books 2006

and

   Pink Dandelion An Introduction to Quakerism Cambridge University

      Press 2007

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