They say there’s no love like the love a mother has for her child – and it’s true! In fact, it’s one of the most profound and unconditional forms of love, and it plays a vital role in the child’s upbringing and personality.
And we know you’re going to make a wonderful mother when your little one arrives!
But before that day comes, you have a mission to accomplish – and that mission revolves around finding the perfect name for your little lovebug. It’s not easy, but sometimes the best name is right in front of you.
RELATED: 80 Names That Mean Love for a Valentine’s Day Baby
Today, we’re going to highlight some of the most endearing baby names that mean love or translate to something related to love – like affection, devotion, lust, romance, Valentine’s Day, marriage, and more.
After all, they do serve as the perfect, lifelong reminder of the love that brought your child into this world.
Not only that, but names that mean love help symbolize the deep affection and unconditional bond parents have with their child – a love that will never stop growing, no matter what tries to stand in its way.
Baby Boy Names That Mean Love for Your Little Romeo
Choosing names that mean love for your baby boy can help break traditional gender stereotypes and encourage boys to embrace and express their emotions openly in a world that will love and accept them.
It’ll inspire them to grow into a loving, caring, and thoughtful individual.
Which, if we’re being honest, the world could use a little more of.
And since names that mean love are more common with the girl population, giving one to your baby boy can help give them a unique sense of identity – especially if you choose a name with very low usage.
With that being said, let’s take a look at some of our favorite baby boy names that mean love!
10. Amadeus
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Amadeus” means “lover of God” or “love of God,” derived from the Latin words “amare” (to love) and “Deus” (God).
Famous People: One of the most famous famous people with the name Amadeus was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – who also happens to be one of the most famous classifcal composers of all time.
9. Rasmus
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Rasmus” is derived from the name “Erasmus,” which means “beloved” or “desired.”
Famous People: Rasmus Lerdorf (Danish-Canadian programmer), Rasmus Seebach (Danish singer-songwriter and record producer), Rasmus Ristolainen (Finnish ice hockey player), Rasmus Dahlin (Swedish ice hockey player), Rasmus Nohr (Danish musician and songwriter)
8. David
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: David” means “beloved” or “friend” in Hebrew.
Famous People: King David (second king of Israel and a central figure in the Bible), David Beckham (English former professional footballer), David Bowie (British musician and singer-songwriter), David Attenborough (British broadcaster and natural historian), David Letterman (American television host)
7. Lubomir
Origin: Slavic
Meaning: “Lubomir” is derived from the Slavic elements “lub” meaning “love” and “mir” meaning “peace” or “world.”
Famous People: Ľubomír Šatka (Slovak professional footballer), Ľubomír Višňovský (retired Slovak professional ice hockey player), Lubomír Doležel (Czech literary theorist and scholar), Ľubomír Jahnátek (Slovak politician), Lubomír Lipský (Czech actor and comedian)
6. Caleb
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Caleb” means “whole-hearted,” “faithful,” or “devotion to God.” The name is derived from the Hebrew word “Kelev,” which can also mean “dog,” symbolizing faithfulness and loyalty.
Famous People: Caleb Followill (American musician and lead vocalist of Kings of Leon), Caleb Landry Jones (American actor and musician), Caleb McLaughlin (American actor), Caleb Carr (American military historian and author), Caleb Williams (American football quarterback)
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5. Jedidiah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Jedidiah” means “beloved of the Lord” or “friend of God.” It is derived from the Hebrew name “Yedidyah,” composed of “yadid” (beloved, friend) and “Yah” (a short form of Yahweh, the Hebrew God).
Famous People: Jedidiah Morse (American geographer and clergyman), Jedidiah Bila (American television host and author), Jedidiah Goodacre (Canadian actor), Jedidiah Thurner (American pastor and motivational speaker), Jedidiah Purdy (American law professor and author)
4. Kedrick
Origin: Old English
Meaning: “Kedrick” means “kindly” or “loved.” It is a variant of the name Cedrick and Cedric, which was popularized by Sir Walter Scott in his 19th century book Ivanhoe.
Famous People: Kedrick Brown (American former professional basketball player), Kedrick Brown (American television actor), Kedrick Reescano (American college running back)
3. Dewey
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “Dewey” is derived from the Welsh name “Dewi,” which means “beloved” or “esteemed.” It is also associated with the name “David,” the patron saint of Wales.
Famous People: Melvil Dewey (American librarian and educator who invented the Dewey Decimal Classification), Dewey Bunnell (American musician), Dewey Redman (American jazz saxophonist), Dewey Martin (American actor), Dewey Bozella (American former boxer)
2. Jadore
Origin: French
Meaning: “Jadore” translates to “I adore” or “I love” in French (J’adore).
Famous People: Jadore is an extremely rare name with no real references in history and pop culture. But who knows – maybe your child can help put the name Jadore on the map!
1. Carwyn
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “Carwyn” is derived from the Welsh elements “car” meaning “love” and “gwyn” meaning “blessed” or “fair.” Therefore, Carwyn means “blessed love” or “fair love.”
Famous People: Carwyn Jones (First Minister of Wales from 2009 to 2018), Carwyn Ellis (Welsh musician and producer), Carwyn James (legendary Welsh rugby union coach and player), Carwyn Davies (Welsh professional rugby player), Carwyn Ap Myrddin (contemporary Welsh poet and writer)
Baby Girl Names That Mean Love for Your Little Juliet
Giving your daughter a name that signifies love can empower her to value and express the love she has for those close to her, as well as the love others have for her – from friends to family members and more.
It’s the type of name they can wear proudly for the rest of their life.
And since the concept of love is as timeless and universal as anything – including the very essence of life – baby names that mean love are often relevant and cherished across different cultures and generations.
With that said, let’s take a look at some of our favorite baby names that mean love for your little girl.
10. Adelpha
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Adelpha” means “beloved sister” or “dear sister,” derived from the Greek word “adelphos,” which means “brother” or “sibling.”
Famous People: Adelpha (as a name) is quite rare, and there are no widely known historical or contemporary figures with this exact name – but your family can change that!
9. Amy
Origin: French, Latin
Meaning: “Amy” means “beloved” or “dearly loved.” It comes from the Old French name “Amee,” which is derived from the Latin word “amatus,” meaning “beloved.”
Famous People: Amy Whinehouse (British singer and songwriter), Amy Adams (American actress), Amy Poehler (American actress, comedian, writer, and producer), Amy Schumer (American stand-up comedian and actress), Amy Grant (American singer, songwriter, and musician)
8. Cherish
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Cherish” means “to hold dear,” “to treasure,” or “to care for deeply.” It comes from the Middle English word “cherischen,” which means “to hold dear” and is derived from the Old French word “cherir.”
Famous People: Cherish Lee (musician, actress, and daughter of Johnny Lee and Charlene Tilton), Cherish Waters (American fashion model), Cherish Finden (well-known Singaporian pastry chef)
7. Adora
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Adora” means “beloved” or “adored.” It is derived from the Latin word “adorare,” which means “to worship” or “to adore.”
Famous People: Adora Svitak (American writer, public speaker and advocate), Adora Obi Nweze (American civil rights activist), Adora Ukoh (Nigerian actress)
6. Diletta
Origin: Italian
Meaning: “Diletta” means “beloved” or “delighted.” It is derived from the Italian word “diletto,” which means “delight” or “pleasure.”
Famous People: Diletta Leotta (Italian television presenter and sports journalist known for her work on Sky Sport and DAZN), Diletta Bonaiuti (Italian fashion influencer)
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5. Amanda
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Amanda” means “worthy of love” or “deserving to be loved.” It is derived from the Latin word “amanda,” which is the feminine form of “amandus,” meaning “lovable” or “worthy of love.”
Famous People: Amanda Seyfried (American actress and singer), Amanda Bynes (American actress and former child star), Amanda Peet (American actress), Amanda Palmer (American singer, songwriter, and performance artist), Amanda Knox (American author and activist)
4. Delara
Origin: Persian
Meaning: “Delara” means “adorning the heart” or “she who delights the heart.”
Famous People: The name Delara is a rare name with only a few historic references, including Delara Darabi – an Iranian artist who became a symbol of the international campaign against the death penalty after she was executed in Iran.
3. Priya
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Priya” means “beloved,” “dear,” or “loved one” in Sanskrit. It is a popular name in India and among people of Indian descent.
Famous People: Priya Anand (Indian actress), Priya Prakash Varrier (Indian actress and model), Priya Dutt (Indian politician and social worker), Priya Krishna (American food writer and author), Priya Himesh (Indian playback singer)
2. Carys
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “Carys” means “love” or “beloved.” It is derived from the Welsh word “caru,” which means “to love.”
Famous People: Carys Zeta Douglas (daughter of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas), Carys Bannister (pioneering British neurosurgeon), Carys Eleri (Welsh actress, singer, and writer)
1. Esme
Origin: French, Persian
Meaning: In French, “Esme” (often spelled “Esmé”) means “esteemed” or “loved.” It is derived from the Old French verb “esmer,” which means “to esteem” or “to love.”
Famous People: Esme Cullen (fictional character from the “Twilight” series by Stephenie Meyer), Esme Bianco (English actress and model), Esme Creed-Miles (English actress), Esme Young (British fashion designer and television presenter)
God-Inspired Baby Names That Mean Love
We’ve already added some baby boy names that mean love to this list, but let’s get a little more specific and highlight some mythological boy names inspired by Gods who represent love, lust, and affection.
Names like Eros (the Greek god of love) and Cupid (the Roman god of love).
Deities associated with love and affection embody qualities like compassion, kindness, and empathy. By naming your baby boy after such a deity, you might inspire him to develop those same positive attributes.
With that said, let’s take a look at our favorite god-inspired baby names that mean love for your baby boy.
10. Eros
Origin: Greek
Meaning: The name “Eros” means “love” or “desire.” It is derived from the Greek word “ἔρως” (érōs), which refers to passionate love or romantic desire.
Mythology: Eros is the Greek god of love and desire. According to mythology, he is one of the primordial gods, born from Chaos, or, in other myths, he is the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and Ares, the god of war. He is often depicted as a young, winged boy with a bow and arrow.
9. Cupid
Origin: Roman
Meaning: The name Cupid is derived from the Latin word “cupido,” which means “desire” or “passion.”
Mythology: Cupid is the Roman god of love, often depicted as a cherubic boy with wings, carrying a bow and arrows. His arrows are said to inspire love and desire in those they strike. He is the Roman counterpart to Eros in Greek mythology.
8. Kamadeva
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Kamadeva is a combination of two Sanskrit words: “Kama,” which means “desire” or “longing,” and “Deva,” which means “god.”
Mythology: Kamadeva is the Hindu god of love, desire, and attraction. He is often depicted as a handsome young man wielding a bow made of sugarcane with a string of honeybees and arrows adorned with flowers, symbolizing different emotions and affections.
7. Erotes
Origin: Greek
Meaning: The name Erotes is derived from the Greek word “ἔρως” (érōs), which means “love” or “desire.”
Mythology: The Erotes are a group of winged gods in Greek mythology – they’re associated with love and eroticism, and are often depicted as youthful and playful figures. The most prominent among them include Eros, Anteros, Himeros, and Pothos.
6. Freyr
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Freyr means “lord” in Old Norse. The name signifies a noble or high-ranking individual, fitting for a deity.
Mythology: Freyr is a prominent god in Norse mythology, associated with fertility, prosperity, and fair weather. He is one of the Vanir, a group of gods associated with fertility and nature, and is later associated with the Aesir, another group of gods.
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5. Yue Lao
Origin: Chinese
Meaning: “Yue Lao” translates to “Old Man of the Moon” in Chinese.
Mythology: Yue Lao is a deity in Chinese mythology who governs love and marriage. He is believed to be responsible for predestined relationships and the binding of couples together. He’s often depicted as an old man under the moonlight, holding red strings.
4. Anteros
Origin: Greek
Meaning: The name Anteros is derived from the Greek words “anti,” meaning “opposite” or “against,” and “eros,” meaning “love.”
Mythology: Anteros is the god of requited love, avenger of unrequited love, and sometimes associated with the mutuality of love. He is often considered a counterpart to his brother Eros, who represents unrequited or passionate love.
3. Pothos
Origin: Greek
Meaning: The name Pothos comes from the Greek word “πόθος,” which means “longing” or “yearning.”
Mythology: Pothos is one of the Erotes, a group of winged gods associated with love and desire. He personifies yearning and longing, particularly for someone or something that is out of reach. He’s often depicted as a youthful and attractive figure, sometimes shown with wings, holding or surrounded by flowers.
2. Himeros
Origin: Greek
Meaning: The name Himeros is derived from the Greek word “ἵμερος,” which translates to “desire” or “uncontrollable longing.”
Mythology: Himeros is one of the Erotes who specifically personifies unrequited or overwhelming desire. He symbolizes the swift and sometimes fleeting nature of desire, and is sometimes shown holding a bow and arrows, similar to Eros, emphasizing his role in inciting passion.
1. Adonis
Origin: Greek
Meaning: The name Adonis derives from the Semitic word “Adon,” which means “lord.”
Mythology: Adonis is a central figure in Greek mythology, known for his extraordinary beauty. He is the mortal lover of the goddess Aphrodite (or Venus in Roman mythology). He’s often depicted as a handsome young man, symbolizing youthful beauty and the transient nature of life.
Goddess-Inspired Baby Names That Mean Love
Throughout various mythologies and cultures from around the world, goddesses associated with love, affection, beauty, and compassion have been revered for their powerful, loving, and nurturing qualities.
The same qualities you hope to see in your daughter some day.
By naming your daughter after one of these divine figures, you not only honor the timeless virtues of our storied past, but also bestow upon her a name imbued with the essence of warmth, kindness, and grace.
With that said, let’s take a look at our favorite goddess-inspired names that mean love for your baby girl.
10. Milda
Origin: Lithuanian
Meaning: The name “Milda” is derived from the Lithuanian word “mildus,” which means “gentle” or “kind.”
Mythology: Milda is a goddess in Lithuanian mythology associated with love, courtship, and friendship. She is one of the deities of the Baltic pantheon who oversees romantic relationships and emotional bonds between people.
9. Venus
Origin: Latin
Meaning: The name Venus is derived from the Latin word “venus,” which means “love” or “desire.”
Mythology: Venus is the Roman goddess of love, beauty, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity, and victory. She is one of the most important deities in the Roman pantheon and has numerous myths and stories associated with her.
8. Aphrodite
Origin: Greek
Meaning: The exact etymology of Aphrodite is unclear, but it is often associated with “foam-born” (aphros meaning “foam”) due to the myth of her birth from the sea foam.
Mythology: Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, passion, and procreation. She is one of the twelve Olympian gods and is considered one of the most influential deities in Greek mythology.
7. Freya
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: The name Freya is derived from the Old Norse word “freyja,” which translates to “lady” or “mistress.”
Mythology: Freya is one of the principal goddesses in Norse mythology, associated with love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, and death. She is a member of the Vanir, a group of gods associated with nature and fertility, and is also linked to the Aesir, another group of gods.
6. Inanna
Origin: Sumerian
Meaning: The name Inanna is often interpreted as “Lady of Heaven” or “Queen of Heaven,” reflecting her high status among the gods and her association with the heavens.
Mythology: Inanna is one of the most prominent deities in Sumerian mythology and later Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian mythologies. She is associated with love, beauty, sex, fertility, war, justice, and political power.
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5. Hathor
Origin: Ancient Egyptian
Meaning: The name Hathor translates to “House of Horus,” signifying her role as the mother or consort of the sky god Horus and highlighting her importance in the pantheon of Egyptian deities.
Mythology: Hathor is one of the most prominent and complex deities in ancient Egyptian religion. She is associated with love, beauty, music, dance, fertility, motherhood, and joy. She is also linked to the afterlife, guiding souls to the afterlife.
4. Oshun
Origin: Yoruba
Meaning: The name is derived from the Ọṣun River in Nigeria, which is sacred to the goddess.
Mythology: Oshun is one of the Orishas, which are spirits or deities in the Yoruba religion. She is associated with fresh water, love, fertility, beauty, and prosperity. Oshun is also a goddess of divination, healing, and transformation.
3. Parvati
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: The name Parvati is derived from the Sanskrit word “parvata,” meaning “mountain.” Therefore, Parvati translates to “daughter of the mountain.”
Mythology: Parvati is a principal goddess in Hinduism, particularly within the Shakta and Shaiva traditions. She is the consort of Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism, and the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya.
2. Cliodhna
Origin: Irish Gaelic
Meaning: The meaning of the name Clíodhna is not definitively clear, but it is often associated with beauty and royalty in Irish lore.
Mythology: Clíodhna is a prominent figure in Irish mythology, known as the queen of the Banshees (fairy women) of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of supernatural beings. She is also renowned for her beauty and is often depicted as a goddess of love and beauty.
1. Rati
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: The name Rati comes from the Sanskrit word “rati,” which means “pleasure,” “delight,” or “love.”
Mythology: Rati is a prominent figure in Hindu mythology, known as the goddess of love, carnal desire, lust, passion, and pleasure. She is the consort of Kamadeva, the god of love.
Are You Inspired By Any of These Names That Mean Love?
Trying to come up with the perfect baby name for your little bundle of joy isn’t easy, but it’s a meaningful act of love that echoes through generations – weaving the hopes and dreams you hold for their future.
Each name carries a story, a history, and a promise that resonates with your family’s heritage.
And since families are built off an unconditional love you can’t find elsewhere, there’s no better way to honor that love you have for one another than by adding a few names that mean love to your shortlist.
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But don’t worry – names that mean love are just one category of names you can consider for your child. If you don’t like any of the baby names listed above, check out our blog for thousands of more name ideas!
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Baby Name Generator
No baby name sounding good? Want a quick way to generate unique baby name ideas? Try our baby name generator below!
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