Dog Names That Mean Love
- Erastus
Origin:
Latinized form of Greek ErastosMeaning:
"beloved"Description:
The Biblical Erastus was an assistant of Paul's in the New Testament. A name used in the 19th century that has fall off the scope, but may be revived as parents dig deeper for undiscovered Biblical choices.
- Masha
Origin:
Russian variation of Maria, Hebrew or EgyptianMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"Description:
Looking to honor Grandma Mary (or Maria) with something original? This Russian short form bears an unfortunate resemblance to the English word "mash", but if you can look past that, Masha has possibilities.
- Loveday
Origin:
Cornish, EnglishMeaning:
"beloved day"Description:
A loveday in medieval England was a day when people engaged in a dispute would come together and try to resolve their differences amicably. The name was sometimes given to babies, male or female, who were born on such a day. The etymology of Loveday is English, yet historical use was mainly relegated to Cornwall, and it is considered a traditional Cornish name. However, Loveday is rarely used today, however, when it is, it is typically used for baby girls.
- Rudo
Origin:
ShonaMeaning:
"love"Description:
In the Shona language of souther Africa, this simple and wearable boys' name means love.
- Milda
Origin:
Lithuanian mythological nameMeaning:
"goddess of love"Description:
The name of the Lithuanian love diety is a unique way to get to the nickname Millie. Milda has also been seen as a diminutive for names such as Matilda and Mildred. It appeared on the US Top 1000 in 1886 and 1887.
- Philou
Origin:
DutchMeaning:
"love"Description:
This Dutch name stems from the Greek root word "philos" meaning "love". It is relatively common in the Netherlands.
- Elska
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"love"Description:
This name looks like a sister to the names Elsa and the Czech name for girls Eliška, a popular diminutive of Elizabeth — and sometimes it is (in German, for example). But it is also a word in Old Norse and some modern Nordic languages, meaning "love" or "to love".
- Didier
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"desired, beloved"Description:
Didier is kind of a Desiree for boy--a lively, confident name that's widely used in France and has definite possibilities here. It's the name of an early French saint.
- Ahava
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"love"Description:
A soft and lovely Hebrew name with an equally lovely meaning. Variations include Ahavah, Ahaba, Ahabah, Ahuva and Ahuvah.
- Jeb
Origin:
Diminutive of Jebediah, HebrewMeaning:
"beloved friend"Description:
Both Jeb and Jed are very attractive Old Testament short forms with long and bright futures. Jeb's main current association is with the Bush brother and former governor of Florida, but the name was a mainstay on early TV westerns, and then went upscale as the nickname (his birth name being Josiah) of the President on "The West Wing."
- Querida
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"dear, beloved"Description:
Loving choice.
- Davie
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"beloved, uncle"Description:
Somewhat surprisingly, this old-school David nickname is now used for baby girls in the US more than 80% of the time. In fact, Davie is really heating up for baby girls, in the same style as Frankie and Scottie and Stevie.
Influencer Quincy Jordan and actor Dylan Jordan chose the name Davie Bear for their daughter in 2025.
- Grainne
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"grain or love"Description:
Grainne is the Irish form of the name often Anglicized as Grania. It was the name of the ancient grain goddess and also of the fiancee of mythological hero Finn McCool and lover of Dermot, who was a heroine of the seas.
- Diya
Origin:
Mbama, Sanskrit, Hindi and LatinMeaning:
"love; lamp; heavenly"Description:
A sweet and simple multicultural choice which has several different meanings and origins.
- Ceri
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"to love"Description:
Ceri is traditionally a Welsh masculine name which historically has been Anglicised to "Kerry", but we love the Welsh original. Famous Ceris include British painter Ceri Richards and New Zealand soccer player Ceri Evans. Be aware that Ceri is sometimes used as a female name, both as a standalone name and as a shortening of the Welsh female name Ceridwen.
- Kalila
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"beloved"Description:
The lilting name of a range of mythical mountains, with an extensive menu of spellings, and a more unusual way of fitting in with current favorites Lila and Lola.
- Taffy
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"beloved friend"Description:
A diminutive of the (male) name Dafydd, the Welsh form of David. In the US, it's strongly associated with the candy.
- Cupid
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"desire"Description:
The name of the Roman god of love, the son of Venus, considered so romantic as to be unfit for mere mortals. Yet now that Romeo and Venus herself are fair game for modern babies, why not Cupid?
- Keris
Origin:
Spelling variation of Kerris or CerysMeaning:
"love"Description:
This phonetic version of the Welsh Cerys might be easier for Americans, certainly, to understand, but it does lose some poetry in translation.
- Maryn
Origin:
Variation of MaryMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"Description:
Adds a modern spin to old-fashioned Mary.
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