Greek Names for Love
Searching greek name for love usually means one of two things: the classical words for love (agápē, philía, érōs, storgē) or everyday given names built on Greek love/friendship roots. This page covers both — and labels which items are vocabulary, mythology, or living given names so you do not mix a dictionary term with a birth-certificate choice.
For a broader love cluster (any language), start at names meaning love, then female or male lists.
Etymology note: Classical Greek distinguishes several love-types. English baby-name sites often flatten them to “love.” We keep the distinctions honest below. Spellings vary in Latinization (Agape / Agápē; Eros / Érōs).
Classical Greek love vocabulary (not always given names)
| Greek term | Rough sense | Name-use note |
|---|---|---|
| Agápē (ἀγάπη) | Self-giving / charitable love (esp. later Christian Greek) | Used as a rare given name (Agape / Agapi); more word than chart staple |
| Philía (φιλία) | Friendship / affectionate regard | Lives inside phil- names (Philip, Philomena) more than as a standalone |
| Érōs (ἔρως) | Passionate / erotic love; also the god Eros | Theonym & concept; rare as a modern legal first name |
| Storgē (στοργή) | Familial affection | Almost never a given name in English lists |
| Ánterōs | “Love returned” (mythic counterpart) | Mythology, not a baby-name shortlist item |
Girl & feminine-leaning Greek love names
| Name | Origin path | Meaning / note |
|---|---|---|
| Agapi / Agape | Greek | Love (agápē) — direct word-name |
| Philomena | Greek | Often glossed “friend of strength” / beloved debates — disclose sources; phil- = love/friendship |
| Philippa | Greek via Latin | Feminine of Philip — “lover of horses” (philos + hippos) |
| Aphrodite | Greek theonym | Goddess of love — theonym, not the common noun “love”; heavy cultural weight |
| Erato | Greek Muse | Muse of lyric/love poetry — “lovely / beloved” associations; muse name |
| Charis / Charissa | Greek | Grace / favor (cháris) — not literal “love,” often adjacent in vibe lists |
| Erosia (rare) | Greek-derived | Built from érōs path — uncommon |
| Philadelphia (place → rare name) | Greek | “Brotherly love” as a place-name compound — unusual as a first name |
| Amanda is Latin | — | Skip if you want Greek-only |
| Cara is Italian/Latin | — | Dear/beloved — not Greek |
Boy & masculine-leaning Greek love / beloved names
| Name | Origin path | Meaning / note |
|---|---|---|
| Philip / Filippos | Greek | Lover of horses (philos + hippos) — love/friendship root, not romance-only |
| Philemon | Greek | Affectionate / loving (traditional glosses) |
| Erasmus | Greek | Beloved / desired (erasmios) |
| Agapetos / Agapito | Greek → Romance paths | Beloved |
| Eros (rare modern) | Greek | Love god / passionate love — treat as theonym-aware |
| Philander (historic) | Greek | “Lover of men/people” — later English sense shifted negatively; use with care |
| Theodore is “gift of God” | Greek | Not a love gloss — listed only to avoid mix-ups |
Myth & culture (flag clearly)
- Eros / Cupid: mythic personifications of desire — fine for characters; unusual for everyday given names without intent.
- Aphrodite / Venus: goddess names — love theme, not the word agápē.
- Valentine: Latin valens (strong/healthy) with a Christian feast later tied to romance — not a Greek etymology. See the love hub.
How this page differs from the love hub
| Intent | Go here |
|---|---|
| Greek vocabulary + Greek-root given names | This page |
| Any-language beloved/love shortlist | Names meaning love |
| Girl-only commercial list | Female names meaning love |
| Boy-only | Male names that mean love |
| Heart / cor debates | Name meaning heart |
How to choose
- Word vs name. Agápē is a concept; Agapi is a usable given-name form in modern Greek contexts — confirm local usage.
- Phil- ≠ romance only. Philip’s “love” is the philos friendship/affection root plus “horses.”
- Theonyms need weight. Aphrodite and Eros are religious/mythic names, not soft synonyms for Carys.
- Pronunciation. Ask a Greek speaker for Agapi, Filippos, or Erato before locking documents.
FAQ
What is the Greek word for love?
There isn’t one: agápē, philía, érōs, and storgē cover different kinds of love in classical and later Greek.
What Greek girl name means love?
Agapi/Agape is the most direct. Philomena and Philippa carry phil- (love/friendship) rather than the noun agápē.
What Greek boy name means love or beloved?
Erasmus (“beloved/desired”), Agapetos/Agapito, and Philemon are clearer “beloved/loving” paths than Philip’s horse compound — though Philip still belongs in the phil- family.
Is Eros a baby name?
Rarely, and it is the love-god’s name. Treat it as mythology-aware, not a casual English chart pick.
Do you cover Greek girl names broadly?
A fuller cultural list is planned at greek girl names; this spoke stays on the love query.
Internal link suggestions
- Hub: Names That Mean… · Names meaning love
- Gender: Female love · Male love
- Adjacent: Heart · Emotional names
- Cultural: Cultural baby names