Valentine's Day Names

Dariela may have a not-quite-authentic provenance, but it's a pretty name and an unusual choice in the girly Isabella-Gabriella group.

The Welsh word for "love" and a term of endearment turned modern word-name, Cariad is a sweet possibility that might work well as a name for a February or Valentines baby or a name for a Christmas baby. A famous bearer is British comedian Cariad Lloyd.

Connelly is an open, inviting, and rarely used Irish surname that can make a perfect alternative to the overused Connor or Colin for a boy.

Carita may feel like an endearing nickname but it's a name in its own right, used throughout Scandinavia in this form and as Karita, Caritas, and Karitas as a variation on Charity.

An Arabic name that can easily cross cultures. Janan might make a distinctive honor name for an ancestral Jan, Jane, or John.

An alternative to the more familiar Aviva.

A soft and lovely Hebrew name with an equally lovely meaning. Variations include Ahavah, Ahaba, Ahabah, Ahuva and Ahuvah.

This feminine version of the Welsh name Carwyn could be a good choice for parents looking for something fresher than Bronwen.

Desiderio was the full name of the Cuban bandleader who famously Loved Lucy. There was also a Saint Desiderio. Major attraction: the great nickname Desi.

This attractive Indian unisex name has a number of interesting variations with equally appealing meanings, including Manjula and Manjusha.

You can just hear some sassy dame in a 1930s movie using this name. We prefer the original -- or even its original, Amabel.

An unusual spin on Mila and Milena.

Lively sounding Hebrew choice.

A shimmery name with a wonderful meaning; another intriguing variation is Siroun.

Where as a serenade is an evening love song, an aubade is sung first thing in the morning.

Multisyllabic New Testament relic dimly recalled from the Thornton Wilder novel Theophilus North.

Cordis is an unusual and substantial unisex choice.

Popular in Puerto Rico since the 2000s and now in the US too, Dariel is a modern, elaborated form or Darrell or Darren, inspired by the likes of Gabriel and Daniel. Darrell (which might also be the inspiration behind Darren) derived from a Norman French surname, d'Airelle, referring to someone who came from Airelle in France.

The name of a saint in the Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek version of the more familiar Amadea / Amadeus. Philothea could make for a lovely, unusual way to get to stylish Thea. Bottom line: Philothea is one of those unique baby names that deserves to be discovered.

Hebrew name not often heard in this country, but would have no trouble fitting in.