When a baby is born on or near a holiday, there are two schools of thought on how to name that baby. There are some people who think having a birthday right near a holiday might be kind of a bummer, so choosing a thematic name (such as Merry or Noelle for a Christmas baby) is just adding insult to injury. Then there are those who believe it can be fun to lean into the holiday vibe and let the date help inspire the perfect baby name.
This is a name list for that second crowd of people! With Valentine's Day coming soon, we know there are some parents-to-be who are starting to wonder if they might end up with a baby born on one of the most romantic days of the year. There might also be parents-to-be who just like the idea of choosing a baby name that has lots of symbolism around love. We've got them both covered with this list of Valentine's Day inspired baby names for boys and girls.
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ROSE
Roses are one of the most traditional Valentine's Day gifts, and the name "Rose" has long been a classic girl's name. Rose is a wonderful choice for parents who like a more traditional name and who want to make a nod to Valentine's Day that is both subtle and sweet.
AMIAS
Amias is a name that feels fresh and has a bit of a hipster vibe, but it's actually an old moniker that is totally underused. Amias is a Latin name that means "beloved," which is a perfect choice for a much-loved little boy who arrives in February.
VALENTINA
Valentina, which has a Latin origin and means "strong" or "healthy," is probably the most on-the-nose name choice for a Valentine's Day baby. It's still a beautiful and classic name choice that nods to the holiday without being silly.
DAVIS
For parents who want a name that make a nod to the love vibes of Valentine's Day but also want a name that feels classic for all year around, Davis (or the closely related name David) might be a good choice. This is another name that means "beloved" and is a strong choice for parents who like a more traditional name.
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LOVE
Valentine's Day is allllll about love in all its forms, right? Love, as a name choice, is a pretty strong option for a first name. This one might be a little too different as a first name for some parents, but it would make an adorable middle name option for a Valentine's Day baby.
LIEV
Parents who are looking to combine Jewish or Russian family heritage and a Valentine's Day theme should consider the name Liev. This name has Yiddish roots and means "heart" or sometimes "lion-hearted." It's strong and sweet at the same time.
FREYA
Valentine's Day was named after the Italian Saint Valentine, who was associated with love. Another historical religious figure who is also associated with love was Freya, the Norse goddess associated with love and fertility. Freya is such a wonderful girl name that is unique and cool.
ARCHER
When we think about Valentine's Day, we think about candy, hearts, flowers, and that cute little Cupid with his bow and arrow. Cupid might be too cutesy of a name choice, but Archer is a nice subtle nod to the little cherub of love. It's also a fun nod to Taylor Swift, for the Swiftie moms-to-be.
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RUBY
The signature color associated with Valentine's Day is, of course, red. A traditional Valentine's Day gift is jewelry, so a ruby ring would be a fabulous romantic gift. A little baby girl named Ruby would be a fabulous gift to get on February 14 as well.
HART
Hart is an interesting choice for a unisex or boy name for a Valentine's Day baby. It obviously nods to the "hearts and flowers" side of the holiday, but the less traditional spelling makes it seem more strong than sweet, in a cool way.
DULCE
Valentine's Day is, after Halloween, one of the holidays most associated with candy and other sweet treats. The name Candy is, of course as option, but that might seem a little dated for some parents. The name Dulce, which means "sweet," is a more subtle way to bring in the holiday's candy vibes.
RORY
Another way to give a nod toward the central color theme of Valentine's day, red, is to go with the name Rory. This unisex name has Irish roots and means "red king," which would also be a cool option for parents who might have a baby with red hair.
ESME
We've got a brilliant idea for a Valentine's Day name for a little girl: Esme Valentina. We've already mentioned Valentina as a name option, but using it with Esme (which is French for "beloved") is such an elegant combo that means beloved valentine.
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VALENTINO
Valentino is a strong name choice for parents who really want to celebrate having a baby boy born on Valentine's Day. It might also be a name to consider for fans of classic movies, as Rudolph Valentino was one of the first big movie stars of the 1900s.
FLEUR
Flowers are probably one of the most traditional Valentine's Day gifts. According to the British Florist Association, more than 250 million stems are sold around the world for Valentine's Day. Parents who love flowers might be interested in the name Fleur, which is the French word for "flower."
ROMEO
Here's the thing about the name Romeo: Some people will hear it and think that it's a super romantic choice from a story that many people think is one of the great romances in literature. Others, whoever, might think of Romeo and Juliet as a tragedy and not a romance, so consider that option carefully.
CORDELIA
The name Cordelia is on our "cool, classic, and underused" name list, so we have to give it a shout-out for the Valentine's Day connection. It has a Welsh origin and means "heart." We also like that it has some wonderful nickname potentials with Delia built right in.
ERASMUS
Valentine's Day parents who want a thematic name that is also unique might consider Erasmus. This name, which has Greek origins, means "beloved" or "desired," which sure are two words that go along with a holiday associated with romance.
AIKO
Aiko is a short and sweet name that has Japanese roots and means "little loved one." That feels like a perfect option for a baby girl that arrives on or near Valentine's Day.
LENNAN
Another less-common name with Valentine's Day vibes is Lennan. This Irish name, which can be used for boys or as a gender neutral option, means "sweetheart" or "lover," which is totally on brand for a February 14 baby.
