Valentine's Day Names

Agapi has a sweet meaning of love and affection, but though this name is used in modern Greece, it's one of the Greek names for girls that has not yet emigrated to the US along with so many of her sisters.

As the French Esme becomes more popular, it will inevitably spawn spelling variations. This one, like Zoey or Layla, clarifies pronunciation, so while we prefer the original, that's not a bad thing.

In Welsh, Ceri is traditionally a male name but can also be used for girls. It's a short form of Ceridwen too, the name of the Welsh goddess of poetry.

In the Zulu and Xhosa languages of Southern Africa, Phila is a unisex name pronounced "PEE-la" and means "to live of life" It's also the feminine version of the ancient Greek name Philo, pronounced "FEE-la", meaning friend or lover and present in several contemporary names and words used throughout the Western World. The name Philip, for instance, means lover of horses, while the city name Philadelphia means "brotherly love" and philosophy means "love of wisdom".

An attractive and worldly name for a cherished baby son.

Karita and Karitas are the Icelandic spins on Charity, also found as Carita and Caritas throughout Scandinavian. While to the English speakers these names may feel like a Latinate endearment, they are popular names in their own right.

This simple but alluring name — some might associate it with the Kama Sutra — was chosen by heavy metal rocker Sammy Hagar for his daughter.

A North African choice, particularly popular in Tunisia and Syria.

Rhythmic name sometimes associated with calypso singer King Ajamu.

Pretty Asian option.

This is a Muslim female name particularly popular in Somalia and North Africa.