Taylor Swift has written over 200 songs about love. These are the men who inspired them.

When it comes to dating, Taylor Swift has lived it all—fairytale beginnings, paparazzi chaos, and public heartbreak.

And while Swift's exes often end up immortalised in her banger songs, this isn't about naming and shaming, because, let's be real, who hasn't cried over a relationship while blasting 'All Too Well'?

From teenage love with a Jonas brother to romantic moments with Hollywood heartthrobs, British bad boys, and now an American football hero, Taylor's dating history is a fascinating ride through both personal growth and public scrutiny.

So, what do Taylor Swift's relationships really tell us? It's not just song material; it's a timeline of love, heartbreak, and navigating it all in the spotlight. And if the pop icon has taught us anything, it's that you can come out stronger (with a few Grammys) on the other side.

Let's stroll through Tay's dating history—starting with her boyband phase to her most recent touchdown in the world of American football.

Watch: Matt Healy Discusses Dating Taylor Swift In 2014. Article continues after video.

Joe Jonas: July 2008 to October 2008.

Taylor's first high-profile romance was with none other than Jonas Brothers' Joe Jonas, back in 2008 when their boyband stardom was at its peak.

The relationship was short but unforgettable—ending with a now-infamous 27-second breakup call from Joe. Taylor, never one to waste a heartbreak, channelled her emotions into the fierce anthem "Forever and Always" on her Fearless album.

The introduction to 'Last Kiss' on Speak Now famously has a 27-second introduction, a reference to that short break up phone call.

Years later, the two buried the hatchet, with Taylor even reflecting warmly on their past in the song "Holy Ground," proving time really does heal.

Meanwhile, Jonas moved on, now a father and currently dealing with his own relationship headlines.

Image: Getty.

Swift went viral when she struck up a friendship with Joe Jonas' ex-wife Sophie Turner in the wake of her 2023 divorce. They went to dinner multiple times in New York and Turner became a regular attendee at the Eras Tour and Kansas City Chief's games.

All we can say is… to be a fly on that wall.

Lucas Till: March 2009 to April 2009.

The pair met on the set of the 'You Belong With Me' music video, and reportedly dated for a few months. Lucas later told MTV that while they "really both liked each other," they were better as friends.

"We dated for a little bit. But, there was no friction because we were too nice," he said.

"We just really both liked each other… [but] most relationships work out cause you get along and then you don't, and then you make up and it's passionate, and with us, I really just liked her as a friend. That's the only reason that didn't work out."

Image: YouTube.

Taylor Lautner: Late 2009.

Before the werewolf-vampire debates hit their peak, Taylor Lautner was living his own love story with Taylor Swift.

The two met while filming Valentine's Day in 2009, sparking the adorable moniker "Taylor Squared."

It was short-lived but sweet, and while they didn't last, their breakup inspired the heartfelt ballad 'Back to December.' When asked what he thought of the song in 2016, the Twilight actor said: "That's what she does."

Image: Getty.

Lautner later confirmed there were no hard feelings, making this one of Swift's more drama-free love stories.

"I think when you respect somebody for who they are, like in their soul, it allows you to move on, forgive and continue that love in a different way," Lautner shared of their breakup on Call Her Daddy in 2023.

Lautner appeared on stage at the Eras Tour to announce the launch of Speak Now (Taylor's Version).

John Mayer: December 2009 to February 2010.

Enter John Mayer, a chapter in Taylor's dating history that reads more like a cautionary tale.

The pair dated briefly after they collaborated on his song 'Half of My Heart,' with Mayer even praising Tay in a 2009 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he called her "one of the smartest, most talented people around."

But things got soon messy, leading to the release of Swift's infamous track, 'Dear John.' With its scathing lyrics and nearly seven-minute runtime, the song detailed their relationship's darker moments and age-gap drama (Taylor was just 19 when dating a then 32-year-old Mayer).

Image: Getty.

Mayer didn't take kindly to the track, calling it "cheap songwriting" in an interview, with Rolling Stone in 2012.

"It made me feel terrible," Mayer said. "Because I didn't deserve it. I'm pretty good at taking accountability now, and I never did anything to deserve that.

"It was a really lousy thing for her to do," he complained.

He didn't stop there, adding, "I will say as a songwriter that I think it's kind of cheap songwriting. I know she's the biggest thing in the world, and I'm not trying to sink anybody's ship, but I think it's abusing your talent to rub your hands together and go, 'Wait till he gets a load of this!' That's bulls—."

Despite Mayer's thoughts, the tune has become a fan favourite for those who appreciate Taylor's unrivalled ability to turn heartbreak into art.

Swifties have continued to dislike John Mayer for years since the song was released, and this reached new heights in 2022 when Taylor released the song 'Would've, Could've, Should've', featuring the lyrics "give me back my girlhood it was mine first."

Many fans believe this is a reference to Mayer, although it could also be another famous older man she dated…

Jake Gyllenhaal: December 2009 to February 2010.

From 2010 to 2011, Taylor dated brooding actor Jake Gyllenhaal, and their romance inspired much of the Red album, including the emotional powerhouse 'All Too Well.'

The couple were regularly seen together in New York City and Los Angeles, with paparazzi photos of the couple walking hand-in-hand becoming somewhat iconic.

The relationship ended after a few months, with Gyllenhaal supposedly calling it quits because of their age difference (she was 20 and he was 29).In 2012, Swift released her fourth album Red, which included many references to Gyllenhaal in songs including 'All Too Well', 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' and 'The Moment I Knew'.

And then there's the scarf—yes, that scarf.

Image: Getty.

Left behind at his sister Maggie's place (allegedly), the scarf became a symbol of lost love and heartbreak. When Taylor released the 10-minute version of 'All Too Well,' fans dove right back into dissecting every lyric, turning this short-lived romance into a lasting cultural moment.

All Too Well: The Short Film, based on the previously unreleased 10-minute version of the song, starred Sadie Sink, 19, and Dylan O'Brien, 30, who look surprisingly like Swift and Gyllenhaal back in the day.

Jake addressed the chatter in an Esquire interview, saying he doesn't "begrudge" Taylor for writing the sing. "It has nothing to do with me. It's about her relationship with her fans," he noted. But while he's cool with the song, he's not so thrilled about the intense reactions from Swifties, stressing that "civility" is key.

Meanwhile, Taylor has kept the song's inspiration a mystery, allowing fans to fill in the gaps with their own interpretations.

Conor Kennedy: July 2012 to October 2012.

In 2012, Taylor's love life took a turn toward American royalty with Conor Kennedy, grandson of Robert F. Kennedy.

Their relationship seemed like a dreamy summer fling, set against the backdrop of Hyannis Port and ocean waves. Taylor was so enchanted that she even bought a house near the Kennedy compound in Rhode Island, but the romance fizzled as quickly as it started.

According to InStyle, Kennedy texted his aunt just an hour before her daughter's wedding to ask whether, despite forgetting to RSVP, he could attend and bring Swift.

Image: Getty.

While he was told that the singer's presence at the event would distract from the bride's big day, the couple showed up, anyway.

Swift's reps denied the rumours, stating that Swift was invited — but, regardless, Kennedy ended their relationship soon after the whole debacle. It's believed that she wrote 'Begin Again' about their meeting, and she also wrote the song 'Starlight' about Ethel Kennedy.

Unfortunately, the relationship wasn't to last.

Harry Styles: December 2012 to January 2013.

Between 2012 and 2013, Taylor and Harry took over headlines, capturing the pop world's hearts,

They were spotted with matching paper airplane necklaces, sharing New York strolls, and even had a snowmobile mishap. But as fast as it began, it ended—leaving behind a trail of songs. Tracks like 'Style' and 'Out of the Woods' from 1989 gave fans a peek into their short-lived yet legendary love story.

Image: Getty.

Haz has called the relationship a "learning experience" in a 2017 Rolling Stone interview, appreciating the artistry that emerged from their time together.

He even noted, "I'm lucky if everything [we went through together] helped create those songs." And while Taylor often stays cryptic about the subjects of her songs, she did reflect on the anxiety of the relationship, saying it always felt "fragile."

Their time together may have been brief, but it left a mark on both their lives—and in the pop music history books.

Unlike many of Taylor's other exes, the pair have remained friends and Swift famously gave him a standing ovation at the Grammys when he won Album of the Year.

She released 1989 (Taylor's Version) in October 2023 featuring the 'Out of the Woods' follow up song 'Is It Over Now?', featuring further details about their snowmobile accident and the 'slow fade' out of their relationship.

Calvin Harris: March 2015 to May 2016.

From 2015 to 2016, Taylor Swift and DJ/producer Calvin Harris were the couple everyone couldn't get enough of.

They met at the Elle Style Awards, introduced by Ellie Goulding, and soon, their feeds were filled with loved-up vacation pics and award show shoutouts. But after a year of whirlwind romance and overseas getaways, the relationship hit the rocks.

What came next? A messy Twitter meltdown.

Harris reacted to news leaking that Swift had written 'This Is What You Came For' under a pseudonym. Feeling like his ex was undermining him, he fired off a series of tweets, including, "[I find it] hurtful to me at this point that her and her team would go so far out of their way to try and make ME look bad at this stage though."

Image: Getty.

It was the kind of public breakup drama that fans couldn't look away from.

Swift, true to form, channelled the drama into her Reputation era, leaving the public spat behind.

Meanwhile, Harris later admitted to British GQ that the social media outburst wasn't his finest moment, confessing that the fallout from the breakup was bigger than the relationship itself.

Swift famously penned little to no songs about her breakup except for 'I Forgot That You Existed' on her Lover album.

However, fans believe that 'High Infidelity' on Midnights gives some further insight into that relationship with the line, "You know there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love. The slowest way is never loving them enough."

Tom Hiddleston: May 2016 to September 2016.

While things were ending between Harris and Swift, the singer attended the 2016 Met Gala. With bleached hair and a mini dress, she was spotted dancing with British actor Tom Hiddleston.

The whirlwind began and soon she was spotted kissing him on a beach in Rhode Island, which surprised precisely everyone. 'Hiddleswift' was born.

Hiddleswift jetset all over the world together, to places including Italy, America, Australia and England, before calling it quits just after three months because Hiddleston reportedly wanted the romance to be more public.

He famously wore an 'I [heart] Taylor Swift' shirt.

Image: Getty.

It seems there's no 'Bad Blood' between these two, though. In a 2021 interview with GQ, Hiddleston spoke fondly of Swift, describing her as "an amazing woman" who is "generous and kind."

He added that they had a great time together during their relationship and expressed no regrets about it, stating, "What should I regret?" When asked if the pair were still friends, he confirmed, "Yes. Yes, we are."

Joe Alwyn: May 2017 to April 2023.

Taylor's relationship with Joe Alwyn was a long chapter—six years, to be exact—filled with love, low-key moments, and very few headlines.

Unlike her past romances, the Swift-Alwyn dynamic was all about keeping things out of the spotlight.

They made music together too, with Joe co-writing songs like 'Exile' and 'Betty' under the pseudonym William Bowery. When accepting her 2021 Grammy, Taylor gave him a heartfelt shoutout: "Joe, who is the first person that I play every single song that I write…"

In rare moments, both addressed their choice to keep things private. "I've learned that if I do [talk about it], people think it's up for discussion, and our relationship isn't up for discussion," Taylor told The Guardian.

Image: Getty.

Joe echoed the sentiment, telling The Sunday Times that the relationship was "never something to commodify."

The pair announced their break up on Easter 2023, soon after Swift began her showstopping Eras Tour.

"It was not dramatic," a source told ET at the time. "The relationship had just run its course. It's why [Alwyn] hasn't been spotted at any shows."

Alwyn reflected on the challenges of ending a relationship with everyone watching, saying, "What is unusual... is that, one week later, it's suddenly in the public domain."

The pair may have parted ways, but their relationship left an imprint on Taylor's Folklore and Evermore albums, and fans continue to speculate how much of her new music traces back to those quieter years.

Many fans believe that the key issue in their relationship was Swift's stardom, something she had opened up about during those albums. In the song 'Peace' she wrote, "And you know that I'd swing with you for the fences, sit with you in the trenches. Give you my wild, give you a child.

"Is it enough, if I could never give you peace."

Travis Kelce: 2023-Now.

Taylor's latest romance is with none other than NFL star Travis Kelce, and it's been nothing short of a media frenzy.

Trayvis' love story kicked off when Kelce cheekily mentioned her on his podcast, hoping to meet her. Taylor later admitted in her TIME interview that this moment was "adorably putting me on blast," catching her attention.

Image: Getty.

The two got to know each other quietly before making their relationship public. Reflecting on their dynamic, Swift noted the importance of supporting each other's passions, saying, "We're showing up for each other... and we don't care."

Kelce, for his part, is still adjusting to the whirlwind of dating a superstar but is taking it in stride.

"Obviously I've never dated anyone with that kind of aura about them…. I've never dealt with it," Kelce said of dating someone as famous as his current flame.

Image: Getty

"But at the same time, I'm not running away from any of it…. The scrutiny she gets, how much she has a magnifying glass on her, every single day, paparazzi outside her house, outside every restaurant she goes to, after every flight she gets off, and she's just living, enjoying life. When she acts like that I better not be the one acting all strange."

He even admitted that he was a Swiftie long before they met, with 'Blank Space' as one of his favourites.

"'Blank Space' was one I wanted to hear live for sure. I could make a bad guy good for the weekend. That's a helluva line," he shared to The Wall Street Journal.

"I've never been a man of words. Being around her, seeing how smart Taylor is, has been f—ing mind-blowing. I'm learning every day."

Image: Getty.

Travis, to his credit, seems to be taking the spotlight in his stride. "At the same time, it comes with it. It comes with it," he said. "You've got a lot of people that care about Taylor, and for good reason."

And while Taylor may not have been a football fan before, she's fully embraced it now, joking, "Football is awesome, it turns out. I've been missing out my whole life."

Despite online speculation that their romance could be a highly-orchestrated publicity stunt, Travis and Taylor's love story seems to be a touchdown in more ways than one.

She famously has written 'So High School' about their romance, with the famous line, "You knew what you wanted and boy, you got her."

Feature image: Getty