Symbols Of Love And Their Meanings

Updated February 3rd, 2025 by Regain Editorial Team

What is the best way to communicate your undying love?

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Sometimes love between two people feels so significant that they want to represent it with a suitable symbol. This feeling can represent a desire to say, "I am still understanding the things I love about you, after all.”

Different cultures' symbol of love

In this article, we’ll explore different symbols of love in different cultures. Whether you’re in a new relationship, a years-long partnership, or a lifetime unity, you’re likely to find a symbol that best portrays your love for your partner in this list.

Heart

The best known, universal symbol of love is the heart-shaped ideograph, and it symbolizes the core of romantic love, affectionate emotion, and caring.

Roses

Robert Frost wrote: “My love is like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June.” This line draws a comparison between romantic love and a red rose, but it has its roots in religion. If you want to define romance and love to your partner through symbols, consider giving your partner vibrant red roses.

Today, roses symbolize passion, physical desire, and many facets of love. Greek mythology is associated with the goddess Aphrodite, and in Christianity, it is associated with the Virgin Mary. A white rose depicts divine love, a yellow rose illuminates friendship, and a pink rose indicates infatuation or romantic feelings.

The Ankh

Also called the crux ansata, the key to life, or the cross of life, the Ankh is probably the most common symbol of love in Egyptian. It looks like the Christian cross that makes a loop at the top, and it commonly represents life and immortality.

However, it is little known that the Ankh also symbolizes fertility, and some scholars have argued that it represents the female genitalia. Another interpretation is that it also symbolizes the union between Isis and Osiris after she resurrected him from the dead. This is not a common association, though.

The Menat

This little-known and obscure Egyptian symbol is a heavily beaded necklace characterized by a crescent front, weighty collar, and back counterweight that also doubles as a percussion instrument in ancient Egypt. It was worn with the intent of bringing the bearer fertility, potency, joy, and good luck. The menat is also known as the menit or menet.

Swans and doves

The Greek goddess Aphrodite and her Roman counterpart, Venus, the goddess of desire and love, are both represented as swans. A popular depiction of love involves two swans positioned opposite of each other with their beaks touching. Their necks form looks like a heart, which reinforces its symbolism, at least in modern culture. Swans mate for life.

Dove: one of the symbols of love

The dove is a well-known Christian symbol of Christ’s peace and love, but two doves signify fidelity. This is also a symbol of deep, enduring love, and in the Hindu tradition, the dove symbolizes the heart’s limitless capacity for love.

In Greek and Roman mythology, the dove was considered a sacred bird, often sacrificed in honor of the two goddesses of love, Aphrodite and Venus. In art, each goddess is also often shown with these birds fluttering around them.

Doves, like swans, are also known to mate for life, and the male is a hands-on father with the chicks. Doves are a beautifully pure symbol of marriage and partnership.

Maple leaves

In Japan and China, a red maple leaf is used as an emblem for lovers and reminds one of the beauties of love in everyday life. North American settlers also used to place a maple leaf at the foot of the bed to attract sexual pleasure, ensure deep sleep, and ward off evil. In the same tradition, a stork using a maple branch to build its nest depicts parental love toward welcoming a new baby.

Much like the sweetness of maple syrup, a maple leaf also signifies the sweet feelings associated with being in love.

Celtic love symbols

The following are enduring Irish love symbols with a rich history steeped in legend.

The Claddagh ring

With two hands holding a heart with a crown, this ring is a symbol associated with an old legend. Claddagh (pronounced [klad-ukh]) is derived from a word that means ‘flat stony shore,’ which describes the fishing village this legend originated from.

A fisherman called Richard was separated from his love after being captured by the Moors to work as a slave in Africa. Over the years, he allegedly stole gold from his masters and forged a ring for his lady love. Fortunately, when he was able to return to Ireland, he discovered that she’d remained true to him, and he could present the ring to her.

It is worn to signify that a person is spoken for before a formal wedding. It symbolizes undying loyalty, friendship, and love. It is also used in jewelry other than rings and sometimes engraved into wedding rings.

Love knots

The love knot is a uniquely Celtic love symbol, popular throughout the world. It has many permutations that go by different names, but it comprises two ropes tied together in an intricate knot so that the ropes seem like one and without beginning or end.Legend has it that when Celtic sailors of old missed their sweethearts while at sea, they would tie this knot as a symbol of their heart’s desire to be entwined with their lovers. Upon returning home, this knot would be presented to the beloved. Today it symbolizes the perfect union of eternal love between two people. The sailor’s knot is the best known, but there’s also the Celtic spiral or oval knot, the Celtic serpent, round knots, and square knots.

The Search Bythol is a well-known love knot, characterized by two intertwined knots that each have three corners. These three-cornered knots are called triskeles, and the corners represent body, mind, and spirit. The triskeles’ union signifies two people uniting in body, mind, and spirit, in a circle that symbolizes eternal love. It is often used in jewelry and as a simple tattoo.

Some sources also state that, in the time of the prophet Muhammad, some used to tie knots in a rope and then used incantations to either curse or bewitch a would-be lover. This is generally considered a sin in Muslim tradition, though.

Three-leaf clover

Also called the Shamrock, this plant was sacred by the Irish in ancient times. Today, the three-leaf white clover is Ireland’s national symbol. Its symbolism is derived from the legend of St. Patrick, who used it to explain the concept of the holy trinity in Christianity to the Irish. It represents hope, faith, and holy love and is still worn by some couples on their wedding day for good luck in their marriage.

Shell

Shells, including the homes of pearls, were ancient love symbols that signified their nature by cultures as diverse as the ancient Romans, Hindus, and Native Americans. Venus, the Roman Goddess of love and fertility, is often depicted standing in a scallop shell, where she was created from sea foam. Sandro Botticelli did the most famous painting of this divine birth in the early 15th century. The shell also denoted regeneration in ancient Roman culture, while the Hindus are said to have used the conch shell to call love.

Apple

The apple is a well-known and ancient symbol of love in many legends and stories. It also has various meanings attributed to it. Think of the biblical Adam and Eve, with Adam eating the forbidden apple, the fruit of knowledge, at Eve’s bidding.

In this tradition, the apple represents temptation. Venus, the Roman goddess of love and desire, is also often depicted holding an apple, so it can be said that the apple represents the slightly dangerous, seductive, and sexual aspects of love.

In Norse mythology, the gods eat golden apples to remain youthful and vital. The apple blossom is a symbol of adoration in Chinese culture, while Celtic mythology associates an apple with irresistible desire in the story about Cole. In the seventh century BCE, an apple was a custom of marriage, and it signified the couple’s hope for a fruitful relationship.

Cupid

The Roman goddess, Venus, gave birth to Cupid, on whom the same title was bestowed – god of love. He is commonly depicted as a winged boy with a bow, and blindfolded, which some interpret to mean that love blinds you to your beloved’s faults.

His bow and arrow, according to legend, are used to shoot a golden arrow through a person’s heart, which causes them to fall in love with the first person they see. Some describe it as "love at first sight" while others describe it as "love-struck." If Cupid uses a leaden arrow, the opposite happens – they may never fall in love with the first person they see.

Seeking help for love and relationships

Life is short and it sometimes throws us curve balls that can turn any fairy tale into a challenging saga. That’s just the nature of things and not necessarily a reflection of your character or the quality of your relationships. It would be a good idea to keep in mind that all relationships go through demanding times, and if you handle these well as a couple, they can strengthen your union.

What is the best way to communicate your undying love?

Online therapy can help you show affection

How a mental health professional can help

If you feel that you’re unable to handle conflict or other upsets, consider couple or individual therapy online and in your own home. At Regain, our registered therapists are trained to help you with whatever you may be experiencing. You can schedule sessions with your online counselor at convenient times and avoid frustrating commutes by logging in from any location with a stable internet connection.

If you’ve been encountering challenges in your relationship, know that many couples have sought therapy in addressing their issues. Not only that, but online couples counseling has also shown efficacy in resolving various problems. Has your attraction to your long-term partner dwindled lately? Are you considering how to connect with your spouse on a deeper level? Are you grieving the loss of a relationship? Couples facing similar problems and more benefited from an online videoconferencing therapy intervention, reporting significant improvements in relationship satisfaction and overall mental health.

Takeaway

Whether you’re deep in love and wanting to share that passion with your partner, or noticing signs that something is off balance in your relationship, an online therapist can be an invaluable participant in your support network. When you’re ready to receive extra support, reach out to a licensed therapist on Regain today.

Frequently asked questions

Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about this topic.

What is the best symbol of love?

The heart is the most widely recognized and universally known symbol of love. It is a recognized love symbol across the world and is used in many different designs, such as the Irish Claddagh, to represent love and loyalty.

The only other symbol of love that could come close to the heart’s universal significance would be the red rose. The red rose is another love symbol recognized for love and loyalty and is one of the most common flowers given to a potential partner. The red rose can also be given to parents.

What symbolizes everlasting love?

A few symbols can mean everlasting love, depending on the culture. Of course, the most immediately recognizable symbol of everlasting love is the heart. Some animals that represent everlasting love include doves and starfish. In traditional love symbols, the Claddagh and the Irish knot are both historical symbols of everlasting love and loyalty.

What flower means secret love?

The gardenia is the flower that is associated with the secret or forbidden love. Many flowers are associated with different symbols of love. Some represent a new love interest, some represent love and loyalty, and some are love symbols of a traditional nature. For example, a white carnation is a love symbol of pure love and innocence, whereas a red rose symbolizes the love that is more intense and passionate.

What is the animal of love?

While there are a few different animals that symbolize love, there is no animal love symbol quite as well known as the dove. Doves are used frequently as love symbols in weddings worldwide, and nearly all religions believe doves to be a symbol of divine love and purity. Swans are another type of bird used to represent love, particularly new love and chastity.

Horses are another animal that symbolizes love, although it is not as well-known of a love symbol. However, in ancient China and Mesopotamia, for example, the horse symbolized love and fertility.

Another love symbol of Chinese culture is the ladybug. Its spots are said to tell you how many months until you will meet your new love, and it is said to fly to your new love’s ear and tell them of their new love interest.

Another animal symbol of love that is less well known is the starfish, which symbolizes the love of a divine nature; it is specifically linked to the Virgin Mary of Catholicism.

Throughout history, many cultures have used animal love symbols to represent love and loyalty. Some of these animals that represent love also represent other things, such as luck in the case of the ladybug.

What symbolizes a new beginning?

There are so many symbols for new beginnings, and each culture has different options. Symbols can differ in meaning from person to person, as well. Some of the most well-known symbols of new beginnings include:

The phoenix
Caterpillars
Butterflies
Red-breasted robins
Lotus flowers
Koi fish

Some of the animals represent both new beginnings and love, like butterflies.

What is the unconditional love symbol?
What things can represent love?
What are the visual symbols of love?
What is a symbol for undying love?
What symbolizes forever?

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