Love
Love is the Swedish version of the French name Louis. It can also be a version of Lovisa, and can thus be used both for men and women, although it is more common with men.
- Swedish
- English
Meaning & Origin of Love
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Love is the Swedish version of the French name Louis. It can also be a version of Lovisa, and can thus be used both for men and women, although it is more common with men.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Swedish
- English
The Story of Love
As a girl name
Love first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1880, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2022: 386 births, good for #750 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 44% of all recorded Loves. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #737 among girl names with 383 births, rising sharply (+107% over the past five years). In total, more than 5K Loves have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Love on the record books as a boy name in 1882, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 32 Loves were born — ranking #3,532 that year. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,661 among boy names with 31 births, rising sharply (+121% over the past five years). In total, more than 1K Loves have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Love
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Love. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Love
Phonetically similar names — useful when Love is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Love
What does the name Love mean?
What is the origin of the name Love?
How popular is Love in 2026?
When was Love most popular?
In which U.S. states is Love most popular?
Is Love a unisex name?
What names go well with Love?
What are nicknames or variants of Love?
About the name Love
Love is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Love's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #731. Use the chart and map above to compare Love's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2022 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.