22 Baby Names That Mean "Love"

When it comes to choosing a name for your little one, love has a lot to do with it. That's why some parents opt for baby names that mean "love" or something similar (think "beloved" or "adore" or "whole heart").

No matter your region or culture, love is a universal language, which means there are options for everyone. Below, we rounded up 22 of the most adorable baby names that translate to "love." You'll find monikers for boys and girls, as well as gender-neutral names, to help you make this important decision.

Although this article separates names by gender, your baby’s assigned sex at birth does not need to dictate the name you choose for them. Names are not inherently gendered or associated with a specific sex, and it's important to select a name that feels right for your little one and your family.

Boy Names That Mean Love

Names like Romeo and Eros aren’t the only ones getting love on this list. Did you know that David, which means beloved, has spent a century at the top of the popularity charts?

Amias

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Loved
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Amyas, Amadeus
Peak Popularity: Amias has ranked in the top 1,000 since 2019 and currently places as the 805th most popular name.
Fun Fact: The version Amyas was trendy in 1855 because of the book Westward Ho!, featuring Captain Sir Amyas Leigh.

Aziz

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Powerful and beloved
Famous Namesakes: Aziz Ansari (actor and comedian)
Peak Popularity: Most popular in Middle Eastern and African cultures, Aziz came in at #1,966 in 2019.
Fun Fact: Aziz is one of the 99 names of Allah.

Caleb

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Whole heart
Famous Namesakes: Caleb Garth (character in Middlemarch by George Eliot), Caleb “Cal” Trask (character in East of Eden by John Steinbeck)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kaleb, Cale
Peak Popularity: Caleb has ranked in the top 100 US names for three decades now; it peaked at #31 in 2009.

Darrell

Origin: French
Meaning: Dear, beloved
Famous Namesakes: Daryl Hall (musician), Darrell Hammond (comedian)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Daryl, Darryl
Peak Popularity: Popular in the 50s and 60s, this name cracked the top 100 charts for almost a decade. In 2017 it ranked #896 in the US.

David

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Beloved
Famous Namesakes: David Bowie (musician), David Beckham (soccer player), David Attenborough (broadcaster)
Peak Popularity: David is an incredibly popular and classic name for your little guy. Since 1900, David has ranked in the top 32 names, breaking into the top 10 from 1938 until 1993.
Fun Fact: The Biblical story of David and Goliath inspired works by Michelangelo and Donatello.

Dilan

Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Love
Famous Namesakes: Bob Dylan (singer), Dylan Sprouse (actor), Dylan Dreyer (meteorologist)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dylan, Dillon, Dillan
Peak Popularity: Starting in 1991, the "Dylan" variation of this name broke into the top 50. It's stayed there ever since, most recently coming in at #41.

Eros

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Love, desire
Famous Namesakes: Eros (Greek god of love and nephew of the comic strip character Wonder Woman)
Alternative Spellings & Variations:
Peak Popularity: Eros has never been one of the top names in the US, according to data from the social security administration.
Fun Fact: Cupid is the Roman version of Eros, the Greek god of love.

Girl Names That Mean Love

From classics like Amy and Annabelle, to modern names like Dua and Priya, there are a variety of girl names that mean "love."

Amy

Origin: French
Meaning: Beloved
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Amée, Aimée, Amie, Ami
Famous Namesakes: Amy Adams (actress), Amy Winehouse (singer), Amy Poehler (actress and comedian)
Peak Popularity: Amy was in the top ten most popular names for the entirety of the 1970s. It sits at #205 in the US as of 2022.
Fun Fact: Amy was popular in the late 19th century, in part thanks to novels like Little Women.

Annabelle

Origin: French
Meaning: Loving
Famous Namesakes: Annabelle Apsion (actress)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Anabel, Annabel
Peak Popularity: Annabelle was popular in the early twentieth century, and then it made a comeback starting in 1995. It currently ranks at #323 in the US.
Fun Fact: Annabelle was made famous by Edgar Allen Poe’s poem Annabel Lee.

Carina

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Dear little one
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Karina
Peak Popularity: Carina has made the top 1,000 names since 1976, but was at its most popular between 1990 and 2000.

Dua

Origin: Albanian, Arabic
Meaning: Love, prayer
Famous Namesakes: Dua Lipa (singer)
Peak Popularity: While Dua is a unique baby girl name, it's starting to gain traction on the charts.

Esme

Origin: French
Meaning: Beloved
Famous Namesakes: Esme Cullen (fictional character from the Twilight series)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Esmee, Esmay, Esmae
Peak Popularity: Esme ranks near the top 300 names in the US, but it's even more popular in the United Kingdom, where it sits within the top 50 baby girl names.
Fun Fact: Esme is one of the fastest-rising girl's names starting with E.

Love

Origin: English
Meaning: Love
Famous Namesakes: Jennifer Love Hewitt (actress) Love Quinn (character from the Netflix series You)
Peak Popularity: This name launched into popularity in 2022, coming in at #754.

Milena

Origin: Czech
Meaning: Love, warmth, grace
Famous Namesakes: Milena ‘Mila’ Kunis (actress), Milena Govitch (actress)
Peak Popularity: Milena ranks #772 in the US but sits in the top 100 names in Germany, Switzerland, and Poland.
Fun Fact: Milena is a popular name in Slavic countries and Italy.

Priya

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Beloved
Famous Namesakes: Priya Mangal (from the Disney movie Turning Red)
Peak Popularity: A unique name in the United States, Priya isn't in the top 1,000, according to social security data.
Fun Fact: In India, Priya is traditionally given to girls born in August.

Suki

Origin: Japanese or English
Meaning: Loved one
Famous Namesakes: Sookie St. James (a fictional character in the TV series Gilmore Girls)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sooki, Sookie
Peak Popularity: According to social security data, Suki has never been in the top 1,000 baby names.

Yaretzi

Origin: Nahuatl, Aztec
Meaning: You will always be loved
Peak Popularity: Since 2006, Yaretzi has ranked in the top 1,000; it currently sits at #489. The name is more popular in Mexico and with Latinx communities in the US.

Gender Neutral Names That Mean Love

Of course, you can choose whatever name you want for your little one. But these gender-neutral options might work for any child, no matter how they choose to identify in the future.

Aiko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Beloved child
Peak Popularity: This name is more common in Japan, and it hasn't cracked the top 1,000 in the US. But data shows it's becoming more popular!

Dewey

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Beloved
Famous Namesakes: Dewey Wilkerson (character in the TV show Malcolm in the Middle), Dewey Duck (nephew of Donald Duck)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dewi
Peak Popularity: Dewey trended in 1898 thanks to Admiral George Dewey, a war hero from the Spanish-American War— at that point, it was in the top 20!
Fun Fact: Dewey was initially based off of St. Dewi, the patron saint of Wales.

Lennon

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Lover
Famous Namesakes: John Lennon (musician), Lennon Stella (actress)
Peak Popularity: In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Lennon took a leap growing in popularity, first entering the top 1,000 in 2008 for boys and in 2013 for girls.

Milan

Origin: Slavic
Meaning: Gracious, dear
Peak Popularity: Milan first entered the US top 1,000 in 2009 (for girls). For boys, it reentered the list in 2013 after seeing popularity earlier in the 1900s. It's a popular boy's name in Hungary, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Fun Fact: Even though Milan has Slavic origins, it’s also the name of an Italian city.