Caridad is very common among Cubans/Cuban Americans and has been used for centuries. This is because La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre (Lady/Virgin of Charity of El Cobre) is the patroness of Cuba. The basilica in her honor is located in El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. The history of La Caridad del Cobre dates back to 1612. There is also La Virgen de la Caridad in Sevilla, Spain. Many use the diminutive Cari or Cary. [noted -ed]
Caridad is the name of one of the female protagonists of Ana Castillo's "So Far From God," and plays an integral part in Castillo's refiguring a new Chicana hybrid spirituality, as La Armitaña Santa.