Baby Names That Mean Love: Beloved, Dear, Heart

A name that means love is a sweet way to carry that feeling for life. Below is a curated list of baby names that mean love, beloved, or dear, sorted for girls, boys, and unisex. Each name comes with a short, honest origin so you know what it really carries.

Some are goddess names. Some come from Sanskrit, Arabic, or Welsh. A few simply sound like affection. If you also like the unexpected, our guide to unique baby names pairs well with this list.

Girl names that mean love

• Amara — Igbo for grace; its sound also echoes Latin amare, to love.
• Amy (Aimée) — French for beloved, from the word aimée.
• Mila — Slavic root mil, meaning dear and gracious.
• Esme — Old French for esteemed and loved.
• Carys — Welsh for love, from the verb caru.
• Freya — the Norse goddess of love and beauty.
• Venus — the Roman goddess of love.
• Mabel — from Latin amabilis, lovable.
• Prema — Sanskrit for love and deep affection.
• Priya — Sanskrit for beloved and dear.
• Cara — Italian for beloved and dear.
• Habiba — Arabic for beloved.
• Ai — Japanese for love.
• Ahava — Hebrew for love.
• Nayeli — a Zapotec name read as I love you.
• Amoret — a literary name meaning little love, from Latin amor.

Boy names that mean love

• David — Hebrew for beloved, a classic with staying power.
• Amias — from Latin amatus, loved.
• Lev — Hebrew for heart.
• Kama — Sanskrit for love and desire.
• Habib — Arabic for beloved.
• Amado — Spanish for beloved.
• Erasmus — Greek for beloved, from eran, to love.
• Milan — Slavic root mil, dear and gracious.
• Philo — Greek for loving, from philos.
• Aziz — Arabic for beloved and cherished.
• Lubomir — Slavic for love and peace.
• Valentino — Latin for strong, long tied to love through Saint Valentine.
• Dai — a Welsh pet form of David, beloved.
• Caradoc — Welsh for beloved, from car, love.
• Priyan — a Tamil name for loving and beloved.

Unisex names that mean love

• Amor — Latin for love, plain and warm.
• Love — the English word, used as a name for any child.
• Ai — Japanese for love, soft and short.
• Lennon — Irish for lover, from leannán, sweetheart.
• Cariad — Welsh for love and darling.
• Amabel — from Latin, lovable.
• Prem — Sanskrit for love.
• Amado / Amada — Spanish for beloved, for a boy or a girl.
• Mila — Slavic for dear, gentle on any child.

Names inspired by love from myth and symbols

• Freya — Norse goddess of love, tied to beauty and spring.
• Venus — Roman goddess of love and the evening star.
• Aphrodite — the Greek goddess of love, bold and rare.
• Cupid — the Roman god of desire, a playful pick.
• Rhiannon — a figure from Welsh legend with a romantic, enchanting air.
• Isolde — the devoted lover of Tristan in old romance.
• Valentina — feminine of Valentine, warm with the spirit of the day.

How to choose a name that means love

Love the sound first. Say the name a few times, then say it with your surname to catch any clash or odd rhythm. A soft first name often pairs well with a firm last name.

Then weigh the meaning. A romantic origin is lovely, but the name still has to fit a grown adult, not only a baby in a blanket. Check the spelling too, since some of these have two or three common forms. For a fuller method, see our AI visual approach to choosing a name.

If you want to picture the child behind the name, the tool below can help. Try one girl pick, one boy pick, and one unisex pick, and see which feels like home.

FAQ

What girl name means love?

Carys is a clear choice; it is Welsh and means love. Amy means beloved, Prema is Sanskrit for love, and Freya is the Norse goddess of love. Each works well on its own or beside a longer middle name.

What boy name means love?

David is the classic, meaning beloved in Hebrew. Amado is Spanish for beloved, Kama is Sanskrit for love, and Habib is Arabic for beloved. All four travel well across languages and cultures.

Is there a unisex name that means love?

Yes. Amor is Latin for love and reads well for any child. Ai means love in Japanese, Cariad is Welsh for darling, and Lennon carries the sense of lover. Short, warm, and easy to spell.

What name means beloved?

Several do. Amy, David, Cara, Habib, Amado, and Aziz all mean beloved or dearly loved across French, Hebrew, Italian, Arabic, and Spanish. Pick the one whose sound you love most.

A name that means love gives your child a quiet gift they carry everywhere. Take your time, trust your ear, and choose the one that already feels like theirs.

Want to see the name on a face before you decide? Generate a playful baby portrait with our AI tool and try your favorites today.