Meaning theme
25 Names That Mean Love
Names that mean love include David (Hebrew, beloved), Carys (Welsh), Priya (Sanskrit, beloved), Mila (Slavic, dear), Habib (Arabic, beloved), and Esme (Old French, esteemed and loved). Freya, the Norse goddess of love, and Aiko, Japanese for beloved child, broaden the affectionate field.
Love names are perennial because the message never expires: this child was wanted, cherished, adored. Hebrew gave the world David, the beloved; Sanskrit gave Priya; Welsh gave Carys. Whether subtle or explicit, the names below all carry love in their bones, confirmed by their etymologies.
- Aiko FeminineJapanese“beloved child”
- Amara FeminineIgbo and Sanskrit“grace; immortal”
- Aziz MasculineArabic“mighty, beloved”
- Beatrice FeminineLatin“she who makes happy”
- Caroline FeminineGermanic via French“free woman”
- Carys FeminineWelsh“love”
- Cielo UnisexSpanish“sky, heaven”
- David MasculineHebrew“beloved”
- Esmé FeminineOld French“esteemed, beloved”
- Eve FeminineHebrew“life, living one”
- Freya FeminineOld Norse“lady; the goddess of love”
- Habib MasculineArabic“beloved”
- Joy FeminineEnglish“joy, delight”
- Kalila FeminineArabic“beloved, darling”
- Krishna MasculineSanskrit“black, dark”
- Leilani FeminineHawaiian“heavenly garland of flowers”
- Lior UnisexHebrew“my light”
- Mila FeminineSlavic“dear, gracious”
- Milan MasculineSlavic“dear, gracious”
- Murad MasculineArabic“wished for, desired”
- Prem MasculineSanskrit“love”
- Priya FeminineSanskrit“beloved”
- Rudo UnisexShona“love”
- Thando UnisexZulu and Xhosa“love”
- Valentina FeminineLatin“strong, healthy”
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Questions
Carys, built on the Welsh word caru, to love, is a modern Welsh classic. Priya means beloved in Sanskrit, Mila comes from a Slavic element meaning dear or gracious, and Esme descends from an Old French word meaning esteemed or loved.
David, one of the most enduring names in Western history, comes from a Hebrew word meaning beloved. Prem is the Sanskrit word for love, Habib means beloved in Arabic, and Milan carries the same dear root as Mila in Slavic languages.
Freya literally means lady in Old Norse, but she is the Norse goddess of love and beauty, which is why the name anchors love-themed lists. It has become a top-20 name in England and Wales and continues to climb in the United States.
Ai is the Japanese word for love and is used as a girls' name on its own. Aiko, meaning love child or beloved child, is the more traditional full form and is borne by the daughter of Emperor Naruhito.