There are many ways to express love, as every culture has its own symbol of love. There are several traditional love symbols that are often used in Western and Eastern art from historical times, not just roses and hearts. So, here we have gathered a few romantic and sentimental love symbols from different cultures. These symbols will help you learn more about love and also their hidden symbolism. So, go ahead and express love in a new way.
25 Symbols Of Love And Their Meanings
Here is a list of unique, romantic, and meaningful symbols of love, some of which are popular, while a few are lesser-known.
1. Apple
According to ancient Chinese culture and Greek and Norse mythology, the apple symbolizes unconditional love. It is a symbol that reflects abundance and a long-lasting romantic relationship. Throwing an apple was an expression of love in ancient Greece.
2. Harp
The harp was used in traditional love songs for its gentle and melodic sound. It is a Celtic love symbol, representing the bridge of love that connects the Earth with Heaven. According to Icelanders and Norwegians, a ladder formed by harp strings reflects the progression towards higher stages of love.
3. Claddagh
The love symbol belongs to Irish folklore and consists of two hands, one crown, and one heart. This Celtic symbol is usually carved in a Claddagh ring, a traditional piece of jewelry used as an engagement or wedding ring.
4. Swans
White swans are a familiar symbol of love and are associated with the ancient Roman and Greek goddesses of love. They are often photographed as mates, with their beaks touching and a heart shape created with the curvature of their necks. They have been used as a symbol of love and devotion throughout the world.
5. Doves
Considered to be a significant symbol of peace and love, two doves together depict eternal love. They mate all their life, and therefore, they symbolize fidelity. According to Roman and Greek mythology, doves were sacred animals. There are various images of goddesses with doves fluttering around them.
6. Cupid
Cupid is one of the most popular symbols of love. It is used widely in Roman and Greek artwork and is depicted as a cute little boy with wings using an arrow and bow to pierce people’s hearts and make them fall in love with each other.
7. Rose quartz
It is a precious pink stone that is a famous and forever symbol of love since 600 B.C. Found in ancient legends from Egypt, Greece, and China, the stone is believed to foster feelings of self-love and attract the kind of romantic relationship you wish to have.
8. Jasmine
The white flower with a sweet fragrance is a potent symbol of love. Believed to have originated from the Himalayan foothills, jasmine is considered pure and sacred in the Hindu religion. Thus, many Hindu goddesses are depicted wearing garlands made of jasmine flowers.
9. Love knot
It represents eternal love. The popular Celtic symbol consists of loops that have no end and no beginning, just like everlasting love. http
10. Red roses
Red roses are the most popular symbol of love worldwide and have been used to represent affection since time immemorial. They are often attributed to goddesses in Roman and Greek mythology.
11. Heart
The heart shape has been the universal love symbol for centuries. It is a traditional symbol whose origin is unknown. The heart is believed to be associated with higher human emotions such as compassion, charity, faith, and fidelity. The heart shape is usually used to symbolize love, affection, romance and excitement of love.
12. Ladybird
The ladybird is a common good luck symbol and also represents love. According to certain cultures in Asia, it is believed that if a captured ladybird is released, it will fly to the love of your life and whisper your name to them. After hearing your name, your true love will come to you.
13. Infinity
The beautiful love symbol is similar to the love knot and represents forever love. The infinity symbol is popular in ancient Rome, Tibet, India, and Greece. It consists of loops that have no beginning and no end, representing eternity in love.
14. Seashells
Found in ancient Greece, Rome, and India, seashells are a symbol of love. All the goddesses of love across these three cultures—Aphrodite, Venus, and Lakshmi are seen having seashells. The hard casing of these shells symbolizes the protectiveness in a romantic relationship.
15. Maple leaf
The maple leaf is the most diverse symbol of love. In China and Jana, it represents true and beautiful love. In North America, maple leaves are placed at the foot of the beds to keep the demons and negativities away. Maple leaves depict the wonders and sweetness of love.
16. The Ankh
The ancient Egyptian symbol for love resembles the Christian cross with a loop on the top. Also known as crux ansata, it commonly represents immortality and life and symbolizes fertility as it represents the female genitalia.
17. Three-leaf clover
The three-leaf clover is a sacred plant in Ireland and is also the country’s national symbol. It represents love, faith, and hope and is worn by Irish couples on the day of their wedding as it is believed to bring good fortune in their marriage. Also known as Shamrock, it is a metaphor for the Holy Trinity.
18. Triskele
It is one of the oldest Celtic love symbols with three interlocked spirals representing fire, earth, and water. They are connected by a continuous line that represents love, eternal life, and unity.
19. Venus
It is the second planet in the solar system between Earth and Mercury. The symbol of Venus is a circle sitting on a cross, which is similar to the female sex symbol. Venus represents love and sexual desire in European traditions, and it represents fertility, beauty, and purity in Indian tradition.
20. Diamonds
Diamonds have been a symbol of eternal commitment and love for ages. It is a Greek belief that Cupid uses diamond-tipped arrows with the magical power to inspire love in hearts and bring them together. That is why diamond jewelry is widely used as an expression of love across different cultures.
21. Triangle
Triangle indicated the capacity for love in ancient Egypt. It also represents the love shared by a father, mother, and child. The triangle is a crucial element of the Buddhist Shri Yantra that promotes the invocation of love energy. An inverted triangle symbolizes a vessel poured with love.
22. Ribbons and frills
The association of ribbons and frills with love dates back to the days of the knights, who would ride to the battlefield wearing the scarf or ribbon given by his lady love. Years ago, women would drop their frilly handkerchief, hoping that a man would pick it up and give it back, expressing his interest in her.
23. Hands
The clasped hands of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were the symbol of the friendship that existed between England and Germany. Legend has it that a long time ago, a man asked for a woman’s hand when he proposed marriage to her, and since then, the hands have become the symbol of love and marriage.
24. Padme Lotus
It represents illumination, growth, purity, transformation, and love. A lotus with eight petals is a symbol of harmony, and a lotus with thousands of petals is a symbol of enlightenment. With a change in the lotus’s color, its significance also changes. For instance, the red rose symbolizes love and passion.
25. Nsoromma
Nsoromma means a star, and it symbolizes guardianship. It is a constant reminder that God is watching over us. This symbol represents bonding, faithfulness, and love, especially in the marital bond.
