25 Romantic Names for Baby Boys to Commemorate for Valentine’s Day

It’s the time of year when romance is in the air! Happy Valentine’s Day! You might be expecting a baby on or near the holiday and to celebrate that fact we decided to pull baby names for boys that offer the most romantic meanings and associations. These names make for excellent ways to impart love in an appellation. Most of these idealized names enjoy the super attractive quality of having Roman origins that honor heroes of literature and legend.

While most of these baby names are storied classics, some skew unique and unusual which we absolutely searched for in compiling names for this list. After all, you might want a subtle nod to the holiday and not to name your son something like Valentino who was born on Valentine’s Day. Whether you prefer things on the nose or want something with a bit more mystery, you will certainly find worthy options as this list offers a mix of established and obscure choices. Here are our favorite 25 baby names for boys that celebrate Valentine’s Day and all things romance!

25. Amadeus

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s middle name could make an interesting pick for music-loving parents. This Germanic name has Latin roots that mean “lover of God.” We love this pick for a Valentine’s Day baby as it has not been a most popular choice in the US making it a unique option.

24. Aziz

Aziz is a traditional Arabic name, found throughout several other Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures, is one of the 99 names of Allah. Thus, Aziz means “beloved” or “powerful.” Popular in many other countries Aziz has never cracked the US top 1000 most popular names for boys but we see that changing very soon!

23. Byron

Name of famous English poet, Lord Byron, the name has romantic connotations for Valentine’s Day even though its English origins mean “barn for cows.” Do not let that scare you away from this classic name. It has been on the downward trend for years and we would love to see a change in this name’s fortunes.

22. Caron

Pronounced CAH-ron, this name will inevitably be confused with Karen, which is unfortunate but not a deal breaker. This is the perfect Valentine’s Day baby name because it comes from the Welsh word caru which simply means “love.”

21. Desi

Not just a name for Lucy’s husband, Desi is the shortened form of Desiderio which means “desired one” in the Spanish tradition. This charmer was last popular in the US in the seventies and we want that to change! It’s a perfect, fun pick for your Valentine’s Day baby!

20. Dilan

Dylan has become a name du jour for boys in the last generation, thanks to poet Dylan Thomas and musician Bob Dylan. An alternative spelling of this name that we are found of is Dilan. It has Turkish origins that mean “love.” This spelling was a top 1000 name for boys last year.

19. Eros

Eros is an ideal romantic name for your little prince born on Valentine’s Day. The name perfectly describes a romance baby as Eros was the impish God of love and the son of Goddess Aphrodite. This Greek mythological name means “desire.”

18. Heathcliff

If you are a fan of classic literature, then you will know why this name is on the list! Heathcliff was the passionate lover in Emily Bronte’s romance novel Wuthering Heights. Heath would be the perfect nickname for this one. This Valentine’s Day name has English origins and means “from a cliff near a heath.” We dig it!

17. Humphrey

Fans of classic movies like Casablanca know the name Humphrey well as it was borne by Humphrey Bogart. Even though this name fell from fashion before the 20th century, we see a distinct possibility for it today as retro names are making a comeback. With German origins, this name means “peaceful warrior.”

16. Milos

Commonly heard in Greece as well as the Slavic cultures, Milos has been associated in this country with Czech film director Milos Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest). Milos is Slavic in origin and means “lover of glory.” If you are looking for an alternative to Miles or Milo, this would be the one to go with.

15. Obi

Not just for Star Wars‘ characters, Obi is an established Nigerian-Ibo name that means “heart.” Unfortunately, this name has never taken off in the US. We would love to see that change and even more so for boys born on or around Valentine’s Day.

14. Philip

Philip is a storied royal name (Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh) associated with Greece that means “lover of horses.” It has been one of the English-speaking world’s most beloved name for centuries. Philip Pirrip is the full name of Pip from Great Expectations. And, you can always go with just Pip if you don’t want to beat around the bush.

13. Rhys

Always widespread in Wales, where it has deep historic roots, Rhys is also a high-ranking name in England, Ireland and Scotland. Today, it’s more popular than ever before in the US. This Welsh treasure means “ardor.”

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12. Romeo

We couldn’t resist this perfect Valentine’s Day name! It wasn’t so long ago that Romeo was considered an over-the-top name for an American baby as Casanova or Cupid. But that really evolved when David and Victoria Beckham chose it for their second son in 2002, a path followed by Jon Bon Jovi. This Italian and Latin name means “pilgrim to Rome.” It’s the most popular it’s ever been in the US today.

11. Rudo

In the Shona language of southern Africa, Rudo is a beloved name that actually means “love.” This name has yet to emerge as a possibility for new parents in the US as they can’t seem to get past the “rude” sound to it. We can look past it and think that this one is a terrific pick for your son.

10. Sajan

The Hindi name Sajan will not look familiar to most unless they have Indian heritage. This awesome name means “beloved.” We are very much into this name and find it very approachable and an excellent option for the right parents.

9. Lancelot

In Arthurian legend, Lancelot was one of the most dashing of the Knights of the Round Table who eventually had an affair with Queen Guinevere. If Lancelot is a step too far, consider shortened forms like Lance or Lancel. This name has French origins that mean “servant.” Take this name from legend and inject it into modern life this Valentine’s Day.

8. Lorenzo

The upstanding young man who married Shylock’s daughter Jessica in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice was given a spectacular name. Lorenzo is Italian in origin and is a form of Laurence which means “from  Laurentium.” Lorenzo is enjoying its most favor ever in the US and new parents are flocking to its romantic sound.

7. Rafael

Rafael is perhaps the ultimate romantic Latino name, not a bad thing to give your son. The Raphael spelling is the original Hebrew version. The origins of this name mean “god has healed.”

6. Roman

Roman is name that has become a surprise hit in recent years. This quintessential Latin name means “from Rome.” If you are attracted to Romeo, this name would dial back the whimsy for you. We are glad this name has gained momentum and would love for that to continue as it is an excellent name that would be a perfectly romantic pick for a Valentine’s baby.

5. Valentino

Again, we just had to! After spending nearly a century off of the US top 1000 list, Valentino made a surprise return in 2006 and has been climbing since. This Italian surname that is freely given as a first today comes from Latin origins that mean “strength.” For a baby boy born on Valentine’s Day, you could do no better!

4. Caspian

One of the most romantic of appellations, as well as being a geographical name of the large salty sea between Asia and Europe that probably inspired C.S. Lewis to use it for the name of the hero of his children’s novel, Prince Caspian. This name entered the US top 1000 in 2017 and has been chugging happily along ever since.

3. Apollo

Apollo is an attractive name that can be found in both Greek and Roman traditions that means “to destroy.” This fast-growing name in the US has steadily climbed the charts since 2012. This sun god name would impart warm and strong vibes for your baby boy.

2. Orlando

Not just a town in Florida, Orlanda is the ornate Italianate twist on the dated Roland, with a literary heritage stretching back to Shakespeare as heard in As You Like It. The roots of this name give the meaning “famous throughout the land.”This name has trended downward in recent years but it still firmly in the top US 1000.

RELATED: 25 Romantic Names for Baby Girls to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Lots of Love

1. Tristan

Tristan is a dragon-slaying hero of Celtic legend, whose story was incorporated into Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, in which Tristan is one of the Knights of the Round Table, consumed by his doomed love affair with Queen Isolde. Unheard in the US as a baby name before the seventies, Tristan has established itself as a top choice for new parents. Romantic and with Celtic flare, this name means “sorrowful.”

There you go! We hope you enjoyed these romantic baby names for boys that would be the perfect pick for a baby born on or around Valentine’s Day. This list intends to inspire expecting parents to be adventurous with their pick for a baby name. Taking a risk can yield big rewards! But, that does not mean that a tried and true classic is not welcome! Trust your gut and we know you will make a lovely choice.