143 Means "I Love You" – The Stories Behind Digital Love Letter Numbers

Before we dive deep, to clearly answer the question once and for all: 143 means "I love you" based on the number of letters in each word (I = 1 letter, Love = 4 letters, You = 3 letters).

But 143 is far from the only numerical message used to encode affection online. Let‘s explore the origins, history, and usage of these digital love letters that turn simple numbers into meaningful expressions.

The Stories Behind 143, 821, 14344 and Other "I Love You" Codes

While numeric shorthand was originally used on old pager devices due to character limitations, these digital love letters persist across modern messaging apps today.

Beyond 143, numerous number sequences over the years have come to signify loving feelings. Where did these coded phrases originate and how did they become popular internet slang?

143 – "I Love You"

As we established upfront, 143 stands for "I love you" because:

• I has 1 letter
• Love has 4 letters
• You has 3 letters

This exact origin story is debated, but most sources (like this Wired interview with pager company execs) credit pager users in the 1980s sending romantic notes under tight character limits.

Another theory claims 143 goes back decades earlier – to the early 1900s miners sending Morse code pulses along telegraph wires to lighthouse keepers, spelling out “I love you” with dots and dashes.

Regardless of the backstory, 143 endured over generations and across technologies as the OG numeric message for “I love you”, gaining mainstream fame after featuring in the 1990’s coming-of-age film Angus.

Pop culture highlights:

• Angus (1995 film)
• The Simpsons (TV series)
• Numerous songs reference 143

143 continues thriving today: Pepsi printed 143 under caps as a 1990s Valentine’s promotion. And according to Google search data, lookups for “143 meaning” have spiked 400% in the last 5 years as Gen Z discovers this old school digital love letter.

821 – "I Love You"

While 143 is historically most popular, 821 carries the exact same “I love you” meaning in a slightly different format:

• 8 letters in “I love you” phrase
• 3 words
• 1 meaning: love!

Unlike 143’s disputed origins, 821 is generally attributed to the 90s internet chat room boom, when it emerged as an alternative numeric shorthand for love letters and flirting between early online teens.

A Chicago Tribune article from 1993 documents minutes from a local school board meeting, in which confused members ask teens to explain this “815” lingo showing up in confiscated love notes (likely actually 821, which makes more sense!)

Fun historical trivia: chat room posters would sometimes combine 143 and 821, playfully typing 143821 to emphasize the dual “I love you” codes.

Nowadays 821 enjoys a revival thanks to TikTok, where a viral video explains its meaning to confused Gen Zers – earning 12 million views and likely introducing a new generation to this old school digital shorthand.

14344 – "I Love You Very Much"

For an even more emphatic declaration moving beyond basic 143 love, there’s 14344 shorthand representing:

• I love (143)

• You very much

• I = 1 letter

• Love = 4 letters

• You = 3 letters

• Very = 4 letters

• Much = 4 letters

Unlike other codes, a definitive origin for 14344 remains unknown – though likely also stems from the early internet chat room era.

Its usage remains relatively niche, but I predict 14344 will see future viral revival similar to 821’s resurgence thanks to TikTok – perhaps even crossing over into gaming chat. Who wouldn’t want their squad mate to know they love them “very much”? After clutching that 1v3 to achieve victory, 14344 communicates heartfelt gratitude!

Nerd stats: Searches for “14344 meaning” peaked in 2012 before falling back into obscurity. For now.

831 224 – "I Love You Today, Tomorrow, Forever"

If you want an even lengthier numeric message than the 5-digit 14344, 831 224 covers love “today, tomorrow, and forever”:

• 831 = “I love you” (8 letters, 3 words)
• 224 = Tomorrow squared + 2 tomorrows + 4 tomorrows (aka forever!)

This code first emerged in Korean pop culture – coming from the Korean language‘s grammar rules more naturally allowing numeric shorthand like 224 to represent the equivalent of “forever”.

As K-pop media gained global popularity in the 2000s and 2010s, the Korean-origin 831 224 began spreading to wider internet audiences.

It really blew up thanks to social media – I spot 831 224 profiles on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter…you name it! We can thank globalization across internet culture for transferring this Korean digital love letter into worldwide slang.

Trendy data hints: Google searches for “831 224 meaning” have quintupled since 2016 as English speakers increasingly adopt this cross-culture numeric romance.

Beyond I Love You – Encoded Messages for Every Relationship

While “I love you” dominates numeric shorthand online, plenty more creative coded numbers and sequences express other relationship moods – like devotion, distance, conflict or reconciliation.

637 / 143-637 – “Always and Forever”

Going beyond one-off love confessions, 637 marks deep lifelong commitment – making it popular for couples getting engaged or married to weave into wedding hashtags.

• Always = 6 letters
• And = 3 letters
• Forever = 7 letters

Sometimes you’ll spot 637 combined into longer shorthand like 143-637:

• I love you (143)
• Always and forever (637)

This combo first emerged on old Flickr photo albums and MSN Messenger away messages to add emotional emphasis.

Does your longtime gamer buddy who supported you from noob days right up until eSports glory deserve the 143-637? I say they’ve earned this ultimate friendship dedication!

607 – “I Miss You”

For those times your favorite game launches a disappointing new season and the squad scatters, 607 warmly reaches out:

• I = 1 letter
• Miss = 4 letters
• You = 2 letters

This shorthand picked up steam in the early 2000s across AOL IM away messages and dating site profiles.

607 tells that former teammate who rage quit after mistaken friendly fire that no hard feelings exist – you simply miss them! Open invitation for that long awaited reunion party in Verdansk…now ends in hugs instead of gunfire when they spot your 607 greeting.

1432 – "I Love You Too"

Sometimes your 143 declaration goes unrequited or missed in the Twitch stream chat firehose. 1432 replies the affection is mutual:

• I love you (143)
• Too (2 letters)

Unlike most codes, no definitive origin exists for 1432 – it naturally emerged as a common sense response combining the root 143 with a simple indicator describing returned feelings.

Squadmates can always count on you watching their backs, right? Extend that to watching their hearts by responding to subtle digital love letters with confirmation through 1432 – for platonic love and solidarity too!

The list of relationship shorthand goes ever longer – but this covers most popular codes. What others should I cover? Reply in comments!

Digital Love Letters: Secretly Simple or Simply Secret?

In closing, what exactly gives numeric message shorthand such intrigue and popularity both back in its early internet chatroom days and again today in the social media age?

Beyond the character limits now behind us, I speculate:

Expressing feelings gets uncomfortable, so codes provide emotional safety:

• Shield vulnerability of confessing love
• Distance ourselves from raw emotions
• Conceal public outward affection

Secret knowledge = secret intimacy:

• Feel unique with “hidden” communications
• Exciting to uncover “mysteries”
• Share intimacy in world of hyper-transparency

We crave patterns and meaning:

• Satisfying to find significance in numbers
• Simple codes feel almost cosmic, magical

Shorthand matching short-form digital culture:

• Packs more meaning into less space
• Easy to sprinkle across profiles, tags, usernames

Of course as a gamer, I also appreciate efficiency reaching sentimental conclusions faster – no respawn required!

While numeric shorthand started pragmatic before becoming playful, now it feels almost ritualistic – a way to transmit care, fondness, passion, and commitment.

Next time you see “143” or “831 224”, remember not to see just numbers – but also the stories and feelings encoded within across decades, cultures, and platforms.

So readers: have you used or received any numeric love letters? Share your meanings and stories in the comments!