Baby Name Studio

Baby Names That Mean Love

Names rooted in love carry a quiet weight. They sound soft, but they say something fundamental about how a child arrived in the world — wanted, awaited, adored.

A name that means love is a small, daily reminder of the moment a parent first held their baby.
— Editor’s note

Curated picks

  • Amara girl
    A modern favourite of Igbo and Latin roots — “grace” in one tradition, “beloved” in another.
  • Mila girl
    Slavic origin meaning “gracious, dear.” Soft, two-syllable, and effortlessly current.
  • Esme girl
    Old French for “esteemed, loved.” A quietly literary pick that pairs with longer surnames.
  • Aiko girl
    Japanese 愛子 — “child of love.” Its meaning is its first impression.
  • Mira girl
    Sanskrit/Slavic crossover meaning “admirable, beloved.” Sister to Mila without doubling up.
  • Lev boy
    Hebrew for “heart.” Three letters, one meaning, instant warmth.
  • Cary neutral
    A unisex shortening of Welsh Cariad (“love”). Gentle and modernised.
  • Davina girl
    Hebrew via Scots — “beloved.” Vintage, but rising again with the David revival.
  • Habibi neutral
    Arabic “my beloved.” Often used as a middle name to honour Arabic heritage.
  • Phila girl
    Greek root philia — “love between equals.” Quietly distinctive.

Latin & Romance

The Romance languages give us the most direct routes to “love” — amor, amada, caro.

AmaraAmadaCaraCaroAmato

Hebrew & Arabic

Both traditions place love at the centre of naming — heart, beloved, cherished one.

LevDavidDavinaHabibiHabiba

Asian roots

Japanese, Sanskrit and Korean offer some of the world’s most concise love-names.

AikoAiMiraPriyaSarang

FAQs about names meaning love

What is the most popular baby name meaning love?

Amara has been the breakout choice of the last five years — a name that works across cultures and ages well from baby to adult.

Are there gender-neutral names meaning love?

Yes — Cary (from Welsh Cariad), Habibi (Arabic), and Sarang (Korean) are all genuinely unisex.

What is a short boy name meaning love?

Lev — three letters, Hebrew origin, literally means “heart.” David (“beloved”) is the longer classic option.

Explore related meanings

Names meaning hope →Names meaning peace →Names meaning star →