10 Indian baby names that mean ‘love’

Choosing a name that means “love”: a short guide

Names that mean “love” are popular across India because they carry a clear, warm meaning and often connect to devotional, familial or ethical values. Sanskrit words such as prema — love, devotion — and sneha — affectionate attachment — appear in classical literature, devotional texts and everyday speech, so many modern names draw on those roots. Below are ten Indian baby names commonly understood to mean some form of love, with short notes on origin, gender usage, cultural resonance and variants.

Ten names that mean “love”

• Priya / Priyā (प्रिय)

  Meaning: beloved, dear. Language: Sanskrit/Hindi. Usage: widely used across India for girls and occasionally in masculine forms for boys.

  Notes: Root of many compound names (e.g., Priyanka, Priyadarshini). In literary and devotional contexts priya describes what is cherished by a deity or devotee; its sense is simple and versatile.

• Prema / Prem (प्रेम)

  Meaning: love, affection, devotional love. Language: Sanskrit/Hindi. Usage: Prema is often feminine, Prem is a common masculine form.

  Notes: Prema appears in bhakti (devotion) literature to denote selfless love for the divine. As a given name it signals warmth and spiritual connection; regional pronunciations and spellings vary.

• Priyanka (प्रियांका)

  Meaning: dear little one, beloved; sometimes glossed as “lovely-eyed.” Language: Sanskrit-derived, common in many Indian languages. Usage: feminine.

  Notes: Modern and traditional usage both frequent; the name combines priya with a diminutive or affectionate suffix, giving it a tender tone.

• Priyansh (प्रियांश)

  Meaning: part or ray of the beloved; “one who is a portion of love.” Language: Sanskrit/Hindi. Usage: masculine.

  Notes: A contemporary compound name popular among Hindu families; ansh means portion or fragment, so the name evokes being part of something beloved.

• Anurag (अनुराग)

  Meaning: affection, attachment, tender love; also devotion. Language: Sanskrit/Hindi. Usage: masculine (but used for all genders in modern contexts).

  Notes: Appears in classical poetry and bhakti writings to denote deep emotional attachment; in everyday use it is understood as warm affection rather than mere desire.

• Sneha (स्नेह)

  Meaning: affection, tenderness, familial love. Language: Sanskrit/Hindi. Usage: feminine, though masculine forms exist regionally.

  Notes: Sneha highlights compassionate or familial bonds and appears frequently in modern Indian names and literature.

• Rati (रति)

  Meaning: pleasure, love, sexual and affectionate joy. Language: Sanskrit. Usage: feminine.

  Notes: Rati is the consort of Kama in classical sources and is associated with love and desire. Because of that mythological connection, the name carries both auspicious and sensuous resonances; families may choose it for its classical heritage.

• Maitri / Maitrī (मैत्री)

  Meaning: friendliness, loving-kindness (from the root mitra — friend). Language: Sanskrit/Pali. Usage: feminine, also used in philosophical contexts.

  Notes: Widely used in Hindu and Buddhist ethical vocabulary (e.g., the practice of loving-kindness). As a name it suggests an expansive, non-romantic love: compassion and goodwill.

• Kama (काम)

  Meaning: desire, love, pleasure. Language: Sanskrit. Usage: masculine or gender-neutral in some regions; also the name of the god of desire.

  Notes: Kama appears in classical texts (including the Kāma Sūtra and Puranic stories). Because it often denotes erotic desire as well as love, some families avoid it for children while others embrace its mythic depth.

• Premila / Premila (प्रेमिला)

  Meaning: affectionate, full of love; derived from prema. Language: Sanskrit/Hindi. Usage: feminine.

  Notes: A gentle, somewhat classical-sounding name formed from the root for love; variants include Premila, Premila, and regional spellings.

Picking a name: cultural and practical considerations

When families choose a name that means “love,” they often balance several factors: linguistic fit with the family language (Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, etc.), phonetic match with the family surname, regional naming customs, and religious or devotional meanings. For example, names like Prema and Maitri have clear devotional or philosophical valences in bhakti and Buddhist contexts; names such as Rati and Kama bring explicit mythological associations.

• Variants and compounds: Many love-root names form compounds—e.g., Priya + Lakshmi = Priyalakshmi; Prem + Kumar = Premkumar—allowing families to combine meanings.
• Regional usage: Pronunciation and gender usage change by region; check local practice before finalising.
• Auspicious considerations: Some families consult family elders, priests, or astrologers for syllable and nakshatra suitability; others prefer purely secular or aesthetic choices.

Final note

Meanings of names are rarely fixed: over centuries words shift nuance and different schools (Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Śākta, Smārta) may emphasise devotional, erotic or ethical senses in varying ways. The ten names above are rooted in words commonly translated as “love” or related forms of affectionate attachment; how a family understands and hopes for that quality in a child will shape which name feels right. If you consult a religious advisor for ritual naming, mention the precise spelling and pronunciation so the name fits your tradition and community usage.