The Grey’s Anatomy couples have been as integral, if not more so, for the success of the long-running medical drama than the cases and major life-altering events at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital every season. Grey’s Anatomy starts with new residents – Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), the most notable – starting work at the hospital, dealing with patients and challenging cases, and trying to earn their spot in the hierarchy of the hospital. However, it is also a romantic drama.
20. Meredith Grey and Andrew DeLuca
It Ended When Meredith Decided He Was Too Much Like Her Father
While Meredith and Derek will always be one of the best Grey’s Anatomy couples and one of the best Grey’s Anatomy married couples, it’s hard to deny the strong feelings that Meredith and DeLuca develop for each other. They start dating in season 15 after Derek’s death. It all started with a kiss at Jo and Alex’s wedding, and they finally decided to date after a moment in the elevator, where they almost kissed again, but it only resulted in the two speaking Italian to each other in a romantic moment.
That was the start, and the two had a sweet relationship. However, they broke up when Meredith decided DeLuca acted too much like her father. Things ended in a heartbreaking moment, as, just like Derek, DeLuca died, sharing a moment in Meredith’s beach scenes. While the characters dated for a shorter period than some other Grey’s Anatomy couples, they cared so much about each other, and it was good to see Meredith happy after all the loss she had experienced.
19. Izzie Stevens and George O’Malley
The Friends Cheated, Causing George’s Divorce
While Izzie and George were certainly a couple that no one saw coming, it was interesting to see them together. However, there was one major problem with the two hooking up. They had one of the best platonic friendships on the show. Hooking up ruined that friendship. George had eloped with Callie, and that is when Izzie decided she wanted more from him than just friendship. This causes them to hook up after a night of drinking, leading to Callie and George’s divorce.
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.
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 Izzie’s unresolved feelings for Alex, the writers may have revisited this in the future.
18. Amelia Shepherd and Atticus Lincoln
Amelia & Atticus Have A Son Named Scout
Amelia and Link were friends before starting their Grey’s Anatomy relationship, and while Link was always confident that he loved her, Amelia took more time to admit her feelings. Amelia struggled to be vulnerable with Link, while Link had always known. However, when the relationship started, it was one of the best on the show. They seemed perfect until she got pregnant and would never admit he was the dad during the pregnancy. When he proposed to her at someone else’s wedding, it was a bad sign.
After they split up, Jo and Link sleep together, and Jo says that she likes him, effectively showing that their relationship has not completely ended. While it was sweet to see Jo happy again after Alex ended their marriage without a word and moved away to be with Izzie, some fans still think Amelia and Link had a great bond and could make things work. They definitely had one of the most dramatic Grey’s Anatomy relationships.
17. Cristina Yang and Preston Burke
Preston Left Cristina On Their Wedding Day
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 bring out a softer side in Cristina, and she helped him see that it was okay to want more than just a great career. There were so many great moments they had together, with Cristina risking everything by helping him cover up his hand tumor and him caring for her after her ectopic pregnancy.
The couple eventually ended their relationship after two seasons when Preston left her on their wedding day. However, despite the rough ending, Cristina still didn’t regret their experience together, as it gave her perspective on what she did and didn’t want in a partner. Fans also appreciate the relationship because it lets Cristina’s character develop. Preston founded the Klausman Institute for Medical Research and gave it to Cristina when he and his family left Switzerland.
16. Teddy Altman and Henry Burton
A Fake Marriage Turned Very Real
While it may have started as a fake marriage to give Henry health insurance, it wasn’t long before these two characters fell in love. After she had been in love with Owen for years, it was great 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. This all happened in Grey’s Anatomy season 8, and it was one of the saddest moments on the show, with Teddy finally finding love and then having it slip through her hands.
15. Owen Hunt and Teddy Altman
The Two Actually Married Despite Roadblocks
It may have taken them a while to get to the end, but Owen and Teddy finally got their happy ending, making them one of the best Grey’s Anatomy couples. 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 become 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 nice to see that their connection hasn’t wavered. No matter what they have been through, they always have each other’s backs.
14. Lexie Grey and Jackson Avery
Jackson Shockingly Chose Mark Over Lexie
This was a really fun couple for fans, as there wasn’t so much at stake. Jackson seemed to love Lexie, but Lexie couldn’t truly reciprocate because of her feelings for Mark. It was pretty apparent that Jackson was mainly a distraction for Lexie, and because of this, fans didn’t let themselves get too attached since this happened after one of Lexie’s numerous break-ups with Mark. This seemed disappointing since their time together on Grey’s Anatomy was always fun, and they seemed like a great couple.
It’s too bad, though, because Lexie and Jackson could have been great together had they given it a real shot. Surprisingly, Jackson ultimately breaks up with Lexie (rather than the other way around) when he chooses his job over their relationship. Most fans saw Lexie ending things thanks to wanting to go back to Mark, so the plot twist of Jackson being the one to choose Mark (and a new job) over Lexie was a huge shock. It was a good decision since Lexie was never all-in on the relationship.
13. Maggie Pierce and Winston Ndugu
The Two Seemed Perfect For Each Other
While they weren’t together as long as some other couples on the show, Maggie and Winston made quite an impression on fans. It may have felt like a love story that came straight out of romance novels, as the two had met in season 16 and then finally came back around and fell in love, getting married. 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.
Maggie deserved to be happy after enduring several tragic events and terrible relationships (she was with DeLuca and Jackson before this). However, that all changes in season 20 when she makes a shocking decision. Maggie chose work over love, which showed that she wasn’t looking for true love at all. When Winston said he put love over surgery, she said she couldn’t respect him for that decision, and she chose divorce since surgery, for her, comes before all love.
12. Derek Shepherd and Addison Montgomery
They Were Divorced When The Show Started
When Grey’s Anatomy started, Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) and Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) were estranged, but were both brilliant doctors on staff at the hospital. Shepherd was the head of neurosurgery, and Addison headed up the surgical wing. However, while they were not together when the show started, the sexual chemistry between them was high, and that was one thing that really delayed Derek and Meredith from finally getting together.
Derek and Addison did try to get back together on the show, but Addison knew the truth. She said that Derek and Meredith were in love and that was the couple that was meant to be together – not their old marriage. With that said, Derek and Addison were great together as lovers, as friends, and even as bitter enemies, and the show was always better when both of them were involved in each other’s lives in one way or another.
11. Jackson Avery and April Kepner
The Two Remain Together In Boston
Jackson and April’s romance is arguably one of the most complicated love stories in the history of Grey’s Anatomy, as it seems 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.
The two got married in season 10 before splitting up. However, with them rekindling their relationship in Boston in season 18, there are high hopes that this is a race one that could actually work in the end. With them together in Boston, and Jackson working for the Catherine Fox Foundation, there is hope that the Grey’s Anatomy writers will create a spinoff that follows up on their adventures. They were always one of the best Grey’s Anatomy married couples.
10. Alex Karev and Jo Wilson
Alex Left His Marriage To Jo With Only A Note
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 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, they split when Alex moved to Kansas to be closer to his children. This ending was disappointing in many ways, as Alex left Jo without saying goodbye or explaining himself to her and simply left her a note that he was returning to Izzie. With how Izzie left Alex, it left a bad taste that he did this to Joe. Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that Jo and Alex loved each other a lot.
9. Richard Webber and Adele Webber
Richard’s True Love Seemed To Be Adele Before Her Death
Although Richard may be happily married to Catherine, many Grey’s Anatomy fans would agree that they prefer Richard and Adele. While they didn’t have the easiest of marriages due to his affair with Ellis and because 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 heartbreaking that Adele ended up dying before they had a chance to fully explore their new life together.
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 they 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.
8. Izzie Stevens and Denny Duquette
A Love Rooted In Tragedy
Izzie Stevens and Denny Duquette was a romance that was destined for tragedy from the start. Izzie met Denny when he was a long-time patient of Preston Burke. During his extended stay in the hospital, he and Izzie got to know each other well, and soon, they fell in love. This led to Izzie doing one of the worst things she could have done as a doctor. She knew Denny was low on the list for a heart transplant, so she cut his LVAD wire so he could get moved up on the list.
Things did not work out well for either of them. Denny got his transplant, but then he died of a stroke shortly afterward. Izzie quit her job at the hospital since she knew she was going down for cutting the LVAD wire, although she did return a short time later under probation. To see how much their love meant to her, she began to hallucinate Denny as a ghost when she was going through her cancer battle. Sadly, this relationship is mostly memorable because Denny died, not because of their lives together.
7. Cristina Yang and Owen Hunt
Opposites Attract, But It Could Never Work
Fans loved to root for Cristina and Owen, even though they may not have 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. However, there were signs from the start that it wouldn’t work since they got married for the wrong reasons and Cristina even wore a red wedding dress, an ominous sign itself.
Cristina deserved to find true happiness with someone who would let her be herself, and she really hoped it would be Owen. Much of their story was about fights, breakups, and reconciliations, making them one of the biggest “will they or won’t they” storylines on the show. Of course, these two didn’t ultimately end up together, and it soon became obvious they couldn’t have ever worked since they never would change who they were to become what the other really needed.
6. Meredith Grey and Nick Marsh
Meredith’s Possible End Game
Meredith Grey found her life partner in Derek Shepherd. However, their “forever” wasn’t as long as they might have liked since Derek died in an auto accident and Meredith became a widow. While Meredith has had several chances at love, it seems she finally found her new endgame with a transplant surgeon named Nick Marsh. He came to Seattle, and Meredith saved him from complications from a kidney transplant. They then found love.
Of course, nothing is easy. Nick stayed in Seattle working at the hospital while Meredith left to continue her studies elsewhere, and it seemed they were finished. However, when the two met up again in Boston, the sparks were still strong, and they proved that their love was real. Meredith is a strong woman and stands by her decisions, but when Nick was the one to make the move to resolve their issues, they reunited, and it might be the strongest love on the show in later years.
5. Mark Sloan and Lexie Grey
Another Love Story Killed In A Tragedy
The odds were against Little Grey and Mark from the beginning, but that doesn’t change the fact that they were absurdly cute together. When Lexie and Mark started dating, many assumed they were together for the wrong reasons, considering their work relationship. Of course, viewers knew this wasn’t true, as they could see their love was pure from the beginning. Many things kept them apart, mainly the people around them fighting this coupling. Soon, everyone realized it was the right thing.
The two balanced each other out really well, and Grey’s fans were completely invested in it. Sadly, this was yet another one of Grey’s Anatomy’s most tragic moments, as the two seemed to be together and ready to make the next step when Lexie died in the plane crash, with Mark holding her and Mark dying a short time later from injuries from that same crash. There was a happy ending as 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. Izzie Stevens and Alex Karev
Izzie Left Alex But He Found His Way Back To Her
The breakup of this couple was really crushing, as the show made a convincing argument that Alex and Izzie were great together. Their first kiss was amazing, they always made each other laugh, and they supported each other through their most difficult moments, 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. While this was a sad moment for Jo, Alex’s wife, whom he left without saying a word to, it was end game for this couple from the start.
3. Callie Torres and Arizona Robbins
The Two Women Were Meant For Each Other
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. Similarly, their romance also helped Arizona become mature, braver, and rebellious, as she stood up to authoritative figures 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. As the main LGBTQ+ relationship among main cast members on the series, it was groundbreaking, but more than that, it was incredibly romantic. The only low point was that it seemed like they lost each other, and when they finally (apparently) reunited, it was in New York, far from where the show takes place.
2. Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd
The Power Couple While It Lasted
“Pick me. Choose me. Love me.” These words have been haunting fans ever since Meredith said them to Derek in season 2, which is why this couple is, without a doubt, the most iconic couple on Grey’s Anatomy. Throughout the series, fans fell in love with Derek and Meredith’s love story. From the bar where they first met to the post-it note that sealed the deal, Grey’s Anatomy fans were always rooting for them.
This was the couple who were meant to be, and they made it work with the best marriage on the show.
The couple survived so many things. There were trials, Addison’s return, miscarriages, shootings, and more arguments than should ever have taken place. However, this was the couple who were meant to be, and they made it work with the best marriage on the show. Unfortunately, that’s also why season 11 was so heartbreaking for viewers. Seeing Derek and Meredith torn apart was the last thing fans wanted, and it all came with his death, ending the love story forever.
1. Miranda Bailey and Ben Warren
The Perfect Grey’s Anatomy Couple
As one of the longest and most healthy relationships on the show, it isn’t surprising that Ben and Bailey ended up being the one Grey’s Anatomy couple that has lasted and proved to be the best of the best. Whenever they appear on-screen together, they always show why they are in a perfect marriage, as they have proven to have great communication skills and seem genuinely happy together.
Apart from when Ben hid his recruitment into the firefighting academy, Ben and Bailey didn’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. Too many Grey’s Anatomy couples fight and bicker about silly things, and even others have the most melodramatic storylines tearing them apart. However, in the end, Ben and Bailey are what all couples should strive to be.
