Agape

Meaning & origin

Agape is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded in 1992. Its most popular year was 2020, though it has never ranked in the top 1000, with fewer than 100 births per year. The name has been on a downward trend since 2021, reflecting a decline in religiously themed names or perhaps a shift away from abstract virtue names. Agape is not tied to any particular state, as its usage is too sparse to register in top-state data. Despite its low frequency, the name carries deep theological weight, derived from the Greek word for the highest form of love. Its use as a name likely appeals to parents seeking a distinctive, meaningful choice.

Agape is derived from the Greek word 'ἀγάπη' (agápē), which in ancient Greek denoted a broad, unconditional love. In early Christian writings, the term was adopted to describe God's love for humanity and the ideal Christian love for others, distinguishing it from other Greek words for love such as 'eros' (romantic) and 'philia' (brotherly). As a given name, Agape has been used sparingly, primarily among religious families, and saw a slight increase in use in the United States from the 1990s onward, likely influenced by its theological significance.