Cupid Name Generator

Cupid started as Eros, the Greek god of desire, and became Cupid (from the Latin cupido, meaning longing) or Amor (simply love) when the Romans adopted him. He was not alone: Greek poets gave him brothers called the Erotes, including Anteros for returned love, Himeros for sudden desire, Pothos for yearning and Hedylogos for sweet talk. By the Renaissance he had multiplied into the chubby winged putti of paintings, the cupids most people picture today, which is why the names here range from solemn deity names to something you would call a plump cherub with a bow.

Almost every culture has its own Cupid. Hindu tradition has Kamadeva with his sugarcane bow and his wife Rati; the Aztecs had Xochipilli and Xochiquetzal; the Norse had Freyja and the lesser goddesses Sjöfn and Lofn; Yoruba tradition has Oshun; China has Yue Lao, who ties the red thread between destined lovers. Another rich source is ordinary names that mean love or beloved: Amanda, Esmé, Carys, Priya, Aiko, Habib, Amias, Lubov and Thando.

To make a cupid name feel right, decide on the tone first. A love god wants a short classical name or a Latin epithet; a Valentine's mascot wants something soft, alliterative and a little silly; a romance character wants a real name with love hidden in its meaning.