Lyubov

Lyubov is the Russian word for love, and one of a trio of given names based on theological virtues: Vera, faith; Nadezhda, hope; Lyubov, love. Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard gives us Lyubov Andreyevna, the vanishing aristocrat who can't quite leave her old estate behind. The affectionate short form is Lyuba, softer and more everyday. Two syllables in the Russian, with a soft l at the front that English speakers approach as lyu, and a v at the end that closes like a small lid. Lyubov reads strong and classical, a name that is also, literally, a declaration.