Names That Mean Love

The Welsh word for "love" and a term of endearment turned modern word-name, Cariad is a sweet possibility that might work well as a <a href="https:///list/630/70-lovely-names-for-february-babies">name for a February or Valentines baby</a> or a <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/412/christmas-baby-names">name for a Christmas baby.</a> A famous bearer is British comedian Cariad Lloyd.

Cariad

Derived from the name Caradog, the handsome ancient Celtic name was worn by one of the Knights of the Round Table, as well as a semi-legendary Welsh King. Possibly a cognate of Cedric and Carys, Caradoc is ultimately derived from the Brythonic name Caratācos meaning "loved", itself originating from the Celtic karu.
 
Familiar in various forms in the Middle Ages, Caradoc is rarely used today.

Caradoc

More popularly used as an alternative spelling to the popular Hindi name, Arun, the mythic charioteer of the dawn, Aroon is also used as an Irish term of endearment, loosely translating to "darling" or "oh darling. 
 
More literally, it comes from a a rún meaning "love", "secret" or "intention", which may well connect it to the Old Norse and Old Germanic runo relating to magic, runes, and secrets. In fact, there isa very similar Icelandic name.
 
Coming back to its Irish roots, Aroon is the name of the heroine of Molly Keane's classic novel of the Anglo-Irish gentry, Good Behaviour and is heard in the song Eileen Aroon (Eibhlín a Rún). It is rarely actually used as a given name.

Aroon

A lyrical Welsh name with both poetry and ruggedness, Myfanwy can mean "my fine, delicate one", "my woman", or "my beloved", depending on whether you consider the second element as derived from manwy, banwy or annwyl. While the pronunciation (muh-VAHN-wee) wouldn't be intuitive to those unfamiliar with the Welsh language or with Welsh names, the name is given to a small handful of babies in its native Wales most years.
 
Notably appearing in a 19th-century song by Joseph Parry and a poem by Richard Davies, the name was also borne by the 14th-century noblewoman and poetic subject, Myfanwy Fychan. Other Myfanwys include poet Myfanwy Haycock and actresses Myfanwy Waring and Myfanwy Talog.

Myfanwy

An anglicized spelling of Muirne, the name of the mother of Finn mac Cool in Irish legend, Myrna has a unique sound and two possible meanings, both of which are positive. Actress Myrna Loy was a notable bearer and her fame caused a spike in popularity of the name, when it reached the US Top 150 in the 1930s. 

Myrna

This name dates back to Arthurian legend, in which Angharad was the lover of Percival, one of the Knights of the Round Table, and was used more recently for the name of the favorite wife of the warlord in Mad Max: Fury Road. It was quite popular in the Middle Ages and is still heard in Wales, but we doubt that even the glamorous Rosie Huntington-Whiteley could propel it to wider popularity.

Angharad

Amatus is an ancient Roman name in the "Ama" family of names whose meanings relate to love -- they range from Amy to Amity to Amias to Amoret and Amatus.

Amatus

The name of a saint in the Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek version of the more familiar Amadea / Amadeus. Philothea could make for a lovely, unusual way to get to stylish Thea. Bottom line: Philothea is one of those <a href="https://nameberry.com/unique-names">unique baby names</a> that deserves to be discovered.

Philothea

This Dutch name stems from the Greek root word "philos" meaning "love". It is relatively common in the Netherlands.

Philou

The original Pip was the main character in Great Expectations (full name Philip Pirrip). Cute for a tike, maybe too cute for an adult.

Amato

Name that's virtually unknown here but has a lovely meaning and a simple sound and spelling.

Amata

This Latin word for love is not traditionally used as a name, but why not?  It's got a pretty sound and some distinctive flair.  Variants Amori or Amorie can also be thought of as different spellings of Amory, which has a very different meaning and roots.  Only downside: Sounds almost exactly like "amorous," meaning in the mood for love, which could provoke some adolescent teasing.

Amoris

In the Shona language of souther Africa, this simple and wearable boys' <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/434/baby-names-that-mean-love">name means love</a>.

Rudo

A shimmery name with a wonderful meaning; another intriguing variation is Siroun.

Siran

A French diminutive of Amanda — and the French culinary term for a garnish of almonds — Amandine is a pretty, almond-scented choice that's rarely heard in the US. Meaning "much-loved" or "lovable" from Latin, Amandine ranked in the Top 200 in Belgium in Belgium in the 90s and 2000s, while in France, it was a Top 20 choice in the 80s and remained in the Top 400 until 2020. 
 
Notably borne by footballer Amandine Henry, actor John Malkovich also used it for his daughter in the 90s.

Amandine

Querida

Hebrew name not often heard in this country, but would have no trouble fitting in. 

Tivona

Amabel is an older name than Annabel and a lot more distinctive. Amabel was a very common name in the twelfth and thirteen centuries, then was revived during the nineteenth century British fad for medieval names.
 In a short story by H.H. Munro, about Amabel, the vicar's daughter, it is said "Her name was the vicar's one extravagance."
 Amabel's shortened form Mabel overtook the mama name early on.

Amabel

A seriously classic <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/434/baby-names-that-mean-love">name meaning love</a>, Adelpha is also the name for a genus of butterflies.

Adelpha

Baby names that mean love are especially, well, beloved by parents right now, with such stylish names as Esme, Cordelia, Amias, Amara, and Lennon all having meanings related to love.

 girl names that mean love in the US Top 1000

 include Mila, Amy, Amanda, Mabel, and Philippa. 

Love is always a wonderful meaning for a name, and there are baby names meaning love for baby girls and boys in 

, including the Welsh names Rhys and Carys and the African Obi, the classic David and the new word name, Love itself.

Names that mean love or beloved in languages other than English

 include Carys, Querida, Rudo, and Sajan.

. Of course, names with love meanings can also work for any child welcomed into the world with love.

If you're looking for baby names that mean love, you can include names with a range of meanings related to love and names that reference different kinds of love, from charitable love to romantic love to spiritual love. Included here are names that mean loving, names that mean beloved, names that mean desire, names that mean heart, and even names that mean lovely.

Names that mean love for girls and boys include classic names such as Amy and David, and newly popular names including Mabel, Esme, Amara Mila and Rhys (Page 5)

Baby Names That Mean Love