What color is the heart emoji most commonly associated with love?

The Red Heart emoji is the color most commonly associated with love. Across popular symbolism, messaging, and romantic traditions, red signals strong affection, passion, and romantic love.

The red heart is an emoji version of a much older heart symbol. The stylized heart shape is not anatomically accurate, but it became established in European art and heraldry during the Middle Ages. By the 19th century, it was widely used on Valentine’s Day cards, candy boxes, and other romantic objects.

Color gives the symbol much of its emotional force. Red is also strongly linked with roses, desire, blood, warmth, and Saint Valentine’s Day. The heart became even more versatile in modern digital culture after the “I ♥ NY” campaign popularized the heart as a compact symbol for the verb “love” in 1977.

Other heart colors can add nuance: pink often suggests tenderness, purple can imply compassion or style, and blue may signal trust or support. They are meaningful alternatives, but the classic Red Heart remains the standard shorthand for love.