Baby Names That Mean Love: 85+ Romantic Names for Your Little Sweetheart
Baby Names That Mean Love: 85+ Romantic Names for Your Little Sweetheart
Names Written in the Heart
The moment I held my firstborn, I understood love differently. Not the romantic comedy version, not the greeting card sentiment—the real thing. Overwhelming, terrifying, beautiful love that rewrites your entire operating system. I looked at her and thought: this feeling should be her name.
We named her Amara—'eternally beloved.' Every time I call her name, I'm saying the truth. Every time she hears it, she hears that she was wanted, cherished, loved from before she existed. That's the magic of love-meaning names.
Love is the most popular name meaning throughout human history. Every culture, every era, every corner of the world has names expressing love, affection, and being beloved. These names don't go out of style because love doesn't go out of style.
Whether you want something obviously romantic like Valentina or something subtle like David (which means 'beloved'), this guide explores the many ways to wrap your child's name in love.
Why Name Your Child 'Love'
Love-meaning names carry weight that never diminishes.
The First and Lasting Gift
A name is arguably the first gift you give your child. Choosing a name meaning love makes that gift explicit: here, little one, is our love for you, embedded in the sounds we'll call you forever. It's sentiment you can speak aloud daily without seeming sappy.
Universal Appeal
Love names work across cultures, religions, and time periods. Amor works in Spanish contexts, Amy in English ones, Carys in Welsh ones—all meaning love. You can find a love name that fits your heritage, your sound preferences, and your style.
Positive Associations
Research suggests children develop better self-esteem when they feel loved. A name meaning 'loved' or 'beloved' reinforces that message. Every time someone asks your child what their name means, they get to say, 'Love.'
Not Just Romantic
Love names don't only reference romantic love. Agape (selfless love), philia (friendship love), storge (family love)—different love names evoke different types. You can choose names meaning 'beloved by family' or 'loved by God' or simply 'dear one.'
Love Names for Girls
Girl names meaning love range from obviously romantic to subtly affectionate.
Classic Love Girl Names
- Amanda (a-MAN-da) - Latin, 'worthy of love.' Victorian classic, timeless appeal.
- Amy (AY-mee) - Old French, 'beloved.' Little Women familiarity.
- Amelia (a-MEE-lee-a) - Germanic, 'industrious' but often associated with love names.
- Cara (KAR-a) - Latin/Italian, 'dear, beloved.' Simple and sweet.
- Cheryl (SHAIR-ul) - French, 'dear one.' Mid-century charm.
- Mabel (MAY-bel) - Latin, 'lovable.' Vintage comeback.
- Philomena (fil-oh-MEE-na) - Greek, 'lover of strength.' Saint name.
- Valentina (val-en-TEE-na) - Latin, 'strong, healthy' but Valentine's Day associations.
Modern Love Girl Names
- Amara (a-MAR-a) - Latin/African, 'eternally beautiful/beloved.' Rising star.
- Amora (a-MOR-a) - Spanish, 'love.' Direct and romantic.
- Aimee (ay-MEE) - French spelling of Amy. 'Loved.'
- Kerensa (ker-EN-sa) - Cornish, 'love.' Unique choice.
- Carys (KAR-is) - Welsh, 'love.' Catherine Zeta-Jones's daughter.
- Esme (EZ-may) - Old French, 'esteemed, loved.' Twilight familiarity.
- Freya (FRAY-a) - Norse, goddess of love. Rising rapidly.
- Amorette (am-or-ET) - French, 'little love.' Diminutive charm.
Beloved Girl Names
- Davina (da-VEE-na) - Scottish feminine of David, 'beloved.'
- Darla (DAR-la) - English, 'darling, dear.'
- Darlene (dar-LEEN) - English, 'darling.'
- Priya (PREE-ya) - Sanskrit, 'beloved.' Indian classic.
- Suki (SOO-kee) - Japanese, 'beloved.'
Love Names for Boys
Boy names meaning love offer subtle strength and deep feeling.
Classic Love Boy Names
- David (DAY-vid) - Hebrew, 'beloved.' Biblical king, timeless choice.
- Amadeus (am-a-DAY-us) - Latin, 'lover of God.' Mozart familiarity.
- Eros (EAR-os) - Greek, god of love. Cupid's Greek equivalent.
- Philip (FIL-ip) - Greek, 'lover of horses.' Royal name.
- Theophilus (thee-OF-i-lus) - Greek, 'loved by God.' Biblical name.
- Erasmus (eh-RAZ-mus) - Greek, 'beloved.' Scholar name.
Modern Love Boy Names
- Lennon (LEN-on) - Irish, 'dear one, lover.' Beatles association.
- Connelly (KON-el-ee) - Irish, 'love, friendship.'
- Kama (KAH-ma) - Sanskrit, 'love, desire.' Hindu god of love.
- Abelardo (ah-bel-AR-doh) - Germanic, 'noble and loved.'
- Leif (LAYF) - Scandinavian, 'heir, beloved.'
- Caron (KAR-on) - Welsh, 'love.' Can work for boys.
Beloved Boy Names
- David - Still the most popular 'beloved' name.
- Jedidiah (jed-i-DY-a) - Hebrew, 'beloved of the Lord.' Solomon's other name.
- Habib (ha-BEEB) - Arabic, 'beloved, dear.' Common across Muslim world.
- Aziz (a-ZEEZ) - Arabic, 'beloved, dear, mighty.'
- Darrell (DAIR-el) - English, 'dear, beloved.'
Names Meaning Beloved
'Beloved' carries deeper weight than simply 'love'—it implies being cherished specifically.
Feminine Beloved Names
- Luba (LOO-ba) - Slavic, 'love, dear.' Russian classic.
- Mila (MEE-la) - Slavic, 'gracious, dear.' Kunis familiarity.
- Milena (mi-LEN-a) - Slavic, 'gracious, beloved.'
- Liuba (LYOO-ba) - Slavic variant of Luba.
- Priya (PREE-ya) - Sanskrit, 'beloved.'
- Vida (VEE-da) - Spanish/Hebrew, 'life/beloved.'
- Cherie (shuh-REE) - French, 'dear, beloved.' Term of endearment as name.
- Carita (ka-REE-ta) - Latin, 'dear, beloved.'
Masculine Beloved Names
- David - Hebrew, 'beloved.' The classic.
- Daud (da-OOD) - Arabic form of David.
- Davion (DAY-vee-on) - Modern variant of David.
- Jedidiah - Hebrew, 'beloved of God.'
- Habib - Arabic, 'beloved, dear.'
- Rudo (ROO-doh) - Shona, 'love.'
International Love Names
Every language has its own way of naming love.
Romance Language Love Names
- Amor (a-MOR) - Spanish/Portuguese, literally 'love.'
- Amata (a-MAH-ta) - Italian, 'beloved.'
- Amado (a-MAH-doh) - Spanish, 'beloved.'
- Amore (a-MOR-ay) - Italian, 'love.'
- Querida (keh-REE-da) - Spanish, 'dear, beloved.'
Celtic Love Names
- Carys - Welsh, 'love.'
- Caron - Welsh, 'love.'
- Kerensa - Cornish, 'love.'
- Grainne (GRAWN-ya) - Irish, associated with love goddess.
- Oonagh (OO-na) - Irish, 'lamb' but associated with love.
Asian Love Names
- Ai (EYE) - Japanese/Chinese, 'love.'
- Aiko (EYE-ko) - Japanese, 'love child.'
- Sarang (sa-RAHNG) - Korean, 'love.'
- Priya - Sanskrit, 'beloved.'
- Prema (PRAY-ma) - Sanskrit, 'love.'
- Maitri (MY-tree) - Sanskrit, 'loving kindness.'
African Love Names
- Kalifa (ka-LEE-fa) - Somali, 'chaste, holy' but love associations.
- Luthando (loo-THAN-doh) - Xhosa, 'love.'
- Thando (THAN-doh) - Zulu, 'love.'
- Rudo - Shona, 'love.'
Middle Eastern Love Names
- Habib/Habiba - Arabic, 'beloved.'
- Mahbub/Mahbuba - Arabic, 'beloved.'
- Aziz/Aziza - Arabic, 'dear, beloved.'
- Dodi (DOH-dee) - Hebrew, 'beloved.'
Romantic Names From Literature
Literature gives us love names with built-in stories.
Shakespeare's Lovers
- Juliet (JOO-lee-et) - The iconic lover. Forever romantic.
- Romeo (ROH-mee-oh) - The devoted lover. Bold choice.
- Viola (VY-oh-la) - Twelfth Night's lover. Musical associations.
- Beatrice (BEE-a-tris) - Much Ado About Nothing. 'She who brings happiness.'
Classic Literature Love Names
- Heathcliff (HEETH-klif) - Wuthering Heights' tortured lover.
- Catherine (KATH-er-in) - Wuthering Heights, pure associations.
- Darcy (DAR-see) - Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy.
- Elizabeth (e-LIZ-a-beth) - Jane Austen's witty heroine.
- Scarlett (SKAR-let) - Gone With the Wind's passionate heroine.
- Rhett (RET) - Gone With the Wind's roguish lover.
Modern Romance Names
- Allie (AL-ee) - The Notebook's devoted heroine.
- Noah (NOH-a) - The Notebook's persistent lover.
- Edward (ED-ward) - Twilight's devoted vampire. (Also classic.)
- Bella (BEL-a) - Italian for beautiful, Twilight heroine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are love names too sentimental?
They can be—but they don't have to be. David is a love name (meaning 'beloved') and nobody considers it overly sentimental. Carys means 'love' but sounds fresh and modern. Even names like Amor or Eros can work in the right cultural context. Choose based on how the name sounds and feels, not just its meaning.
Q2: What names mean 'beloved'?
The most common 'beloved' name is David (Hebrew). Others include: Priya (Sanskrit), Habib/Habiba (Arabic), Jedidiah (Hebrew, 'beloved of God'), Carys (Welsh), Mila (Slavic), Darla/Darlene (English), Cheryl (French), and Amara (Latin/African). 'Beloved' implies being specifically cherished, which many parents find more meaningful than general 'love.'
Q3: Which love names are most popular?
Currently: Amara and Amora are rising fast for girls. David remains steady for boys. Freya (goddess of love) is climbing rapidly. Esme has Twilight-boosted popularity. Mila (dear/beloved) is very popular. Classic choices like Amanda and Amy remain familiar if less trendy. New favorites include Carys (thanks to celebrity use) and Lennon.
Q4: Can love names work for boys?
Absolutely. David is one of the most enduring boy names worldwide. Amadeus has Mozart gravitas. Lennon works for both genders. Habib is common in Arabic cultures. Eros is bold but usable. The association of love names with femininity is cultural, not inherent—plenty of strong male options exist.
Q5: What if I want a subtle love name?
Many love names don't sound obviously romantic: David, Mila, Philip ('lover of horses'), Esme, even Darcy (Pride and Prejudice). These names carry love in their meaning without wearing it on their sleeve. Only people who ask about meaning will know.
A Name Is a Love Letter
Every time I say 'Amara,' I'm writing a tiny love letter. I'm telling my daughter the truth: you are loved. You were loved before you arrived. You will be loved when you're grown and I'm gone. Your name holds love that doesn't expire.
That's what love-meaning names do. They turn daily life into constant affirmation. Breakfast becomes 'good morning, beloved.' Discipline becomes 'please listen, dear one.' Every roll call, every introduction, every signature carries the meaning: someone loved you enough to put it in your name.
Whether you choose something obvious like Amora or subtle like David, a love name is a gift that opens every single day. It says: this child came from love, carries love, and will always have love to return to—right there in their name.
Find your perfect love name on SoulSeed, where you can explore meanings across cultures and discover names that wrap your child in affection forever.
