Names that Mean Love
Names that mean love or beloved are some of the most common names on earth, and some of the most quietly meaningful. David, one of history’s most enduring boy names, means “beloved.” Amy, Mabel, Priya, Habiba, Mila and Aiko all say much the same thing in their own languages.
Below are more than 100 names meaning love, beloved, dear or affection, grouped by origin, with the gender each is usually given. If you like this theme, you may also enjoy names that mean beautiful, names that mean joy and, for sweet everyday terms, cute nicknames.
Latin, French and Spanish names that mean love
Latin amare (“to love”) and its French descendant aimer are the roots of Amy, Amanda and Mabel. More in French girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Amy | Old French Amée, “beloved” | Girl |
| Aimée | French, “beloved” | Girl |
| Aimé | French, “beloved” | Boy |
| Amanda | Latin, “worthy of love” | Girl |
| Amabel | Latin amabilis, “lovable” | Girl |
| Mabel | Short form of Amabel, “lovable” | Girl |
| Amata | Latin and Italian, “beloved” | Girl |
| Amadeus | Latin, “love of God” | Boy |
| Amado | Spanish and Portuguese, “beloved” | Boy |
| Amador | Spanish, “lover” | Boy |
| Amor | Spanish and Latin, “love” | Unisex |
| Esme | Old French, “esteemed, loved” | Girl |
| Cara | Italian, “dear, beloved” (Irish, “friend”) | Girl |
| Carina | Latin, “dear, beloved” | Girl |
Greek names that mean love
Greek had several words for love, from agape (selfless love) to eros (romantic love) and philos (friendship). Several appear in the New Testament. See Greek names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Agape | Greek, “love” (selfless love) | Girl |
| Agapios | Greek, “beloved” | Boy |
| Erasmus | Greek, “beloved, desired” | Boy |
| Erastus | Greek, “beloved” (Acts 19:22) | Boy |
| Eros | Greek god of love | Boy |
| Erato | Greek, “lovely”; the Muse of love poetry | Girl |
| Philomena | Greek, “loved” + “strength” | Girl |
| Philemon | Greek, “affectionate”; a letter of Paul | Boy |
| Theophilus | Greek, “friend of God, loved by God” | Boy |
| Philippa | Greek, “lover of horses” | Girl |
Hebrew names that mean beloved
David (“beloved”) was Israel’s great king, and Jedidiah was the name God gave to Solomon. Browse more in biblical boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| David | Hebrew, “beloved” | Boy |
| Davina | Scottish feminine form of David | Girl |
| Jedidiah | Hebrew, “beloved of God” (2 Samuel 12:25) | Boy |
| Ahuva | Hebrew, “beloved” | Girl |
| Yedida | Hebrew, “beloved, dear friend” | Girl |
| Chaviva | Hebrew, “beloved” | Girl |
| Dodi | Hebrew, “my beloved” (Song of Songs 2:16) | Unisex |
| Ahava | Hebrew, “love” | Girl |
Arabic, Persian and Turkish names meaning love
Habib (beloved) and the Turkish sev- names (from sevmek, “to love”) are especially popular. More ideas in Turkish girl names and Muslim boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Habib | Arabic, “beloved” | Boy |
| Habiba | Arabic, “beloved” | Girl |
| Mahbub | Arabic, “beloved” | Boy |
| Mahbuba | Arabic, “beloved” | Girl |
| Muhib | Arabic, “loving, one who loves” | Boy |
| Abdul Wadud | Arabic, “servant of the Most Loving” (God) | Boy |
| Widad | Arabic, “love, affection” | Girl |
| Mawadda | Arabic, “affection, love” (Quran 30:21) | Girl |
| Ulfah | Arabic, “love, harmony, affection” | Girl |
| Mehr | Persian, “love, kindness; sun” | Unisex |
| Mehrnaz | Persian, “love” + “grace” | Girl |
| Delaram | Persian, “heart’s ease, sweetheart” | Girl |
| Dildar | Persian, “beloved, sweetheart” | Unisex |
| Janan | Persian, “beloved” | Unisex |
| Sevgi | Turkish, “love” | Girl |
| Sevda | Turkish, “love, passion” | Girl |
| Sevil | Turkish, “be loved” | Girl |
| Sevim | Turkish, “my love, affection” | Girl |
| Sevilay | Turkish, “beloved moon” | Girl |
Indian names that mean love
Priya (beloved) and Prem (love) are among the best-known Indian names worldwide. Find more in Indian girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Priya | Sanskrit, “beloved, dear” | Girl |
| Priyanka | Sanskrit, “dear, lovable” | Girl |
| Pritam | Sanskrit, “beloved, dearest” | Boy |
| Preeti | Sanskrit, “love, affection” | Girl |
| Prem | Sanskrit, “love” | Boy |
| Sneha | Sanskrit, “affection, love” | Girl |
| Anurag | Sanskrit, “love, devotion” | Boy |
| Pranay | Sanskrit, “love, romance” | Boy |
| Rati | Sanskrit, “love, delight”; goddess of love | Girl |
Slavic names that mean love and dear
Slavic lyub (love) and mil (dear, gracious) are two of the most productive name elements in Eastern Europe. See Russian girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Lyubov | Russian, “love” | Girl |
| Lyuba | Short form of Lyubov | Girl |
| Ljubica | Serbian and Croatian, “love; violet” | Girl |
| Lubomir | Slavic, “love” + “peace” | Boy |
| Mila | Slavic, “dear, gracious” | Girl |
| Milena | Slavic, “dear, gracious” | Girl |
| Milica | Serbian, “dear, gracious” | Girl |
| Milan | Slavic, “dear, gracious” | Boy |
| Miloš | Czech and Serbian, “dear, favored” | Boy |
| Bogumil | Polish, “dear to God” | Boy |
| Dragan | Serbian, “dear, precious” | Boy |
| Draga | Serbian, “dear, precious” | Girl |
Welsh names that mean love
Welsh car (love) gives some of the loveliest names in Britain. More in Welsh girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Carys | Welsh, from car, “love” | Girl |
| Cerys | Welsh variant of Carys, “love” | Girl |
| Carwyn | Welsh, “blessed love” | Boy |
| Caradog | Welsh, “amiable, beloved” | Boy |
| Annwyl | Welsh, “dear, beloved” | Girl |
Japanese, Korean and Hawaiian names meaning love
Japanese names often use 愛 (ai or mana, “love”) alongside a second character for beauty or a flower.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Ai | Japanese 愛, “love” | Girl |
| Aiko | Japanese 愛子, “child of love” | Girl |
| Airi | Japanese 愛莉, “love” + “jasmine” | Girl |
| Aimi | Japanese 愛美, “love” + “beauty” | Girl |
| Mana | Japanese 愛, “love” | Girl |
| Manami | Japanese 愛美, “love” + “beauty” | Girl |
| Sarang | Korean, “love” | Unisex |
| Aloha | Hawaiian, “love, affection” | Unisex |
| Kealoha | Hawaiian, “the beloved one” | Unisex |
| Leialoha | Hawaiian, “beloved child, lei of love” | Girl |
African names that mean love
Yoruba Ife and Zulu Thando are warm, easy-to-say picks. More in African girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Ife | Yoruba, “love” | Girl |
| Ifeoluwa | Yoruba, “God’s love” | Unisex |
| Ifedayo | Yoruba, “love becomes joy” | Unisex |
| Olufemi | Yoruba, “God loves me” | Boy |
| Femi | Yoruba, “love me”; short for Olufemi | Boy |
| Ifunanya | Igbo, “love” | Girl |
| Upendo | Swahili, “love” | Girl |
| Pendo | Swahili, “love” | Girl |
| Thando | Zulu and Xhosa, “love” | Unisex |
| Thandiwe | Zulu and Xhosa, “beloved” | Girl |
| Thandeka | Zulu, “lovable” | Girl |
| Lerato | Sotho, “love” | Girl |
| Lorato | Tswana, “love” | Girl |
| Rudo | Shona, “love” | Girl |
Tips for choosing a name that means love
- Classic or fresh? Amy, David and Mabel are timeless; Carys, Esme and Kealoha feel fresher in the US.
- Mila and Milena are Slavic, but they sound at home in English, which makes them great bridge names for bilingual families.
- Valentine is linked to love through St. Valentine’s Day, but the name itself means “strong, healthy.” Choose it for the association, not the meaning.
- Pair a love name with a sibling name from names that mean gift or names that mean blessed.
- For a hidden meaning, use it as a middle name, such as Grace Amata or Leo Amadeus.
Frequently asked questions
What name means love?
Amor (Spanish), Lyubov (Russian), Carys (Welsh), Prem (Sanskrit), Sevgi (Turkish), Ai (Japanese), Ife (Yoruba) and Thando (Zulu) all mean love.
What boy name means beloved?
David (Hebrew), Habib (Arabic), Amado (Spanish), Aimé (French), Erastus (Greek) and Pritam (Sanskrit) mean beloved.
What girl name means beloved?
Amy, Aimée, Amata, Habiba, Priya, Ahuva, Chaviva and Thandiwe all mean beloved.
Does Valentina mean love?
No. Valentina comes from Latin valens, “strong, healthy.” Its romantic feel comes from St. Valentine’s Day.
What Japanese name means love?
Ai (愛) means love, and Aiko means “child of love.” Mana, Aimi and Airi also use the love character.