100 Names That Mean Love: Romantic, Mythic, and Symbolic Names From Every Culture

Names that mean love speak in every tongue. Sometimes they do it directly—with syllables that literally translate to “love.” Other times, they whisper it—through mythology, metaphor, nature, or story. Whether you’re naming a character, creating a symbol, or simply collecting names with deep feeling, you’ll find one here that glows. This is a curated collection of 100 names that mean love, drawn from languages around the world, ancient gods, poetic symbols, and fictional hearts that still beat between pages.

Names That Literally Mean “Love” in Different Languages

These names come straight from the root of “love” in various tongues. Some are used widely, others feel rare or lyrical. All of them wear love plainly.

Amor – Latin and Spanish for “love”
Aiko – Japanese, “child of love”
Carys – Welsh, “love”
Esme – Old French, “esteemed, beloved”
Amadeus – Latin, “lover of God”
Milena – Slavic, “gracious, dear”
Prem – Hindi/Sanskrit, “love”
Ai – Japanese and Chinese character for “love”
Carina – Italian, “beloved”
Amara – Igbo, “grace,” and Latin “lovely”
Davina – Hebrew origin, “beloved”
Cherie – French, “dear one”
Kalila – Arabic, “beloved”
Rudo – Shona (Zimbabwe), “love”
Liebe – German word for love, rarely used as a name
Ahava – Hebrew, “love”
Mina – Persian, “love” (also meanings in Sanskrit and German)
Nayeli – Zapotec, “I love you”
Habib – Arabic, “beloved”
Amandine – French, from “amandus,” meaning “worthy of love”

Each of these names is a direct translation or strong echo of love—plain, powerful, and multilingual.

Mythological and Divine Names of Love

When love became divine, cultures gave it form. These names are gods, goddesses, and spirits that represent desire, beauty, affection, and union.

Aphrodite – Greek goddess of love
Eros – Greek god of erotic love
Venus – Roman goddess of love and beauty
Freya – Norse goddess of love and fertility
Kamadeva – Hindu god of love
Rati – Hindu goddess of passion and desire
Hathor – Egyptian goddess of love and joy
Oshun – Yoruba deity of love, beauty, and fertility
Inanna – Sumerian goddess of love and war
Ishtar – Babylonian goddess of love and sexuality
Cupid – Roman god of love, counterpart to Eros
Bastet – Egyptian goddess associated with protection and affection
Turan – Etruscan goddess of love and vitality
Frigg – Norse goddess of marriage and motherhood
Branwen – Welsh goddess symbolizing love and sorrow
Radha – Hindu goddess, beloved of Krishna
Danu – Celtic mother goddess, associated with nurturing love
Astarte – Phoenician goddess of love and fertility
Anteros – Greek god of requited love
Dilmun – Mesopotamian paradise tied to divine union

These names are steeped in myth and story—where love is more than feeling, it’s divine force.

Names Symbolizing Love Through Meaning or Emotion

Some names don’t say “love” directly, but they radiate the feeling. They might mean “kind,” “dear,” “gracious,” or “heart”—all love’s closest companions.

Lennon – Irish, “lover”
Mila – Slavic, “gracious, dear”
David – Hebrew, “beloved”
Amabel – Old French/Latin, “lovable”
Leif – Scandinavian, sounds like “life” and “love”
Davis – Variant of David
Maia – Greek/Roman, gentle mother figure
Anika – Sanskrit, “grace, favor”
Aroha – Māori word for love
Philip – Greek, “lover of horses,” but symbolic of devotion
Amy – French origin, “beloved”
Vida – Spanish/Portuguese, “life”
Caritas – Latin, meaning “charity” or unconditional love
Darla – English, “darling”
Rhys – Welsh, “ardor, passion”
Luba – Slavic, “love”
Aziza – Arabic, “cherished, precious”
Jedidiah – Hebrew, “beloved of God”
Anahita – Persian goddess of fertility and affection
Elidi – Greek, “gift of the sun,” metaphor for love

These names feel affectionate, graceful, or quietly radiant—ways love lives in language.

Nature-Inspired Names Associated With Love

Nature holds its own symbols for love. Flowers, colors, birds, fruits—these names use metaphor to mean “love” without saying it.

Rose – Classic flower of love
Lily – Purity and romantic devotion
Dove – Bird of peace and romantic symbolism
Violet – Symbol of faithfulness
Coral – Warm, rare, and treasured
Saffron – Golden and precious, linked to desire
Rowan – Tree with red berries, symbolizing protection and passion
Ruby – Red gem, passion and romance
Jasmine – Fragrant flower, used in love ceremonies
Yarrow – Flower symbolizing healing and lasting love
Clover – Bringer of luck and gentle love
Peony – Wealth and love in Chinese tradition
Apple – Ancient symbol of desire
Primrose – First flower of spring, soft affection
Willow – Gentle, emotional resilience
Eglantine – Wild rose, love and poetry
Maple – Sweet and nurturing
Heather – Symbol of admiration
Camellia – Flower of perfect love
Fern – Quiet, enduring bond

If you’re drawn to beauty in symbolism, these names offer layers of meaning hidden in petals and roots.

Literary, Poetic, and Fictional Names of Love

These names come from love stories—some tragic, some timeless. Characters who’ve embodied passion, longing, or deep connection leave their names behind like echoes.