Love Calculator
Enter two names and play the classic paper love games, FLAMES and the LOVES letter count, with every step shown.
Just for fun: these are the paper games played in school, worked out step by step. They count letters and cannot predict anything.
Romeo + Juliet
LOVES score 87% · FLAMES: Enemies
Use a nickname or another spelling and the score changes — another sign it is only a game.
LOVES count, step by step
| L | O | V | E | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Step | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Letter counts | 2 3 1 3 1 |
| Add neighbours (1) | 5 4 4 4 |
| Add neighbours (2) | 9 8 8 |
| Add neighbours (3) | 8 7 |
FLAMES
| Letters left in Romeo | romo |
| Letters left in Juliet | julit |
| Count | 9 |
| Last letter standing | E = Enemies |
What this page cannot tell you
A game, not a measurement. The score depends only on which letters the names contain, so any pair of names gets a number; nicknames and spelling change it. There are several playground versions of both games; the rules used here are written out below.
How to play the love calculator
- Type two names. First names, nicknames or full names.
- Read the LOVES score. Letters L, O, V, E, S counted and added down to two digits.
- Read FLAMES. Friends, Lovers, Affection, Marriage, Enemies or Siblings.
10 ways people play love calculator games
Sleepovers
Friends play FLAMES with their crushes' names.
Party games
A host runs a name game at a party.
Classroom fun
A teacher shows the letter-counting steps as a maths puzzle.
Wedding showers
Guests try the couple's names.
Social media trends
Someone checks a trend that does the paper method.
Nostalgia
Adults replay the game they did on paper at school.
Couples' jokes
Partners compare scores with nicknames.
Fictional couples
Fans try characters' names.
Teaching algorithms
A programming student studies FLAMES as the Josephus problem.
Ice-breakers
A youth group warms up with a name game.
How the two games work
FLAMES (as described on Wikipedia): write both names, cross out each letter the names share, one for one, and count the letters left (n). Then count around F-L-A-M-E-S n letters at a time, striking out the letter you land on, until one is left: Friends, Lovers, Affection, Marriage, Enemies or Siblings.
LOVES count: write 'name loves name', count how many L, O, V, E and S letters it contains, then add each neighbouring pair of numbers to make a new row (a sum of 10 or more is reduced to its digit sum) until two digits remain — read together as a percentage.
Limits: these are games. The result depends only on the letters, changes with spelling, and predicts nothing. Several playground versions exist; the rules used are the ones written here.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Is a love calculator accurate?
No. It counts letters and cannot measure anything about a relationship.
How does the paper love calculator work?
Count L, O, V, E and S in 'name loves name', then add neighbouring numbers until two digits are left.
What does FLAMES stand for?
Friends, Lovers, Affection, Marriage, Enemies, Siblings.
Does the order of the names matter?
Not here: both games give the same result whichever name comes first. A nickname or different spelling does change it.
Are names stored?
No, everything runs in your browser.
Why are there different versions?
It is a playground game passed on by word of mouth, so rules vary.
Related tools
Zodiac Compatibility
Pick two zodiac signs or birthdays and see the aspect between them, their elements and modalities, and what astrological tradition says.
Astrological sign and aspect tables (via Wikipedia)
Spin the Wheel
Type your options, spin the wheel and get a fair random pick, with the option to remove each winner.
Web Crypto random numbers
Random Team Generator
Paste a list of names and split them into random, evenly sized teams by number of teams or team size.
Web Crypto random shuffle
Random Username Generator
Generate random usernames from word pairs or your own name, with your choice of separator, numbers and length limit.
Word lists and Web Crypto random numbers
Dog Years to Human Years
Enter your dog's age and get its age in human years by the general rule and by the 2020 DNA-methylation formula.
Wang et al. 2020 (Cell Systems); general 15/9/5 rule
What Soil Type Is My Property?
Enter an address and get the soil series, texture, drainage, pH and depth to water table for that exact spot.
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO)