'Love' in that sense is countable.Is it standard English to write "first love", when "love" is uncountable, but "first" suggests countability?
So, I must write "he had a first love at 16", not "he had first love at 16"?
Only the first is natural. My countable 'first love' in post #6 was possible, but I had to think hard before I came up with a convincing context. 'First love' is normally uncountable. As charlie pointed out, people can only have one first love, unless they are deceivers like that rogue in post #6.So, both mean the same?
"he has just experienced first love"
"he has just experienced a first love"