You’re bringing home a dog. Or maybe you already did. Now comes the hard part.
Not the training. Not the midnight bathroom trips. The name.
You want something meaningful. Something that captures the ridiculous amount of love you already feel for this creature you’ve known for approximately five minutes. Something better than “Buddy” or “Max” (no offense to the Buddys and Maxes of the world).
Good news. Every language on earth has words for love. Beautiful words. Poetic words. Words that roll off the tongue and make strangers at the dog park ask, “What does that mean?”
We’ve gathered 75 of the best dog names that mean love, beloved, sweetheart, and darling from cultures around the world. From Japanese to Welsh, Latin to Swahili. One of them is perfect for your new best friend.
Let’s find it.
Names That Literally Mean “Love”
Sometimes you want to cut straight to the point. These names translate directly to “love” in their native languages.
Amor – Latin and Spanish for “love.” It’s also the Roman name for Cupid. Short, strong, and impossible to mispronounce.
Amour – The French word for love. Elegant. Romantic. Works beautifully for a sophisticated pup who knows they’re beautiful.
Amore – Italian for “love.” If you’ve ever heard Dean Martin sing “That’s Amore,” you already know how good this sounds.
Ahava – Hebrew for “love.” Three syllables that feel like a whisper. Perfect for a gentle soul.
Aroha – Maori for “love and compassion.” This one carries weight. It means more than romantic love. It means deep caring for all living things.
Koi – Japanese for romantic love. Short. Sweet. And yes, it’s also a fish, which might confuse some people at the vet. Worth it anyway.
Cariad – Welsh for “love” or “sweetheart.” Pronounced CAR-ee-ad. Uncommon enough to turn heads, simple enough to yell across a field.
Rudo – Shona (Zimbabwe) for “love.” Two syllables. Direct. Strong.
Cinta – Indonesian and Malay for “romantic love.” Soft and pretty. Works especially well for smaller breeds.
Liebe – German for “love.” Pronounced LEE-buh. Sharp and confident, like the language itself.
Names Meaning “Beloved”
Your dog is beloved. That’s just a fact. These names say it out loud.
David – Hebrew origin, meaning “beloved.” It’s a human name, sure. But who says dogs can’t be named David? David the Golden Retriever has a nice ring to it.
Mila – Slavic origin meaning “dear” or “beloved.” Popular for humans, perfect for dogs. Easy to say, easy to remember.
Priya – Sanskrit for “beloved.” Common throughout India and deeply beautiful. Pronounced PREE-yah.
Habib – Arabic for “beloved” or “darling.” The feminine form is Habiba. Both work wonderfully for dogs.
Cara – Italian for “beloved” or Irish for “friend.” Two great meanings in one name.
Carina – Latin for “dear” or “beloved.” It’s also the name of a constellation, if you want to tell people your dog is named after stars.
Lev – Hebrew for “heart.” Short and powerful. Also means “lion” in some contexts, which is a nice bonus for a brave pup.
Esme – Old French for “esteemed” or “beloved.” Soft and melodic. Made famous by a certain vampire novel, but don’t let that stop you.
Diletta – Italian for “beloved” or “sweetheart.” Unusual and lovely.
Suki – Japanese for “loved one.” Two syllables. Fits perfectly in any sentence. “Suki, come!” “Good girl, Suki.”
Sweetheart and Darling Names
Terms of endearment make surprisingly good dog names. These are the ones you’d whisper to someone you adore.
Cheri – French for “darling” or “dear.” The masculine form is the same, the feminine form adds an “e” (Cherie). Both work.
Querida – Spanish for “dear” or “beloved.” Pronounced keh-REE-dah. Four syllables of warmth.
Dulcie – From the Latin “dulcis” meaning “sweet.” Old-fashioned in the best way. Perfect for a gentle dog.
Mina – Old German for “love.” Short, punchy, and easy for a dog to recognize.
Tegan – Welsh for “darling” or “loved one.” Gender-neutral and full of energy.
Can – Turkish for “soul” or “sweetheart.” Pronounced JAHN. Simple and meaningful.
Taegan – Another Welsh name meaning “darling.” The extra syllable gives it flair.
Darlene – English for “darling” or “little dear.” Vintage charm. Think 1950s diner waitress who always remembers your coffee order.
Lennan – Irish for “sweetheart” or “lover.” Also spelled Lennon, like the Beatle who sang about love.
Caro – Italian and Spanish for “dear.” Short and snappy. Works for any size dog.
Heart-Inspired Names
Love lives in the heart. So do these names.
Corazon – Spanish for “heart.” Big, bold, and full of life.
Cordelia – Latin meaning “heart.” Shakespearean. Elegant. The kind of name that demands respect.
Hart – English, derived from “heart.” Simple and strong. Works beautifully for hunting breeds or any dog with a brave spirit.
Libi – Hebrew for “my heart.” Intimate and personal.
Corwin – English for “friend of the heart.” A name with depth.
Kardia – Greek for “heart.” Where we get the word “cardiac.” Medical professionals will appreciate this one.
Names from Greek and Roman Mythology
The ancient gods knew a thing or two about love. They also caused a lot of trouble with it, but that’s another story.
Eros – The Greek god of love himself. Depicted as a handsome youth with a bow and arrow. Strong name for a dog who steals hearts.
Cupid – The Roman version of Eros. Usually shown as a chubby baby with wings. Adorable for a round puppy.
Venus – Roman goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. Regal. Commanding. For a dog who knows she’s gorgeous.
Aphrodite – The Greek goddess of love and beauty. Born from sea foam, according to legend. A mouthful to say, but what a name.
Freya – Norse goddess of love and fertility. Pronounced FRAY-uh. Fierce and feminine.
Psyche – In Greek mythology, she was so beautiful that Eros himself fell in love with her. Her name means “soul.”
Japanese Names Meaning Love
Japanese has several words for love, each with subtle differences. All of them make beautiful dog names.
Aiko – “Child of love” or “beloved child.” One of the most popular Japanese names. Pronounced EYE-ko.
Ai – Simply “love.” One syllable. Pure simplicity.
Ren – “Love” and “affection.” Also means “lotus flower.” Gender-neutral and serene.
Kenzo – “Strong and healthy love.” Masculine energy with tenderness underneath.
Yuki – Can mean “love,” “affection,” or “happiness” depending on the characters used. Pronounced YOO-kee.
Celtic and Welsh Names
The Celtic languages have a gift for beautiful sounds. These names prove it.
Carys – Welsh for “love.” Pronounced CARE-iss. Modern and timeless at once.
Ceri – Welsh for “to love.” Pronounced KERR-ee. Short and bright.
Rhys – Welsh, traditionally meaning “ardor” or “passion.” Pronounced REESE. Strong and classic.
Caoimhe – Irish for “dear, beloved, gentle.” Pronounced KWEE-vah or KEE-vah. Unusual and unforgettable.
Dai – Welsh for “beloved” or “friend.” One syllable of pure affection.
Anwen – Welsh for “very beautiful” with associations to love. Pronounced AHN-wen.
African Names Meaning Love
Names from across the African continent carry deep meaning and beautiful sounds.
Amara – Igbo (Nigeria) for “grace” and associated with eternal love. Also used in other cultures with similar meanings.
Thandie – Zulu for “beloved.” Made famous by actress Thandiwe Newton.
Mudiwa – Shona for “beloved” or “darling.”
Kealoha – Hawaiian (included here for its meaning) for “the loved one.” Full of warmth and aloha spirit.
Penda – Swahili for “loved one” or “beloved.”
Unique and Unusual Love Names
For dogs who deserve something different.
Nayeli – Zapotec (indigenous Mexican) for “I love you.” A complete declaration in a single name.
Kalila – Arabic for “beloved.” Lyrical and distinctive.
Maite – Basque for “beloved” or “lovable.” Pronounced MY-tay.
Vida – Spanish for “life,” Hebrew for “dearly loved,” Scottish for “beloved friend.” One name, multiple meanings, all good.
Jedidiah – Hebrew for “beloved of the Lord.” Often shortened to Jed. Serious name for a serious dog.
Milena – Slavic for “love, warmth, grace.” Three meanings woven into one name.
Philomena – Greek for “friend of strength” and “loved one.” A name with layers.
Fenmore – English surname meaning “dear love.” Unusual and distinguished.
Tips for Choosing the Right Name
You’ve read the list. Maybe several names caught your attention. Here’s how to narrow it down.
Say it out loud. Multiple times. In different tones. You’re going to be yelling this name across dog parks for the next fifteen years. Make sure it feels good in your mouth.
Test the “come” test. Add your favorite names to the word “come.” Does “Amor, come!” roll off the tongue? Does “Aphrodite, come!” feel like too much? Trust your instincts.
Consider nicknames. Cordelia becomes Cordy. Valentina becomes Val. Philomena becomes Phil. Make sure you like the short versions too.
Watch your dog. Some names just fit certain personalities. A wild, energetic puppy might suit Eros better than Esme. A calm, dignified older dog might wear Cariad with grace. Let your dog’s personality guide you.
Don’t overthink it. Seriously. Your dog doesn’t care about etymology or cultural significance. They care that you say their name with love. That’s the only meaning that truly matters.
The Final Word
Your dog is going to be called this name thousands of times. In parks. At vets. In moments of frustration when they’ve eaten something they shouldn’t have. In quiet moments when you’re grateful they exist.
Pick a name that makes you smile.
Pick a name that means something.
Pick a name that says exactly what your dog is to you.
Beloved. Sweetheart. Darling. Love.
Now go call them.
Found the perfect name? Share this list with other dog parents searching for meaningful names for their new best friends.
