The Best Candy Heart Sayings from the Past 120 Years

Unwrap the history of the popular confection's take on love with these short-and-sweet candy heart sayings

America has been in love with candy conversation hearts since 1902, and more than 120 Valentine’s Days later, we’re still professing our love with the whimsical candies. Officially known as Sweethearts, candy conversation hearts were originally manufactured by the New England Confectionery Co. (better known as Necco) as part of an assortment containing horseshoe-, baseball-, postcard- and watch-shaped candies. Because of the many fun candy heart sayings featured, gifting conversation hearts became a classic Valentine’s Day idea (despite the rest of the line being dropped).

After Necco went out of business in 2018, Spangler Candy Co. acquired the brand, and following a two-year hiatus, candy conversation hearts returned to store shelves in 2020. In keeping with tradition, Spangler’s core collection of Sweethearts features classic conversation heart sayings from years past. The company also releases new messages every year, each based on a central theme. For 2023, it was all about our furry friends, and for 2024 the theme is Friendship and Appreciation, along with a limited-edition release for the singles out there: Situationship Boxes.

“Singles are taking ‘situationships’ to the next level this year, and Sweethearts is here for them,” said Evan Brock, vice president of marketing for Spangler, in a press release. “The printing on Sweethearts isn’t always perfect. This is our way of embracing those imperfections in a way that taps into pop culture.”

So if you love a good Valentine’s Day pun, keep reading to find some of the best (and cutest) candy heart sayings from past years.

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The Best Candy Heart Sayings From The Past 120 Years 2024RD.COM

2024: Friendship and appreciation

  • BEST PAL
  • BFF
  • BIG FAN
  • FRIEND
  • GOAT
  • GO TEAM
  • HEART U
  • IRL LIKE
  • LIKE
  • LUV U FAM
  • REAL LIKE

The Best Candy Heart Sayings From The Past 120 Years 2023RD.COM

2023: Pet names

  • BABY BEAR
  • BEARY CUTE
  • BEEZ NEEZ
  • BIG DOG
  • CHICK ADEE
  • COOL CAT
  • HONEY BEE
  • LUCKY DOG
  • MAMA BEAR
  • MANE SQEZ
  • PAPA BEAR
  • PAW SOME
  • PUPPY LOVE
  • PURR FECT
  • SILLY GOOS
  • TEDDY BEAR

Conversation Heartsydney watson/rd.com

2022: Words of encouragement

  • BE YOU
  • BIG FAN
  • CHIN UP
  • CRUSH IT
  • DON’T QUIT
  • FEAR LESS
  • GO 4 IT
  • GOOD JOB
  • GO TIME
  • HIGH FIVE
  • PROUD OF U
  • PUSH THRU
  • SUPER STAR
  • U GOT THIS
  • WAY 2 GO
  • YOUDA BEST

Conversation Heartssydney watson/rd.com

2021: Love songs

  • 1000 YEARS
  • 10000 HRS
  • ADORE YOU
  • ALL MY LIFE
  • ALL OF ME
  • AT LAST
  • BABY LOVE
  • CRAZY NLUV
  • HAPPY 2GTHR
  • IGOTU BABE
  • I’LL BE THERE
  • I’M YOURS
  • LEAN ON ME
  • LOVE SHAK
  • LUV ME TENDR
  • MY GIRL
  • ONLY YOU
  • PERFECT
  • STILL THE 1
  • SUGAR SUGAR
  • SUMMR LOVIN

Conversation Hearts Illosydney watson/rd.com

2020: Classic throwback

  • ♥ OF GOLD
  • 3 WISHES
  • ALL MINE
  • ANGEL
  • ASK ME
  • CHARM ME
  • CLOUD 9
  • CRAZY 4 U
  • CUP CAKE
  • DEAR HEART
  • GOTCHA
  • HEART THROB
  • HOLD HANDS
  • HUG ME
  • I ♥ U
  • ME + YOU
  • MY BOO
  • ONLY YOU
  • PUGS & KITTENS
  • PUPPY LOVE
  • QT PIE
  • SO SWEET
  • SWEET TALK
  • UR MINE
  • UR SWEET
  • WIN ME
  • YOU FLIRT

Here’s a bit of Valentine’s Day trivia: When Necco went out of business, it took some history with it. The candy heart sayings released each year from 2010 to 2019 are lost to time, but you can enjoy the following oldies, beginning with some romantic restaurant–inspired phrases.

Conversation Hearts sydney watson/rd.com

2009: A menu of love

  • HONEY BUN
  • MY TREAT
  • RECIPE 4 LOVE
  • SPICE IT UP
  • STIR MY HEART
  • SUGAR PIE
  • SWEET LOVE
  • TABLE 4 TWO
  • TOP CHEF
  • YUM YUM

2008: Love’s in the forecast

  • CHILL OUT
  • CLOUD NINE
  • DO GOOD
  • GET MY DRIFT
  • HEAT WAVE
  • IN A FOG
  • MELT MY ♥
  • NATURE LOVER
  • SUN SHINE
  • WILD LIFE

2007: Animal attraction

  • BEAR HUG
  • COOL CAT
  • GO FISH
  • LOVE BIRD
  • MY PET
  • PUPPY LOVE
  • PURR FECT
  • TAKE A WALK
  • TOP DOG
  • URA TIGER

Conversation Heartssydney watson/rd.com

2006: Home and family

  • CALL HOME
  • GO HOME
  • HOME RUN
  • HOME SICK
  • HOME SOON
  • HOUSE PARTY
  • SWEET HOME

2005: The game of love

  • #1 FAN
  • ALL-STAR
  • BE A SPORT
  • BE MY HERO
  • CHEER ME ON
  • DREAM TEAM
  • FIT FOR LOVE
  • HEART OF GOLD
  • LOVE LIFE
  • LOVE MY TEAM

2004: Happily ever after

  • 3 WISHES
  • CHARM ME
  • DREAM
  • EVER AFTER
  • I LOVE YOU
  • IM ME
  • NEW YOU
  • MAGIC
  • NEW LOVE
  • START NOW

Conversation Hearts Illosydney watson/rd.com

2003: Love lessons

  • BOOK CLUB
  • CLASS ACT
  • LET’S READ
  • LOVE LETTER
  • PEN PAL
  • SCHOOL MATE
  • TEACH ME
  • WHIZ KID
  • WISE UP
  • WRITE ME

2002: Fashion forward

  • DIVA
  • DRESS UP
  • IN STYLE
  • LOOK GOOD
  • THAT SMILE
  • TRES CHIC
  • TWO HEARTS
  • URA QT
  • VOGUE
  • WHAT’S UP

2001: Limitless love

  • LOVE 2001
  • MOON BEAM
  • ODYSSEY
  • RISING STAR
  • STAR DUST
  • TOO SWEET
  • UR A STAR
  • VENUS
  • YOU & ME

2000: Celebrating the millennium

  • 2000 HUGS
  • 2000 KISSES
  • AMORE
  • ANGEL
  • GIRL POWER
  • GOT LOVE
  • IN THE MOOD
  • MUCH ADO
  • PEACE SIGN
  • ROMEO
  • SWING TIME
  • TIME OUT

1999: Now and then

  • 1-800 CUPID
  • AS IF
  • I GOT U BABE
  • I WONDER
  • LET IT BE
  • LET’S DO LUNCH
  • LOVE ME TENDER
  • MY WAY
  • WALK ON BY
  • YOU ROCK

For more classic conversation heart sayings that ran between 1902 and 2022, browse the lists below. You’ll find silly phrases to send to your pals on Galentine’s Day and bite-sized sayings that are a bit more casual than an intimate love quote.

Conversation Heartssydney watson/rd.com

Core candy heart sayings

  • BE MINE
  • BESTIE
  • CRUSH ON U
  • CUTIE PIE
  • DATE NIGHT
  • FLIRT
  • GIGGLE
  • HONEY PIE
  • I DO
  • I LUV YOU
  • KISS ME
  • LOVE BIRDS
  • LOVE BUG
  • MARRY ME
  • MY HERO
  • OOO LA LA
  • PICK ME
  • SOUL MATE
  • SWEET PEA
  • TRUE LOVE
  • UR CUTE
  • UR KIND
  • WINK WINK
  • XOXO
  • YOU + ME

Conversation Heartssydney watson/rd.com

Candy heart sayings from the past 120 years

  • BOOGIE
  • COOL DUDE
  • DREAM BIG
  • GOOD TIMES
  • HOLLA
  • HOT CHA
  • HOT DAWG
  • LET’S RIDE
  • LOVER BOY
  • MY, SUCH EYES
  • OH YOU KID
  • ON FLEEK
  • PLAY TIME
  • SAUCY BOY
  • TELL ME HOW
  • UR HOT

Conversation Hearts sydney watson/rd.com

Our favorite candy heart sayings of the past 120 years

  • 1 4 3
  • FIRST KISS
  • HEY YOU
  • HOT STUFF
  • JUST DANCE
  • JE T’AIME
  • JUST ONE
  • LAUGH
  • LET’S KISS
  • NEW LOVE
  • YOU SHINE

Candy heart sayings for best friends

  • BFF
  • CHICKS RULE
  • DRAMA QUEEN
  • FRIEND ME
  • GO GIRL
  • IT GIRL
  • MY GIRLZ
  • MY PAL
  • MY TEAM
  • U GO GIRL

Candy heart sayings for tech lovers

  • CALL ME
  • EMAIL ME
  • FAX ME
  • PAGE ME
  • TEXT ME
  • TWEET
  • TWEET ME
  • TXT ME
  • WEB SITE

Sources:

  • Spangler Candy: “Sweethearts are the sweetest way to celebrate Valentine’s Day”
  • Necco: “History”
  • Spangler Candy Company: “Sweethearts takes ‘Situationships’ to the next level”
  • NY Times: “The Sweet and Surprising History of Candy Hearts”
  • Ashley Worrall, brand manager of Spangler Candy

Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest

Mariah Thomas
Mariah Thomas is an Associate Editor at Reader's Digest. She has more than five years of editorial and social media experience—including her past role as an Assistant Editor for Good Housekeeping. Her editorial work can be seen across various platforms, from Women's Health and TLC.com to Apartment Therapy and Westchester Magazine, where she covered lifestyle, home, sustainability, wellness, entertainment and e-commerce. Beyond the editorial desk, Mariah is also the author of Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts & Emotions, a poetry book on Amazon that celebrates the beauty of life, love and womanhood.