Baby Names That Mean Love (and Beloved)

Choosing a baby name that means love is a deeply personal and emotional decision. For many parents, love is not limited to romance — it represents family bonds, compassion, devotion, emotional closeness, and a sense of being cherished. A name connected to love can become a lifelong reminder of these values and the intentions placed on a child from the very beginning.

Across cultures and languages, names meaning love, beloved, heart, or affection carry rich histories and symbolic depth. Some emphasize emotional warmth and kindness, others reflect spiritual devotion or loyalty, while some express poetic or romantic ideals. In this guide, you’ll find baby girl, boy, and gender-neutral names that mean love, along with cultural context to help you choose a name that truly resonates.

What Does "Love" Mean in Baby Names?

In naming traditions around the world, love appears in many forms. Some names reflect romantic or passionate love, often rooted in mythology or poetry. Others emphasize parental love, loyalty, and protection, symbolizing the bond between child and family. In religious or spiritual contexts, love may represent divine care, compassion, or devotion.

Cultural interpretation plays a major role. In some Asian traditions, love is closely linked to harmony, duty, and balance within the family. In Middle Eastern cultures, names connected to love often highlight loyalty, respect, and closeness of the heart. European traditions frequently express love through poetic or symbolic associations rather than direct translations.

Because of this diversity, baby names that mean love allow parents to choose meanings that align not only with sound and style, but also with personal values, heritage, and long-term significance.

Baby Girl Names That Mean Love

For many parents, choosing a baby girl’s name connected to love feels especially symbolic. These names often reflect warmth, emotional intelligence, compassion, and deep relational bonds — qualities associated with kindness, empathy, and connection.

Across cultures, girl names meaning love may focus on being cherished, emotionally close, or spiritually protected. Some names carry soft and poetic meanings, while others express strength through devotion and loyalty. This range allows families to find a name that feels both beautiful and meaningful as their daughter grows.

• Ahava — Love
• Aiko — Love child
• Amanda — Worthy of love
• Amara — Beloved, grace
• Amy — Beloved
• Carys — Love
• Esme — Beloved, esteemed
• Freya — Goddess of love and beauty
• Lalasa — Affection, love
• Mila — Gracious, dear
• Priya — Beloved
• Suki — Loved one

Baby Boy Names That Mean Love

Baby boy names associated with love often balance strength with emotional depth. In many traditions, love-related meanings for boys emphasize loyalty, inner warmth, courage, and devotion, showing that emotional openness and resilience can coexist.

Some of these names describe being beloved or close to the heart, while others draw from mythological or spiritual interpretations of love. Choosing such a name can symbolize the hope that a child grows into someone who values connection, respect, and meaningful relationships.

• Aziz — Beloved, dear
• Connelly — Love, friendship
• Darrell — Darling, beloved
• David — Beloved
• Eros — Love, desire
• Jedidiah — Beloved of the Lord
• Lennon — Lover
• Lev — Heart
• Lubomir — Love of peace
• Philip — Lover of horses (from philia, affectionate love)
• Rhys — Ardor, passionate nature
• Thaddeus — Heart

Gender-Neutral Baby Names That Symbolize Love

Gender-neutral baby names connected to love have grown in popularity as more families seek names that emphasize values over labels. These names often highlight compassion, unity, devotion, and emotional openness, making them especially meaningful in a global and inclusive world.

Because love itself is universal, many unisex names expressing affection or heartfelt connection translate naturally across cultures and languages. They offer flexibility while remaining deeply symbolic.

• Ahuvi — My love
• Amor — Love
• Chikondi — Love
• Daya — Compassion, merciful love
• Delshad — Happy heart
• Dewi — Beloved
• Fumnanya — Love me
• Gurpreet — Divine love
• Harpreet — One who loves God
• Kealoha — The love
• Lennox — Affectionate strength
• Milan — Gracious, loving

Romantic and Poetic Names Associated with Love

Some names symbolize love indirectly, through mythology, literature, or nature. While they may not translate literally as "love", their cultural associations strongly evoke it.

• Aphrodite — Greek goddess of love and beauty
• Dove — Peaceful and faithful love
• Echo — Mythological symbol of longing and devotion
• Juliet — Symbol of eternal romantic devotion
• Rose — Symbol of romantic and enduring love
• Tristan — Legendary figure tied to tragic love
• Venus — Roman goddess of love and harmony

Names That Mean Love in Different Languages

Looking at names through linguistic and cultural lenses reveals how love is expressed around the world, often with subtle differences in emphasis and symbolism.

European names

• Aimee — Beloved
• Amata — Beloved
• Carys — Love

Asian names

• Ai — Love
• Lian — Love, purity
• Prem — Love

Middle Eastern names

• Ahava — Love
• Habib — Beloved

Conclusion

Baby names rooted in love carry timeless warmth and emotional depth. Whether chosen for their literal meaning, cultural heritage, or poetic symbolism, these names reflect hopes for connection, compassion, and lasting bonds. Exploring names associated with love can help parents find a choice that not only sounds beautiful, but also tells a meaningful story that grows with their child.