Baby Names That Mean Love: 31 Names With Meanings
Names that mean love, beloved or dear are among the most meaningful you can give a child: they say what you feel in a single word. This list collects 31 of them across a dozen languages, from classics like David and Amy to rarer picks like Carys, Habib and Aroha.
Reviewed
Every meaning here is traced to the name's source language. Where scholars disagree about an etymology, we say so instead of picking the prettiest answer. Names are grouped by gender, with a short note on how each one feels in everyday use.
Our top picks
Girl names (17)
- AmyOld Frenchbeloved (from Old French amée, 'loved one')Short, warm and instantly familiar; a classic that never feels dated.
- AmandaLatinworthy of love; 'she who must be loved'Coined as a literary name in the 17th century and loved ever since.
- AmabelLatinlovable (from amabilis)A medieval gem, softer and rarer than Mabel.
- MabelLatinlovable (short form of Amabel)Vintage charm with a bright, friendly sound.
- AiméeFrenchbelovedThe elegant French sibling of Amy; pronounced eh-MAY.
- AmoretLatin / Englishlittle loveA rare literary name from Spenser's 'The Faerie Queene'.
- CarysWelshlove (from the Welsh word câr, 'to love')Fresh, lyrical and quietly distinctive outside Wales.
- CariadWelshlove, darlingAlso an everyday Welsh term of endearment.
- CaraItaliandear, beloved (Irish Gaelic cara also means 'friend')Two languages, two sweet meanings, and a very short name.
- CarinaItaliandear little oneAlso the name of a constellation, which adds a starry bonus.
- PriyaSanskritbeloved, dearWidely used across India and in diaspora families; easy to say everywhere.
- EsmeOld Frenchesteemed, loved (from Old French esmer, 'to esteem')Quietly literary, with a soft ending that feels modern.
- DavinaHebrew (via Scottish)beloved (feminine form of David)A Scottish favourite that deserves wider use.
- HabibaArabicbeloved, sweetheartA warm, widely loved name across the Arabic-speaking world.
- AhavaHebrewlovePronounced ah-HAH-vah; the Hebrew word for love, used as a given name.
- MilaSlavicdear, gracious (from mil, 'dear')Short and sweet; works easily across languages.
- AgapiGreeklove (agape, selfless love)The Greek word for unconditional love; Agape is the English spelling.
Boy names (10)
- DavidHebrewbeloved (from dod, 'beloved')One of the most enduring boys' names in history, borne by a king.
- AmadeusLatinlove of GodMade famous by Mozart; bold but musical.
- AmatoItalianbelovedRare, warm and distinctly Italian.
- AmadoSpanishbelovedA tender Spanish name with a confident sound.
- AiméFrenchlovedMasculine counterpart of Aimée, pronounced eh-MAY.
- PhiloGreeklove (philos, 'loving, dear')Short and scholarly, from the same root as 'philosophy'.
- DewiWelshbeloved (Welsh form of David)The name of Wales's patron saint, Dewi Sant.
- HabibArabicbeloved, dear oneA very common name that is also a term of affection.
- MahbubArabic / PersianbelovedAlso spelled Mahboob; common across South Asia and the Middle East.
- PremSanskritlove, affectionShort and bright, and easy to pronounce in English.
Unisex names (4)
- ArohaMāorilove, compassionA central Māori value, used as a given name for any child.
- KamaSanskritlove, desireRooted in Hindu tradition; a brief, striking sound.
- MehrPersianlove, kindness (also 'sun')A beautiful dual meaning that suits any child.
- PreetPunjabi / Hindilove, affectionCommon in Sikh families, often paired with Kaur or Singh.
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How to choose
Look for the root, not just the translation
Many love names share a Latin root: amare, 'to love'. Amy, Amanda, Amabel, Amadeus and Amato all grow from it. Welsh gives you cariad and carys, Hebrew gives you ahava and david, and Sanskrit gives you priya and prem. Choosing the language that matches your family background gives the name a second layer of meaning.
Check the 'dear' vs 'love' distinction
Some names mean 'beloved' (David, Habib, Mahbub), some mean 'loved' or 'worthy of love' (Amanda, Mabel), and some mean 'love' itself (Carys, Ahava, Prem). They read differently: 'beloved' describes the child, while 'love' names the feeling. Neither is better; pick the one you would want to say out loud.
Say it with your surname
Vowel-heavy love names such as Amy, Aimée and Amado pair well with consonant-heavy surnames, while longer names like Amadeus can overwhelm a long surname. Say the full name aloud a few times before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular baby name that means love?
David and Amy are the two most widely used names that mean 'beloved'. David is Hebrew and has been a top boys' name for centuries; Amy comes from Old French and is one of the most familiar girls' names in English-speaking countries.
What are rare baby names that mean love?
Carys (Welsh), Amoret (English literary), Ahava (Hebrew), Aroha (Māori) and Amato (Italian) are all uncommon but easy to pronounce, and each translates directly to 'love' or 'beloved'.
Are there gender-neutral names that mean love?
Yes. Aroha (Māori), Kama (Sanskrit), Mehr (Persian) and Preet (Punjabi) all work for any child and mean love or affection.
Which languages have the most love names?
Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Welsh and Sanskrit all give you several choices. Latin's amare gives Amy, Amanda and Amadeus; Hebrew gives David and Ahava; Arabic gives Habib and Habiba.
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