145+ Names That Mean Love for Your Little One

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Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson shares beautiful & romantic names that mean or are associated with love

Co-authored by Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: January 15, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Popular Names for Girls
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• Unique Names for Girls
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• Popular Names for Boys
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• Unique Names for Boys
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• Unisex Names
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• What makes a name sound romantic?
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• More Baby Names

|Show more |Show less

Are you an expectant parent looking for a name that means “love” for your little bundle of joy? Or, are you a writer looking for a name that means “love” for a character you’re creating? Either way, you’re bound to find the perfect option in our extensive list! We’ve compiled all the best love names we could find for both boys and girls, including popular and unique options, with help from naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

The Best Names That Mean Love

Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson recommends the following names that mean “love” or are associated with love for boys and girls:

• Options for girls: Ahava, Amara, Amy, Carys, Davina, Esmé, Mila, Philomena
• Options for boys: Amias, Carwyn, David, Eros, Hart, Lev, Philip, Romeo

Steps

Section 1 of 7:

Popular Girl Names that Mean “Love”

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1. 
   Pick one of these names if you want a well-known option. These names that mean “love” are popular classics that have withstood the test of time, which means you pretty much can’t go wrong with them! They’re perfect if you’re looking for a name that everyone knows and loves.

   • Adora: “Beloved,” Latin origin.
   • Aiko: “Little loved one” or “beloved child,” Japanese origin.
   • Amanda: “Worthy of love” or “lovable,” Latin origin.
   • Amara: “Beloved” or “grace,” Igbo, Sanskrit, and Spanish origins.
   • Aimee/Amy: “Beloved,” Latin origin.
   • Amabel: “Lovable” or “beautiful,” Latin and British origin.
   • Annabel: “Lovable,” Latin origin.
   • Amora: “Love,” Latin origin.
   • Aphrodite: Greek goddess of love and beauty.
   • Cara: “Beloved one,” Italian origin.
   • Carina: “Dear” or “beloved,” Latin origin.
   • Cher: “Beloved,” French origin.
   • Cheryl: “Beloved,” French origin.
   • Cora: “Beloved” or “heart,” French and Greek origins.
   • Cordelia: “Heart,” Latin origin.
   • Davina: “Beloved,” Hebrew origin.
   • Esme: “Loved” or “esteemed,” French and Latin origin.
   • Freya: Norse goddess associated with love.
   • Lennon: “Lover” or “sweetheart,” Gaelic origin.
   • Love: “Love,” British origin.
   • Mabel: “Lovable,” Latin origin.
   • Malia: “Beloved,” “wished-for child,” or “star of the sea,” Hawaiian and Hebrew origins.
   • Mandy: “Loved” or “to be admired,” Latin origin.
   • Maria: “Beloved,” “wished-for child,” or “star of the sea,” Latin, Hebrew, and Greek origins.
   • Mariah: “Beloved,” “wished-for child,” or “the Lord is my teacher,” Latin and Hebrew origins.
   • Mary: “Beloved,” “wished-for child,” or “rebelliousness,” Latin origin.
   • Maryam: “Beloved,” Hebrew origin.
   • Mia: “Beloved,” “mine,” or “wished-for child,” Italian origin.
   • Mila: “Dear one” or “gracious,” Russian origin.
   • Mina: “Love,” German origin.
   • Nayeli: “I love you,” Native American origin.
   • Noa: “Love” or “affection,” Japanese origin.
   • Philomena: “Lover of strength,” Greek origin.
   • Philippa: “Lover of horses,” Greek origin.
   • Pippa: “Lover of horses,” Greek origin.
   • Priya: “Loved one,” Hindi origin.
   • Suki: “Beloved,” Japanese origin.
   • Thandi: “One who loves deeply,” African origin.
   • Venus: Roman goddess of love.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson is a naming expert and consultant. She shares name meanings and naming tips with her over 20k followers on her Instagram, @little_name_library.
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Section 2 of 7:

Unique Girl Names that Mean “Love”

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1. 
   Go for a rarer name to set your little girl apart. If you want to surround your daughter with some serious star quality, consider choosing one of these unique or lesser-known names that mean “love.” With one of these rare options, your little girl is sure to turn heads and make a lasting impression!

   • Abasiama: “Loved by God,” Nigerian origin.
   • Ahava: “Love,” Hebrew origin.
   • Amadea: “Loved by God.”
   • Amandine: “Worthy of love,” French origin.
   • Amia: “Love,” Latin origin.
   • Amorette: “Beloved,” Latin origin.
   • Caera: “Beloved one,” Italian origin.
   • Caoimhe: “Gentle” or “beloved,” Irish origin.
   • Caralie: “Beloved one,” Latin origin.
   • Caramia: “My beloved,” Italian origin.
   • Carita: “Love” or “esteem,” Swedish origin.
   • Carwen: “Love” or “blessed,” Welsh origin.
   • Carys: “To love,” Welsh origin.
   • Ceinwen: “Lovely” or “blessed,” Welsh origin.
   • Cinta: “Love,” Indonesian origin.
   • Cordula: “Love,” German origin.
   • Davita: “Beloved,” Hebrew origin.
   • Diletta: “Beloved,” Italian origin.
   • Dodi: “Beloved,” Hebrew origin.
   • Elska: “Love,” Norse origin.
   • Femi: “Love,” Egyptian origin.
   • Filomena: “Beloved,” Greek origin.
   • Ifunanya: “Love,” Igbo origin.
   • Inanna: Mesopotamian goddess of love, war, and fertility.
   • Ismay: “Beloved” or “esteemed,” French origin.
   • Kalila: “Beloved,” Arabic origin.
   • Kama: “Love,” Sanskrit origin.
   • Kerensa: “Love,” Cornish origin.
   • Lempi: “Love,” Finnish origin.
   • Lida: “Loved by all,” Russian origin.
   • Mai: “Real love” or “dance,” Japanese origin.
   • Maitea: “Love,” Spanish origin.
   • Minette: “Love,” German origin.
   • Mirna: “Beloved,” Gaelic origin.
   • Penda: “Beloved,” African origin.
   • Priti: “Love” or “joy,” Indian origin.
   • Querida: “Beloved,” Spanish origin.
   • Rabina: “Lovable” or “beloved,” Nepali origin.
   • Yaretzi: “You will always be loved,” Aztec origin.

Section 3 of 7:

Popular Boy Names that Mean “Love”

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1. 
   Give your son one of these popular names if you want a classic. These well-known and well-liked names that mean “love” are perfect choices if you want a sure thing. They’re classics that have remained constants throughout history, which means they never go out of style!

   • Aiko: “Love,” “fortune,” or “child,” Japanese and German origins.
   • Amor: “Loving,” Latin origin.
   • Aziz: “Beloved,” Arabic origin.
   • Caleb: “Whole of my heart,” Hebrew origin.
   • Canan: “Love,” Turkish origin.
   • Connelly: “Love” and “friendship,” Irish origin.
   • Connor: “Lover of hounds,” Irish origin.
   • Cupid: God of love in Roman mythology.
   • David: “Beloved,” Hebrew origin.
   • Davis: “Beloved” or “loved by God,” Welsh and Hebrew origins.
   • Daryl: “Beloved” or “daring,” French, British, and Irish origins.
   • Davin: “Loved,” Welsh origin.
   • Dewey: “Beloved” or “loved by God,” Welsh and Hebrew origins.
   • Hubert: “Bright heart,” German origin.
   • Ife: “Love,” Jamaican and Nigerian origins.
   • Jedidiah: “Beloved of the lord,” Hebrew origin.
   • Kevin: “Beloved birth,” Irish origin.
   • Leif: “Love,” Scandinavian origin.
   • Lennon: “Lover,” Irish origin.
   • Leonard: “Lover,” Irish origin.
   • Lev/Levi: “Heart” or “joined,” Hebrew origin.
   • Marion: “Beloved,” “wished-for child,” or “star of the sea,” French, Latin, Hebrew, and Greek origins.​​
   • Milos: “Beloved,” Slavic origin.
   • Noa: “Love” or “affection,” Japanese origin.
   • Obi: “Heart,” Nigerian and Hebrew origins.
   • Oscar: “Deer-lover,” Irish, Gaelic, British, and Norse origins.
   • Paris: After Paris, France, city of love.
   • Philip: “Lover of horses,” Greek origin.
   • Phil: “Lover of horses,” Greek origin.
   • Reese: “Ardor” or “enthusiasm,” Welsh origin.
   • Ren: “Love” or “lotus,” Japanese origin.
   • Rhys: “Ardor” or “enthusiasm,” Welsh origin.
   • Romeo: After Romeo from Romeo and Juliet. It also means “pilgrim of love.”
   • Thad: “Heart,” British and Aramaic origins.
   • Thaddeus: “Heart,” “friend,” or “gift of God,” Aramaic and Greek origins.
   • Valentine: After St. Valentine/Valentine’s day.
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Section 4 of 7:

Unique Boy Names that Mean “Love”

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1. 
   Opt for one of these names if you want something rare and unique. These lesser-known and lesser-used names that mean “love” are perfect for a totally one-of-a-kind little boy. With options like these, there’s a big chance your little one won’t share a name with anyone in his class, which is an added bonus!

   • Agapito: “Beloved,” Greek and Latin origins.
   • Amadeus: “Lover of God,” Latin origin.
   • Amandus: “Worthy of love,” Latin origin.
   • Amias: “Loved,” Latin origin.
   • Arma: “Love,” Finnish origin.
   • Armas: “Love,” Finnish origin.
   • Aroha: “Love,” Maori origin.
   • Bes: God of love in Egyptian mythology.
   • Caomh: “Gentle” or “beloved,” Irish origin.
   • Caomhán: “Beloved” or “gentle,” Irish origin.
   • Caron; “Loving” or “kind,” Welsh origin.
   • Cartach: “Loving,” Irish origin.
   • Carwyn: “Blessed love,” Welsh origin.
   • Ceri: “To love” or “blessed poetry,” Welsh origin.
   • Daven: “Beloved,” Hebrew origin.
   • Daviel: “Beloved,” Hebrew origin.
   • Eldad: “God is love,” Hebrew origin.
   • Elmo: “Love,” Greek, Latin, and Italian origin.
   • Erasmus: “Beloved,” Greek origin.
   • Eros: “Love,” Greek origin. Also the god of love in Greek mythology.
   • Euston: “Heart,” Irish origin.
   • Gotelieb: “Love of God,” German origin.
   • Hart: “Heart” or “brave spirit.”
   • Jeb: “Beloved friend,” Hebrew origin.
   • Kalyan: “Lovely,” Indian origin.
   • Kendi: “The loved one,” Swahili origin.
   • Leibe: “Love,” German origin.
   • Leiber: “Love,” Yiddish origin.
   • Lubomir: “Love” and “peace,” Czech origin.
   • Lubor: “Love,” Czech origin.
   • Lubos: “Love,” Slavic origin.
   • Mahbub: “Beloved,” Arabic origin.
   • Prem: “Love” or “affection,” Thai and Sanskrit origins.
   • Zuko: “Loved one,” Chinese origin.

Section 5 of 7:

Gender-neutral Names that Mean “Love”

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1. Select a unisex name that isn't traditionally masculine or feminine. “There are also beautifully romantic gender neutral leaning names that feel romantic and poetic rather than gendered,” says Dr. Wilson. For example:

   • Darcy is a popular option that’s long associated with romance, notes Dr. Wilson. It means “dark one.”
   • Beloved-style nicknames like Lou, Ari, or Remy, which are often chosen for meaning by sound and feeling rather than literal translation, are some options that sound more romantic and love-inspired in nature, notes Dr. Wilson.
   • “Ari and Noa are quiet and soulful, while Remy and Sasha feel warm and melodic,” Dr. Wilson adds.
   • “Lou has a simple, affectionate charm, and Rory and Ellis feel literary and understated,” Dr. Wilson notes.
   • “Names like Milan, River, and Auden carry a flowing, expressive quality that gives them emotional depth,” Dr. Wilson explains.
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Section 6 of 7:

What makes a name sound romantic?

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1. Romantic names sound lyrical and are often associated with love stories. “What makes a name sound romantic is often the way it feels rather than what it literally means,” notes Dr. Wilson. “Romantic-sounding names tend to feel soft, lyrical, and emotionally warm.” She says, “They often have flowing vowels, gentle consonants, and roots in poetry, myth, or old love stories.” So, “these are names that feel beautiful when spoken.”

   • As Dr. Wilson explains, “Romantic names don’t shout; they linger. They feel like names meant for love letters, poems, and lifelong stories rather than trends.”
   • For girls specifically, Dr. Wilson says: “Romantic names often carry a sense of elegance and tenderness without feeling overly frilly.” For example:
     • “Esmé feels affectionate and refined, while Elodie has a light, musical quality,” says Dr. Wilson.
     • “Amelie and Juliet are timeless and story-led, and Isolde brings a poetic, mythic depth,” notes Dr. Wilson.
     • “Seraphina flows with a celestial softness, while Rosalie and Lucia feel classic and glowing,” Dr. Wilson says.
     • “Names like Arabella, Genevieve, Ottilie, Lilia, Clementine, and Anneliese all share that old-world, lyrical charm that many people associate with romance,” Dr. Wilson explains.”
   • For boys specifically, Dr. Wilson says: “Romantic boy names tend to balance softness with quiet strength.” For example:
     • “Julian has a poetic, enduring appeal, while Theo feels warm and approachable,” says Dr. Wilson.
     • “Sebastian and Raphael are expressive and artistic, and Lucian carries a luminous, refined quality,” Dr. Wilson notes.
     • “Emil and Matteo are gentle and melodic, while Alessio and Valerio feel elegant and emotionally rich,” Dr. Wilson says.
     • “Names such as Leander, Dorian, Elio, Augustin, and even Romeo lean into literature, art, and love stories without feeling insubstantial,” explains Dr. Wilson.

Section 7 of 7:

More Baby Names

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1. Looking for even more baby names? We’ve got you covered! Check out these fun lists for even more options to choose from:

   • Names that Mean Beautiful
   • Names that Mean Freedom
   • Names that Mean Life
   • Names that Mean Night
   • Names that Mean Water
   • Names that Mean Green
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