Looking for Tamil names that mean love? In Tamil, “love” is not just one word — it can mean affection, kindness, devotion, care, and deep emotional bonding. That’s why Tamil love names often carry a warm “family love” feeling (அன்பு / நேசம் / பாசம்) as much as a romantic meaning (காதல்).
On this page, you’ll find Tamil names that mean love (and close-to-love meanings) with:
- English name + Tamil spelling
- Meaning in simple English
- Easy pronunciation
- Links to each full name page (so you can explore origin, related names, and more)
To make it easy to browse, we’ve separated the list into two sections: names that literally mean love, and names that mean beloved / dear / darling (which is what many parents are really searching for when they type “love name”).
Quick picks (the “love vibe” shortlist)
If you want names that directly say love/affection (high intent keywords people actually search for), start here:
- Anbu (அன்பு) — Love, affection
- Nesam (நேசம்) — Love, affection
- Paasam (பாசம்) — Love, affection
- Kaadhal (காதல்) — Love, affection (often romantic)
- Priyam (பிரியம்) — Beloved, dear
- Kanmani (கண்மணி) — Darling, precious one
- Anbalagu (அன்பழகு) — Beauty of love
Tamil names that mean love (and close-to-love meanings)
These Tamil names are commonly associated with love, affection, devotion, or romance. Each includes Tamil spelling, a clear meaning, and a simple pronunciation.
| Name | Tamil | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anbalagi | அன்பழகி | Beautiful love | AM-buh-luh-gee |
| Anbalagu | அன்பழகு | Beauty of love | am-BAH-lah-goo |
| Anbu | அன்பு | Love, affection | AHN-boo |
| Anurag | அனுராக் | Love, affection | ah-noo-RAA-k |
| Kaadhal | காதல் | Love, affection | KAA-dal |
| Kaman | காமன் | god of love; desire | KAA-mun |
| Kamaraj | காமராஜ் | King of love; lord of desires | kaa-ma-raj |
| Kamatchi | காமாட்சி | Goddess Parvati; love | KAA-maa-chee |
| Kamesh | கமேஷ் | lord of love, desire | ka-MAYSH |
| Madhan | மதன் | god of love; passion | MAH-dhuhn |
| Manmadhan | மன்மதன் | god of love, cupid | man-MAH-dan |
| Manmathi | மன்மதி | goddess of love | mam-MAH-tih |
| Nesa | நேசா | Love; affection | NEH-saa |
| Nesam | நேசம் | Love, affection | NAY-sum |
| Paasam | பாசம் | Love, affection | paa-sam |
| Parvathi | பார்வதி | Goddess of fertility and love | PAA-rva-thee |
| Prem | பிரேம் | Love, affection | pi-RAYM |
| Prema | பிரேமா | Love, affection | PRAY-maa |
| Rathi | ரதி | love, pleasure | RAH-tee |
| Sineha | சிநேகா | Love; affection | si-NAY-kaa |
| Sukra | சுக்ரா | Venus, planet of love | SU-kraa |
Names that mean Beloved / Dear / Darling
These names match the “beloved / dear / darling” meaning many parents want when searching for love-inspired Tamil baby names.
| Name | Tamil | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kadhali | காதலி | Lover, beloved | KAA-tha-li |
| Kanmani | கண்மணி | Precious gem; darling | KAN-ma-nee |
| Priya | ப்ரியா | Beloved, dear | PRI-yaa |
| Priyam | பிரியம் | Beloved, dear | PRI-yum |
| Nesamani | நேசமணி | Beloved gem | NAY-sa-mah-nee |
| Kannan | கண்ணன் | Lord Krishna; beloved | KA-nn-an |
| Radha | ராதா | Beloved of Krishna | RAA-daa |
| Supriya | சுப்ரியா | Beloved, dear | suh-PREE-yah |
| Priyan | பிரியன் | Beloved, dear one | PRI-yahn |
| Priyasha | பிரியாஷா | Loved, dear one | prih-YAA-shaa |
| Chinni | சின்னி | Small, dear one | CHIN-nee |
| Kutti | குட்டி | Small, dear one | koo-tti |
| Nathan | நந்தன் | Son, beloved, joyful | NAN-dhan |
| Sivapriya | சிவபிரியா | Beloved of Lord Shiva | see-vuh-PREE-yaa |
| Kannappan | கண்ணப்பன் | Lord Murugan; beloved one | kuhn-NAH-puhn |
| Chinnappan | சின்னப்பன் | Younger brother, dear | chin-NAH-puhn |
| Chinnathai | சின்னத்தாய் | Little mother, dear one | chin-NAH-thaay |
| Mugilpriya | முகில்பிரியா | Beloved of clouds | mu-gil-PREE-yaa |
| Kanavan | கணவன் | Husband, beloved man | ka-NAH-vun |
| Mary | மேரி | Beloved, wished for child | MAY-ree |
| Chandrakant | சந்திரகாந்த் | Beloved of the moon; shining | CHAN-dra-KAANT |
| Priyaa | பிரியா | Beloved; dear | prih-YAA |
| Thayanan | தனயன் | Son, dear one | ta-na-yan |
What “love” means in Tamil (and why it matters for naming)
When people search “Tamil names that mean love,” they usually want one of these:
- Affection / kindness love (அன்பு)
- This is the soft, compassionate love, care, warmth, goodwill.
- Attachment / family bond (பாசம்)
- Often used for deep bonds—family, long-term closeness, emotional attachment.
- Fondness / friendship love (நேசம்)
- A gentle “I care about you” love, fondness and affection.
- Romantic love (காதல்)
- This is the word you’ll see everywhere in Tamil songs/poetry for romance and longing.
If you want a very Tamil cultural touch in your article body, you can even reference how classical Tamil literature treats love/affection as something that overflows naturally (e.g., Thirukkural’s chapter on love).
FAQ
The most direct Tamil names that literally mean love or affection are Anbu (அன்பு), Nesam (நேசம்), Paasam (பாசம்), and Kaadhal (காதல்). These words are commonly used in Tamil to express love, emotional bonding, and affection, making them some of the clearest “love-meaning” name choices.
Anbu (அன்பு) is a unisex name. It is widely used for both boys and girls and is also commonly seen as a meaningful word-name that directly means love or affection in Tamil. Anbu is often used on its own or as part of longer compound names.
Kanmani (கண்மணி) is one of the most popular Tamil names meaning “darling” or “precious one.” It is a warm, affectionate word commonly used to address loved ones, which is why it works beautifully as a baby girl name.
Priyam (பிரியம்) is a well-known Tamil name meaning “beloved” or “dear.” It expresses closeness and affection without being overly romantic, making it a popular choice for both traditional and modern Tamil naming styles.
Nesam (நேசம்) usually refers to gentle fondness or affection, while Paasam (பாசம்) often implies a deeper emotional bond, especially within family relationships. Both relate to love, but Paasam typically conveys stronger attachment and closeness.
