Greek Boy Names That Mean Love

Greek boy names that mean love keep surfacing the same root word, philos, tucked inside kings' names, gods' names, and modern nicknames alike.

Names45

OriginGreek

MeaningLove

GenderBoy

Look closely at this list and one Greek root keeps reappearing: philos, meaning 'loving' or 'dear to.' It's the seed of Philip, Phillip, Felipe, and Filippo, all built from philos plus hippos, giving the literal sense lover of horses — and of Theophilus, which swaps in theos for lover of God instead.

Other names go straight to the source. Eros is simply the Greek word for love and desire, worn by the god himself. Rasmus and Erasmo both trace to Erasmus, meaning beloved, while Karas carries the same beloved thread in a shorter, surname-like shape.

Why Greek boy names that mean love keep the same root

Greek naming worked like a kit: take philos, add a second root, and you get a new name with a related meaning. Swap hippos in and you get Philip or Filippo, lover of horses. Swap theos in and you get Theophilus, lover of God. Same building block, entirely different feel — one grounded and familiar, the other grand and rare.

Beloved, not just loving

Not every name here describes someone who loves — some describe someone who is loved. Rasmus and Erasmo both mean beloved, and Karas shares that thread in a crisper, more modern shape. Eros skips the roundabout compounding entirely and just is the Greek word for love and desire.

Names List

Philip#528 in the U.S.From Greek Philippos, a compound of philos ('loving') and hippos ('horse'), meaning 'lover of horses' or Pronounced FIL-ip▶Phillip#651 in the U.S.From Greek Philippos, composed of philein meaning to love and hippos meaning horse; the name was borne byPronounced FIL-ip▶Teddy#823 in the U.S.Pet form of Theodore (Greek, 'gift of God') or Edward (Old English, 'wealthy guardian'), used since the 1Pronounced TED-ee▶Felipe#955 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Philip, from Greek Philippos composed of philos meaning lover or friend anPronounced feh-LEE-pay▶Eros#1487 in the U.S.From Greek 'eros' meaning 'love, desire'; Eros was the Greek god of love.Pronounced EE-ros▶Theophilus#2225 in the U.S.lover of GodPronounced thee-OFF-ih-lus▶Erastus#4161 in the U.S.Erastus is a Greek name from erastos, 'beloved.' It appears in the New Testament as a companion of the apPronounced ih-RAS-tus▶Filippo#4593 in the U.S.Italian form of Philip — from Greek Philippos, 'lover of horses' (philos, 'friend/love', plus hippos, 'hoPronounced fee-LEEP-poh▶Karas#4780 in the U.S.From Greek Karas — a surname (linked to 'dark' or 'beloved'); also a modern name (echoing Caras/Kara, 'bePronounced KAH-rahs▶Spero#4844 in the U.S.Spero is best known as an anglicized short form of Spyridon, a Greek name of much-loved saintly heritage,Pronounced SPEER-oh▶Adonys#5227 in the U.S.Y-spelling of Adonis — from Phoenician/Semitic adon, 'lord' (the beautiful youth beloved of Aphrodite)Pronounced ə-DON-iss▶Rasmus#5380 in the U.S.Scandinavian short form of Erasmus — from Greek erasmios, 'beloved; worthy of love, desired'Pronounced RAHS-məs▶Treasure#5851 in the U.S.From the word treasure — from Greek thesauros, 'a treasure, a storehouse'; 'something precious and cherisPronounced TREZH-ər▶Erasmo#6246 in the U.S.The Italian/Spanish form of Erasmus — from Greek erasmios, 'beloved, desired; worthy of love'Pronounced eh-RAHZ-moh▶Philopateer#6374 in the U.S.From Greek philopator, 'a lover of the father' (philos, 'loving', plus pater, 'father') — a Coptic ChristPronounced fih-loh-pə-TEER▶Mina#6680 in the U.S.A Coptic boys' name honoring Saint Mina (Menas), a beloved Egyptian martyr; also a Persian/feminine name Pronounced MEE-nah▶Philippe#7588 in the U.S.The French form of Philip — from Greek Philippos, 'a lover of horses' (philos, 'loving', + hippos, 'horsePronounced fee-LEEP▶Philo#8141 in the U.S.From the Greek philos, 'loving; dear; a friend; beloved' (the philosopher Philo of Alexandria)Pronounced FY-loh▶Donis#8464 in the U.S.A short form/spelling of Adonis — from the Phoenician/Greek adon, 'a lord', hence 'a lord; a handsome youPronounced DOH-nees▶Philippos#8660 in the U.S.The Greek form of Philip, from Philippos, 'lover of horses' (philos, 'loving,' and hippos, 'horse'). A clPronounced fih-LIP-os▶Philipp#8774 in the U.S.A German form of Philip — from the Greek philos, 'loving', + hippos, 'a horse', hence 'a lover of horses'Pronounced FIL-ip▶Addonis#9877 in the U.S.A spelling of Adonis — from the Phoenician/Hebrew adon, 'a lord'; the beautiful youth loved by Aphrodite Pronounced ah-DAH-nis▶Adonus#9886 in the U.S.A modern form of Adonis, the strikingly beautiful youth loved by Aphrodite in Greek myth; his name becamePronounced uh-DOH-nus▶Filipe#10070 in the U.S.The Portuguese form of Philip, from the Greek Philippos, 'lover of horses' (philos, 'loving', + hippos, 'Pronounced fee-LEE-peh▶Demetric#10106 in the U.S.A modern form of Demetrius — from the Greek, 'of Demeter (the goddess of the harvest/earth); a lover of tPronounced deh-MET-rik▶Onesimo#10503 in the U.S.Onesimo is the Spanish form of Onesimus, from the Greek onesimos, 'useful' or 'profitable.' In the New TePronounced oh-NEH-see-moh▶Phillips#10516 in the U.S.Phillips is a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Philip', used as a given name. Philip itself comes from Pronounced FIL-ips▶Pedrito#10614 in the U.S.A Spanish diminutive of Pedro, from the Greek Petros, 'rock; stone' — so 'little Pedro; little rock.' WarPronounced peh-DREE-toh▶Philemon#10616 in the U.S.From the Greek Philemon, 'affectionate; loving' (from philein, 'to love; to kiss') — a New Testament namePronounced FY-luh-mon▶Theophilos#10629 in the U.S.From the Greek Theophilos, 'friend of God; loved by God' (theos, 'God,' + philos, 'friend'). Theophilus iPronounced thee-OFF-ih-los▶Theadore#10762 in the U.S.A respelling of Theodore, from Greek Theodoros, 'gift of God' (theos 'god' + doron 'gift'). The variant sPronounced THEE-uh-dor▶Agape#10903 in the U.S.From the Greek agape, 'selfless, unconditional love' — the highest form of love in Christian thought. UsuPronounced ah-GAH-pay▶Endymion#11231 in the U.S.From the Greek Endymion, variously 'to dive into; the diver' (linked to the setting sun/moon); the beautiPronounced en-DIM-ee-on▶Kirollos#11694 in the U.S.The Coptic form of Cyril, from the Greek Kyrillos, 'lordly; masterful', tied to kyrios, 'lord'. A cherishPronounced kee-ROL-oss▶Phil#11936 in the U.S.A short form of Philip, from the Greek Philippos, 'lover of horses' (philos + hippos). A friendly, familiPronounced FIL▶Damjan#12684 in the U.S.A South Slavic form of Damian, from Greek 'daman', 'to tame; to subdue'. Common in Serbia, Croatia, SlovePronounced DAHM-yahn▶Elmo#12773 in the U.S.An Italian short form of Erasmus (from Greek erasmios, 'beloved, desired'), best known through St. Elmo, Pronounced EL-moh▶Io#12949 in the U.S.A name from Greek myth — Io, a mortal loved by Zeus and turned into a heifer. Also the innermost of JupitPronounced EE-oh▶Jacek#13004 in the U.S.Jacek is the Polish form of Hyacinth (Latin Hyacinthus, Greek Hyakinthos) — the flower of Greek myth saidPronounced YAH-tsek▶Lyzander#13421 in the U.S.Lyzander respells Lysander, from Greek lysis, 'a loosing, releasing', and aner/andros, 'man' — so 'liberaPronounced ly-ZAN-der▶Lisander#13488 in the U.S.A form of Lysander, Greek Lysandros, from lysis ('a loosing, release') plus andros ('man') — usually rendPronounced lih-SAN-der▶Phillipe#13654 in the U.S.Phillipe is a spelling that mixes the English Philip with the French Philippe, doubling the l. The root iPronounced fih-LEEP▶Theophile#13847 in the U.S.Theophile is the French form of Theophilus, from the Greek 'theos' (god) and 'philos' (loved, friend), giPronounced TAY-oh-feel▶Theophil#13969 in the U.S.From the Greek Theophilos, 'friend of God; loved by God' (theos, 'God,' + philos, 'loved, friend') — the Pronounced THEE-oh-fil▶AhdonisA modern respelling of Adonis, the beautiful youth loved by Aphrodite in Greek myth, whose name became a Pronounced uh-DOH-nis▶

More Greek Meaning Guides

Boy Names That Mean Sun Boy Names That Mean Earth Girl Names That Mean Victory Girl Names That Mean the Sky Boy Names That Mean Rock Boy Names That Mean Lion Girl Names That Mean Grace Girl Names That Mean Life Girl Names That Mean Bravery Girl Names That Mean Truth Boy Names That Mean Honor Girl Names That Mean Youth

Frequently Asked

Which Greek boy names mean 'lover of horses'?

Philip, Phillip, Felipe, and Filippo all mean lover of horses, built from the Greek roots philos (loving) and hippos (horse). It's one of the oldest, most recognizable Greek name patterns, carried by kings and apostles.

Is Eros a real baby name?

Yes — Eros is the actual Greek word for love and desire, and the name of the Greek god of love. It's short, bold, and unmistakably tied to the meaning parents are drawn to here.

What does Theophilus mean?

Theophilus means lover of God, combining the same philos root as Philip with theos, meaning God. It's a grand, four-syllable name with ancient Christian roots — Luke's Gospel and Acts are both addressed to a Theophilus.