Grey’s Anatomy: The 15 Best Couples, Ranked

Grey’s Anatomy has created dozens of relationships out of their core cast over the years. Some made the show what it is today and some didn’t make any sense at all, but either way, the series has always kept viewers on their toes.

Fans never knew who would be together next, one moment Jackson was with Lexie and the next he’s with April. Izzie was with George but then she’s with Alex, and these ever-changing relationships went on for years. Despite all of this, Grey’s Anatomy has definitely produced some of the best relationships of all time.

Updated Nov 5, 2021 by Kayleigh Banks: While Grey’s Anatomy is known best for its unique drama and intriguing storylines, one thing the writers should be praised for is its love stories. Meredith and Derek may be the core story of the show, but that does not mean that it is the best. Arguably, the writers have gone on to create some pure and heartfelt romances for the other main characters too that have been just as fascinating too. In fact, many fans would struggle to pick one over the other since they have all helped make the show as memorable as it is today.   

15 Cristina And Burke

This was a fan-favorite relationship from the beginning. It was a bit of a surprise when Cristina and Burke initially got together, but from there everything made sense. Burke seemed to be the one that brought out a softer side in Cristina and she helped him to see that it was okay to want more than just a great career.

While the couple did eventually call time on their relationship, Cristina still didn’t regret their time together as it gave her perspective as to what she did and didn’t want in a partner. Fans also appreciate the relationship a little bit as it let Cristina’s character develop too.

14 Teddy And Henry

While it may have started out as a fake marriage in order to give Henry health insurance, it wasn’t long before these two characters ended up falling in love. After she had been in love with Owen for years, fans were happy that Teddy seemed to be moving on with Henry as it was hard to ignore the chemistry between the two.

Not only did Henry and Teddy find new ways of making each other laugh with their wit and charm but it was also quite endearing to watch as their faces lit up whenever they were in each other’s presence. Unfortunately, this ended tragically as Henry sadly died while he was on the operating table. Although fans knew he wasn’t a main character, it was still devastating to watch – particularly in the aftermath as Teddy’s grief overwhelmed her.

13 Izzie And George

While Izzie and George were certainly a couple that no one saw coming, there were quite a few fans who were satisfied to see them together. Taking away the infidelity from the situation, George and Izzie could have made their relationship work since they had been such good friends and had a strong connection.

They also seemed to be the only two characters who knew how to make each other laugh and appeared comfortable in each other’s presence. If it wasn’t for the fact that Izzie had some unresolved feelings for Alex, the writers may have revisited this in the future.

12 Owen And Teddy

It may have taken them a while to get to this point, but Owen and Teddy have finally got their happy ending. While the two have been a part of other great and iconic relationships, many fans will agree that this is the one that makes the most sense as they both have the same desires and hopes for the future.

While it did look as if the couple might have broken up for good after Teddy’s affair with Tom, it appears that their relationship has come out stronger as both Owen and Teddy realized they shouldn’t take each other for granted. Since their romance is also built on years of friendship, it’s also nice to see that their connection hasn’t wavered. No matter what they have been through, they always have each other’s backs.

11 Lexie And Jackson

This was a really fun couple for fans as there wasn’t so much at stake. Jackson seemed to really love Lexie but Lexie wasn’t able to truly reciprocate because of her feelings for Mark. It was pretty obvious that Jackson was mostly a distraction for Lexie, and because of this, fans didn’t let themselves get too attached.

It’s too bad, though, because Lexie and Jackson could have been really great together had they given it a real shot. Surprisingly, Jackson ultimately breaks up with Lexie when he chooses his job over their relationship.

10 Maggie And Winston

While they haven’t been together as long as some of the other couples on the show, Maggie and Winston have made quite an impression on fans. It may have felt like a love story that came straight out of the novels, but fans have no qualms in accepting it since Maggie deserves to be happy after enduring several tragic events and terrible relationships.

Not only does Maggie seem less stressed and relaxed but Winston also seems to understand her on a level that none of her former partners did. Fans hope that their love and the support they have for one another will continue to blossom in the future.

9 Jackson And April

Jackson and April’s romance is arguably one of the most complicated love stories in the history of Grey’s Anatomy as it seems that they just couldn’t get the timing right. However, when they were together, they did seem like a natural fit.

They may have had opposing beliefs (initially) and went through some traumatic experiences that led to their breakup, but the connection they had never wavered. With the two now moving to Boston, many fans are hoping that the Grey’s Anatomy writers will create a spinoff that will follow up on their adventures.

8 Alex And Jo

Alex and Jo became friends during the ninth season and fans quickly started to root for them as they saw their chemistry develop. Despite their rocky history, Jo and Alex seemed like a natural fit for they had much in common, particularly with their childhoods.

They also fought hard to make their relationship work, overcoming several obstacles and their poor communication issues (which ultimately made their bond stronger). There were a lot of Grey’s Anatomy fans that believed they were quite perfect together but sadly, these two aren’t together anymore since Alex moved to Kansas to be closer to his children. Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that Jo and Alex loved each other a lot.

7 Richard And Adele

Although Richard may be happily married Catherine, many Grey’s Anatomy fans would agree that they prefer Richard and Adele. While Richard and Adele didn’t have the easiest of marriages due to his affair with Ellis and how he couldn’t seem to find a way to separate his personal and professional lives, something always drew them back to each other.

It was not until their reconciliation that fans truly understood why Adele and Richard refused to give up on their marriage. They always seemed to ground one another when things got too much and made sure that they didn’t take each other for granted. It was heartbreaking that Adele ended up dying before they had a chance to fully explore their new life together.

6 Cristina And Owen

Fans loved to root for Cristina and Owen, even though they may have not seemed like the best match for each other at times. Cristina and Owen were very different and wanted different things so the relationship was often strained, but they also made each other really happy and loved each other deeply.

Fans were dying for Cristina to find true happiness with someone who would let her be herself and really hoped it would be Owen. Of course, these two don’t ultimately end up together, but viewers enjoyed it while it lasted.

5 Lexie And Mark

The odds were against Little Grey and Mark from the beginning, but that doesn’t change the fact that they were insanely cute together. When Lexie and Mark started dating, many assumed that they were together for the wrong reasons considering their work relationship.

Of course, viewers knew this wasn’t true as they were able to see their love was pure from the beginning. The two balanced each other out really well and Grey’s fans were completely invested in it. Although fans were devastated when they died after the plane crash, many fans are content with the fact that the two now seem to be happy in heaven together (depending on how fans view Meredith’s dreams in Grey’s Anatomy’s 17th season).

4 Alex And Izzie

The break-up of this couple really crushed as many fans believed Alex and Izzie were great together. Their first kiss was amazing, they always made each other laugh and they supported each other through hard times, including when Izzie became seriously ill. It seemed like the rough times just brought them closer.

Although they did divorce in season 6, many of their fans were shocked but delighted to see that they reunited in season 16 and had a family together. Despite not having seen each other in ten years, the fact that they were able to pick up where they just left off proved that their connection ran deeper than any other relationship they had on the show.

3 Arizona And Callie

They may have been through plenty of ups and downs but many fans will agree that watching the love story between Arizona and Callie was great. When the pair were together, fans had the pleasure of watching them grow as individuals. Callie went on an empowering journey of self-discovery, where she grew more confident, happier, and forthright.

In a similar way, their romance also helped Arizona become mature, braver, and rebellious, as she stood up to authoritative figures in order to do what was right (something she hardly ever did). Jessica Capshaw and Sara Ramirez’s chemistry did help to make their characters’ stories all the more compelling.

2 Meredith And Derek

“Pick me. Choose me. Love me.” These words have been haunting fans ever since Meredith said them to Derek in season two, which is why this couple is without a doubt the best couple on Grey’s Anatomy. Throughout the series, fans fell in love with Derek and Meredith’s love story.

From the bar they first met at, to the post-it note that sealed the deal, Grey’s Anatomy fans were always rooting for them. Unfortunately, that’s also why season 11 was so heartbreaking for viewers. Seeing Derek and Meredith torn apart was the last thing fans wanted.

1 Bailey And Ben

As one of the longest and most healthy relationships on the show, it isn’t surprising that Ben and Bailey ended up being a fan-favorite pairing. Whenever they appear on screen together, they always bring a smile to the faces of fans as they have proven to have great communication skills and seem genuinely happy together.

Apart from the time when Ben hid his recruitment into the firefighting academy, Ben and Bailey don’t hide anything from each other. They strive for complete honesty, which is why there is never any drama between them and what makes them so refreshing

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