Love

♀ Girl

Pronounced LUV /lʌv/High

Meaning: From the Old English lufu meaning love, affection, or deep devotion, used as a given name expressing the highest human virtue and emotionHigh

In 30 seconds: Love is a pure, bold word name meaning exactly what it says. A Scandinavian name as well as an English word, it is gaining attention for its simplicity and the universal warmth of its meaning.

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Origin HighEnglish

MeaningFrom the Old English lufu meaning love, affection, or deep devotion, used as a given name expressing the highest human virtue and emotion

U.S. rank (2025)#957 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births269 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,796

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

As an English word-name, Love has been used occasionally since at least the 19th century. In Scandinavia, Love is a masculine name derived from Ludvig, making its coincidence with the English word entirely accidental.

In recent decades, Love has been chosen by some celebrities and avant-garde parents as a girl's name in English-speaking countries. Its simplicity and the universality of its meaning give it a timeless, minimalist appeal.

Did you know? Love is a traditional Scandinavian name, especially in Sweden and Norway, where it is a masculine name derived from the Old Norse name Ludvig. This makes Love a rare case of a word that functions as a given name in two completely unrelated traditions.

Overall data confidence 95%

Oxford English Dictionary — love — Old English etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LuvLovey

Nicknames

LovieLo

Famous Bearers

★Courtney Love (b. 1964)
American rock singer, songwriter, and actress born Love Michelle Harrison in San Francisco — making Love her birth first name. Founder and frontwoman of the alternative rock band Hole, whose 1994 album Live Through This is widely considered one of the defining records of the 1990s alternative and grunge era. She also received a Golden Globe nomination for The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) and remains one of rock music's most recognizable and enduringly provocative figures.

If you like Love…

Grace— shares the one-syllable virtue word-name tradition

Hope— same bright, positive word-name with a one-syllable minimalist feel

Joy— same joyful word-name category with maximum emotional directness

Faith— shares the abstract virtue word-name category and brief simplicity

Explore names like Love

By themeenglish word-name virtue one-syllable minimalist

By meaningLove Gift / Blessing

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Love mean?

Love means exactly what the word says — deep affection and devotion. It comes from Old English lufu and carries the most universal of human emotions.

How do you pronounce Love?

It is said LUV, as a single syllable, identical to the word love.

Is Love a Scandinavian name?

Yes, Love is also a traditional Scandinavian masculine name derived from Ludvig, though in English it is used as a word name meaning affection.

Is Love a boy or girl name?

In Scandinavia, Love is traditionally a boys name. In English-speaking countries it is used as a girls name.