Spanish Origin Names

This is a list of names in which the origin is Spanish. Spanish is the Romance language spoken in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries (such as those in South America).
gender
usage
origin
​
Abelardo m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of French Abélard, given in honour of the 12th-century French philosopher and theologian Pierre Abélard (called Peter Abelard in English). He adopted his surname in his twenties, possibly inspired by the biblical name Abel.
Abril f Spanish, Catalan
Spanish and Catalan form of April.
Adora f Spanish (Rare)
Short form of Adoración.
Adoración f Spanish
Means "adoration" in Spanish. This name refers to the event that is known in Christian tradition as the Adoration of the Magi, which is when the three Magi presented gifts to the infant Jesus and worshipped him.
África f Spanish
Spanish form of Africa 1. It is usually taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de África, the patron saint of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa.
Aitana f Spanish
From the name of a mountain range in Valencia, eastern Spain. The Spanish poet Rafael Alberti used it for his daughter in 1941.
Alba 1 f Italian, Spanish, Catalan
This name is derived from two distinct names, Alba 2 and Alba 3, with distinct origins, Latin and Germanic. Over time these names have become confused with one another. To further complicate the matter, alba means "dawn" in Italian, Spanish and Catalan. This may be the main inspiration behind its use in Italy and Spain.
Alma 1 f English, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Albanian, Slovene, Croatian
This name became popular after the Battle of Alma (1854), which took place near the River Alma in Crimea and ended in a victory for Britain and France. However, the name was in rare use before the battle; it was probably inspired by Latin almus "nourishing". It also coincides with the Spanish word meaning "the soul".
Almudena f Spanish
Derived from Arabic المدينة (al-mudayna) meaning "the citadel", a diminutive form of the word مدينة (madīna) meaning "city". According to legend, it was in a building by this name that a concealed statue of the Virgin Mary was discovered during the Reconquista in Madrid. The Virgin of Almudena, that is Mary, is the patron saint of Madrid.
Alondra f Spanish (Latin American)
Derived from Spanish alondra meaning "lark".
Altagracia f Spanish (Caribbean)
Means "high grace", taken from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, meaning "Our Lady of High Grace". She is considered the patron saint of the Dominican Republic, and it is there that this name is most often used.
Amaranta f Spanish (Rare), Italian (Rare)
Spanish and Italian form of Amarantha.
Ámbar f Spanish (Modern)
Spanish cognate of Amber.
Amor m & f Roman Mythology, Late Roman, Spanish (Rare), Portuguese (Rare)
Means "love" in Latin. This was another name for the Roman god Cupid. It also means "love" in Spanish and Portuguese, and as a feminine name it can be derived directly from this vocabulary word.
Amparo f Spanish
Means "protection, shelter, refuge" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Amparo, meaning "Our Lady of Refuge".
Anabel f Spanish
Spanish form of Annabel, also commonly used as a contraction of Ana Isabel.
Ana Belén f Spanish
Combination of Ana and Belén.
Anahí f Spanish (Latin American)
Possibly from the Guarani name for the cockspur coral tree (species Erythrina crista-galli). In a Guarani legend this is the name of a young woman burned at the stake by the conquistadors, after which she is transformed into the flowering tree.
Anaya f English (Modern)
Meaning unknown, possibly from the Spanish surname Anaya (itself from the name of a Spanish town), used because of its similarity to Amaya.
Ángeles f Spanish
Means "angels", taken from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles, meaning "Our Lady the Queen of the Angels".
Angustias f Spanish
Means "anguishes", taken from a Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de las Angustias, meaning "Our Lady of Anguishes". She is the patron saint of Granada, Spain.
Anunciación f Spanish
Means "annunciation" in Spanish, referring to the event in the New Testament in which the angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will give birth to Jesus.
Ascensión f Spanish
Means "ascension" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the Ascension of Jesus into heaven.
Asun f Spanish
Short form of Asunción.
Asunción f Spanish
Means "assumption" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven.
Aura f English, Italian, Spanish, Finnish
From the word aura (derived from Latin, ultimately from Greek αὔρα meaning "breeze") for a distinctive atmosphere or illumination.
Avelina 2 f Spanish
Feminine form of Avelino.
Avelino m Spanish, Portuguese
Used in honour of the 16th-century Italian saint Andrea Avellino (usually spelled Avelino in Spanish and Portuguese). His surname is derived from the name of the town of Avellino in Campania, itself from Latin Abellinum (of unknown meaning).
Azahar f Spanish (Rare)
Means "orange blossom" in Spanish, ultimately from Arabic زهْرة (zahra) meaning "flower". It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Azahar, meaning "Our Lady of the Orange Blossom", because of the citrus trees that surround a church devoted to her near Murcia.
Azahara f Spanish
Variant of Azahar. It can also be given in reference to the ruined Moorish city of Medina Azahara in Córdoba, which derives from the related Arabic root زهر (zahara) meaning "to shine".
Azucena f Spanish
Means "madonna lily" in Spanish.
Begoña f Spanish, Basque
From a title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Begoña, meaning "Our Lady of Begoña", the patron saint of Biscay, Spain. Begoña is a district and basilica in the city of Bilbao.
Belén f Spanish
Spanish form of Bethlehem, the name of the town in Judah where King David and Jesus were born. The town's name is from Hebrew בֵּית־לֶחֶם (Beṯ-leḥem) meaning "house of bread".
Benicio m Spanish
From the surname of the 13th-century Italian saint Philip Benitius (Filippo Benizi in Italian; Felipe Benicio in Spanish). A notable bearer of the given name is the Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro (1967-).
Betania f Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish form of Bethany.
Bethania f Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish variant form of Bethany.
Bienvenida f Spanish
Derived from Spanish bienvenido meaning "welcome".
Blanca f Spanish, Catalan
Spanish and Catalan cognate of Blanche.
Blanka f Czech, Slovak, Polish, Hungarian, Croatian, Slovene
Form of Blanche in several languages.
Bolívar m Spanish (Latin American)
From a surname that was taken from the Basque place name Bolibar, which was derived from bolu "mill" and ibar "riverside". A famous bearer of the surname was Simón Bolívar (1783-1830), a South American revolutionary leader, after whom the country of Bolivia is named.
Borja m Spanish
From a Spanish surname, used as a given name in honour of the Jesuit priest Saint Francis Borja (1510-1572). The surname, also spelled Borgia, is derived from the name of a Spanish town, ultimately from Arabic برْج (burj) meaning "tower".
Buenaventura m Spanish
Spanish form of Bonaventura.
Cande f & m Spanish
Short form of Candelaria or Candelario.
Candela f Spanish
Short form of Candelaria.
Candelaria f Spanish
Means "Candlemas" in Spanish, ultimately derived from Spanish candela "candle". This name is given in honour of the church festival of Candlemas, which commemorates the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary.
Candelario m Spanish
Masculine form of Candelaria.
Candelas f Spanish
Diminutive of Candelaria.
Caridad f Spanish
Means "charity" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Caridad, meaning "Our Lady of Charity". This is the name of the patron saint of Cuba, with a shrine located in the town of El Cobre.
Carmela f Italian, Spanish, Galician
Italian, Spanish and Galician form of Carmel.
Carmelita f Spanish
Spanish diminutive of Carmel.
Carmelo m Spanish, Italian
Spanish and Italian masculine form of Carmel.
Carmem f Portuguese
Portuguese variant of Carmen.
Carmen f Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, French, Romanian, German
Medieval Spanish form of Carmel, appearing in the devotional title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora del Carmen meaning "Our Lady of Mount Carmel". The spelling has been altered through association with the Latin word carmen meaning "song". This was the name of the main character in George Bizet's opera Carmen (1875).
Carmina f Italian, Spanish
Variant of Carmen.
Carmine m Italian
Italian masculine form of Carmen.
Casilda f Spanish
Meaning uncertain. This is the name of the 11th-century patron saint of Toledo, Spain. It might have an Arabic origin (Saint Casilda was a Moorish princess), perhaps from قصيدة (qaṣīda) meaning "poem". Alternatively it could be derived from a Visigothic name in which the second element is hilds meaning "battle".
Charo f Spanish
Spanish diminutive of Rosario.
Che m Spanish
From an Argentine expression meaning "hey!". This nickname was acquired by the Argentine revolutionary Ernesto Guevara while he was in Cuba.
Chela f Spanish
Diminutive of Graciela or Marcela.
Chelo f Spanish
Diminutive of Consuelo.
Chita f Spanish
Short form of Conchita.
Cielo f Spanish
Means "sky, heaven" in Spanish. In Mexico this name was popularized by a character named María del Cielo, called Cielo, on the telenovela Por tu amor (1999).
Concepción f Spanish
Means "conception" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. A city in Chile bears this name.
Concha f Spanish
Diminutive of Concepción. This name can also mean "seashell" in Spanish.
Conchita f Spanish
Diminutive of Concha.
Consolación f Spanish
Means "consolation" in Spanish. It is taken from a title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Consolación, meaning "Our Lady of Consolation".
Consuela f Spanish (Rare)
Variant of Consuelo.
Consuelo f Spanish
Means "consolation" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, meaning "Our Lady of Consolation".
Coral f English, Spanish
From the English and Spanish word coral for the underwater skeletal deposits that can form reefs. It is ultimately derived (via Old French and Latin) from Greek κοράλλιον (korallion).
Covadonga f Spanish
From the name of a village in Asturias, Spain. Called Cuadonga in Asturian, it probably means "cave of the spring", though it has long been associated with Vulgar Latin Cova Dominica "Cave of Our Lady". This is the site of an important shrine to the Virgin Mary, and its use as a given name stems from the Marian title Nuestra Señora de Covadonga "Our Lady of Covadonga".
Cristal f Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish form of Crystal.
Cruz f & m Spanish, Portuguese
Means "cross" in Spanish or Portuguese, referring to the cross of the crucifixion.
Cruzita f Spanish (Rare)
Diminutive of Cruz.
Custodia f Spanish
Feminine form of Custodio.
Custodio m Spanish
Means "guardian" in Spanish, from Latin custodia "protection, safekeeping".
Daleyza f American (Hispanic, Modern)
Meaning uncertain, perhaps an elaboration of Dalia 1. This name was used by Mexican-American musician Larry Hernandez for his daughter born 2010.
Dalia 1 f Spanish (Latin American), Arabic
Spanish and Arabic form of Dahlia. The Dahlia is the national flower of Mexico.
Delora f English
Altered form of Dolores.
Delores f English
Variant of Dolores.
Deloris f English
Variant of Dolores.
Desamparados f Spanish
Means "helpless, defenceless, forsaken" in Spanish. It is taken from an epithet of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados, meaning "Our Lady of the Helpless". She is the patron saint of Valencia, Spain.
Dídac m Catalan
Catalan form of Didacus.
Didacus m Medieval Spanish
Form of Diego found in medieval Latin records.
Diego m Spanish, Italian
Spanish name, possibly a shortened form of Santiago. In medieval records Diego was Latinized as Didacus, and it has been suggested that it in fact derives from Greek διδαχή (didache) meaning "teaching". Saint Didacus (or Diego) was a 15th-century Franciscan brother based in Alcalá, Spain.... [more]
Divina f Spanish (Philippines), Portuguese (Brazilian)
From Spanish or Portuguese divina meaning "divine, godlike".
Dollie f English
Variant of Dolly.
Dolly f English
Diminutive of Dorothy. Doll and Dolly were used from the 16th century, and the common English word doll (for the plaything) is derived from them. In modern times this name is also sometimes used as a diminutive of Dolores.
Dolores f Spanish, English
Means "sorrows", taken from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, meaning "Our Lady of Sorrows". It has been used in the English-speaking world since the 19th century, becoming especially popular in America during the 1920s and 30s.
Dulce f Spanish, Portuguese
Means "sweet" or "candy" in Spanish.
Dulce María f Spanish
Combination of Dulce and María.
Édison m Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish form of Edison.
Edison m English, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish (Latin American), Albanian
From an English surname that meant either "son of Eda 2" or "son of Adam". A famous bearer of the surname was the American inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931).
Emperatriz f Spanish
Means "empress" in Spanish.
Encarna f Spanish
Short form of Encarnación.
Encarnación f Spanish
Means "incarnation" in Spanish. This is given in reference to the Incarnation of Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
Encarni f Spanish
Diminutive of Encarnación.
Encarnita f Spanish
Diminutive of Encarnación.
Eneida f Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish (Latin American)
From the Portuguese and Spanish name of the Aeneid (see Aeneas).
Estíbaliz f Spanish
From a Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz, meaning "Our Lady of Estíbaliz". Estíbaliz is a sanctuary in Álava, Spain. It may be derived from Latin aestivalis "pertaining to the summer", a derivative of aestas "summer". Folk etymology connects it to Basque ezti "honey" and balitz "as if it were".
Estrella f Spanish
Spanish form of Stella 1, coinciding with the Spanish word meaning "star".
Evangelista m & f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Means "evangelist, preacher" in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, derived from Latin, ultimately from Greek εὐάγγελος (euangelos) meaning "bringing good news". It is often used in honour of the Four Evangelists (the authors of the gospels in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). It is traditionally masculine, though occasionally given to girls. A famous bearer was the Italian physicist and mathematician Evangelista Torricelli (1608-1647), who invented the barometer.
Fe f Spanish
Means "faith" in Spanish, derived from Latin fides.
Flor f Spanish, Portuguese
Either directly from Spanish or Portuguese flor meaning "flower", or a short form of Florencia.
Florinda f Spanish, Portuguese
Elaborated form of Spanish or Portuguese flor meaning "flower".
Fuensanta f Spanish
From Spanish fuente santa meaning "holy fountain, holy spring". This is a title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta, meaning "Our Lady of the Holy Fountain". She is the patron saint of the city of Murcia in Spain.
Gael m Breton, English (Modern), Spanish (Modern)
Probably from the ethno-linguistic term Gael, which refers to speakers of Gaelic languages.
Garsea m Medieval Spanish
Meaning unknown, possibly related to the Basque word hartz meaning "bear". This was the name of several medieval kings of Navarre and Leon.
Giada f Italian
Italian form of Jade.
Gloria f English, Spanish, Italian, German
Means "glory", from the Portuguese and Spanish titles of the Virgin Mary Maria da Glória and María de Gloria. Maria da Glória (1819-1853) was the daughter of the Brazilian emperor Pedro I, eventually becoming queen of Portugal as Maria II.... [more]
Gracia f Spanish
Means "grace" in Spanish, making it a cognate of Grace.
Graciela f Spanish
Elaboration of Gracia.
Guadalupe f & m Spanish
From a Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, meaning "Our Lady of Guadalupe". Guadalupe is a Spanish place name, the site of a famous convent, derived from Arabic وادي (wādī) meaning "valley, river" possibly combined with Latin lupus meaning "wolf". In the 16th century Our Lady of Guadalupe supposedly appeared in a vision to a native Mexican man, and she is now regarded as a patron saint of the Americas.
Indalecio m Spanish
Spanish form of the Latin name Indaletius, of uncertain origin. Saint Indaletius was a 1st-century missionary to Almería, Spain.
India f English, Spanish (Modern)
From the name of the country, which is itself derived from the name of the Indus River. The river's name is ultimately from Sanskrit सिन्धु (Sindhu) meaning "body of trembling water, river". India Wilkes is a character in the novel Gone with the Wind (1936) by Margaret Mitchell.
Inma f Spanish
Short form of Inmaculada.
Inmaculada f Spanish
Means "immaculate" in Spanish. This name is given to commemorate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
Inmaculada Concepción f Spanish
Means "immaculate conception" in Spanish, commemorating the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
Iridián f Spanish (Mexican, Modern)
Means "related to Iris or rainbows", ultimately from Greek ἶρις (genitive ἴριδος). It briefly entered the American top 1000 list in 1995, likely due to a Mexican singer named Iridián.
Jada 1 f English
Elaborated form of Jade. This name came into general use in the 1960s, and was popularized in the 1990s by actress Jada Pinkett Smith (1971-).
Jade f & m English, French
From the name of the precious stone that is often used in carvings. It is derived from Spanish (piedra de la) ijada meaning "(stone of the) flank", relating to the belief that jade could cure renal colic. As a given name, it came into general use during the 1970s. It was initially unisex, though it is now mostly feminine.
Jaida f English (Modern)
Variant of Jada 1.
Jayda f English (Modern)
Variant of Jada 1.
Jayde f English (Modern)
Variant of Jade.
Jazmín f Spanish
Spanish form of Jasmine.
Jesenia f Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Yesenia.
Jessenia f Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Yesenia.
Jordán m Spanish
Spanish form of Jordan.
Jordana f Spanish, Portuguese, Macedonian, Serbian, English (Rare)
Feminine form of Jordan.
Karmen f Slovene, Croatian, Estonian
Slovene, Croatian and Estonian form of Carmen.
Lady f Spanish (Latin American)
From the English noble title Lady, derived from Old English hlæfdige, originally meaning "bread kneader". This name grew in popularity in Latin America after the marriage of Diana Spencer, known as Lady Di, to Prince Charles in 1981 and her death in 1997.
LaToya f African American
Combination of the popular prefix la with the name Toya.
Laurinda f English (Rare)
Variant of Lorinda.
Leyre f Spanish
From the name of a mountain in Navarre in northern Spain, the site of the old monastery of San Salvador of Leyre. It is from Basque Leire, possibly derived from Latin legionarius meaning "pertaining to a legion".
Libertad f Spanish
Means "freedom, liberty" in Spanish, a cognate of Liberty.
Lilia f Spanish, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian
Spanish and Italian form of Lily, as well as an alternate transcription of Russian Лилия or Ukrainian Лілія (see Liliya).
Liliana f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Polish, Czech, English
Latinate form of Lillian.
Lluvia f Spanish (Modern)
Means "rain" in Spanish.
Lola f Spanish, English, French
Spanish diminutive of Dolores. A famous bearer was Lola Montez (1821-1861; birth name Eliza Gilbert), an Irish-born dancer, actress and courtesan.
Lolicia f English (Rare)
Elaborated form of Lola.
Lolita f Spanish
Diminutive of Lola. This is the name of a 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov.
Lorena 1 f Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian form of Lorraine.
Loreto f & m Spanish, Italian
From the name of a town in Italy, originally called Lauretum in Latin, meaning "laurel grove". Supposedly in the 13th century the house of the Virgin Mary was miraculously carried by angels from Nazareth to the town. In Spain it is a feminine name, from the Marian title Nuestra Señora de Loreto, while in Italy it is mostly masculine.
Loretta f English, Italian
Perhaps a variant of Lauretta or Loreto. A famous bearer was the American actress Loretta Young (1913-2000), whose birth name was Gretchen.
Lori f English
Diminutive of Laura, Lorraine and other names beginning with Lor. This name rapidly rose in popularity in the United States in the 1950s and 60s, peaking in the 8th spot for girls in 1963.
Lorie f English
Variant of Lori.
Lorinda f English
Elaboration of Lori with the popular name suffix inda.
Lorri f English
Variant of Lori.
Lorrie f English
Variant of Lori.
Lourdes f Spanish, Portuguese
From the name of a French town. It became a popular center of pilgrimage after a young girl from the town had visions of the Virgin Mary in a nearby grotto.
Lucero f & m Spanish (Mexican), Spanish (Latin American)
Means "light source, bright star, morning star" in Spanish, a derivative of luz "light". Occasionally it is used as a diminutive of the name Luz. It is most common in Mexico and Colombia.
Luján f Spanish (Latin American)
From a Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Luján, meaning "Our Lady of Luján". This is the name of a city in Argentina near Buenos Aires. Our Lady of Luján is a 17th-century statue of Mary. Supposedly the horses transporting the statue further into Argentina refused to pull the cart past Luján, so a shrine was built at the spot. She is regarded as a patron saint of Argentina.
Lupe f & m Spanish
Short form of Guadalupe.
Lupita f Spanish
Diminutive of Guadalupe.
Lurdes f Portuguese
Portuguese variant of Lourdes.
Luz f Spanish
Means "light" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Luz, meaning "Our Lady of Light".
Macarena f Spanish
From the name of a barrio (district) in Seville, which got its name from a temple that may have been named for a person named Macarius (see Macario). The Virgin of Macarena, that is Mary, is widely venerated in Seville.
Mamen f Spanish
Diminutive of María del Carmen.
Mar f Spanish, Catalan
Means "sea" in Spanish and Catalan. It is from a devotional title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Mar "Our Lady of the Sea", the patron saint of the Spanish province of Almería.
María Ángeles f Spanish
Combination of María and Ángeles.
María Auxiliadora f Spanish
Means "Mary the helper" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María Belén f Spanish
Combination of María and Belén.
María Carmen f Spanish
Combination of María and Carmen. This was the most popular name for girls in Spain from the 1940s to the 1970s.
María Concepción f Spanish
Combination of María and Concepción.
María Cruz f Spanish
Combination of María and Cruz.
María de Jesús f Spanish
Means "Mary (the mother) of Jesus" in Spanish, a compound of María and Jesús.
María de la Cruz f Spanish
Means "Mary of the cross" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María de las Mercedes f Spanish
Means "Mary of mercies" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María del Carmen f Spanish
Means "Mary of Mount Carmel" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary (see Carmen).
María del Mar f Spanish
Means "Mary of the sea" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María de los Ángeles f Spanish
Means "Mary of the angels" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María de los Dolores f Spanish
Means "Mary of sorrows" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María Dolores f Spanish
Combination of María and Dolores.
María Guadalupe f Spanish (Mexican)
Combination of María and Guadalupe.
María Lourdes f Spanish
Combination of María and Lourdes.
María Mar f Spanish
Combination of María and Mar.
María Mercedes f Spanish
Combination of María and Mercedes.
María Nieves f Spanish
Combination of María and Nieves.
María Pilar f Spanish
Combination of María and Pilar.
María Rosa f Spanish
Combination of María and Rosa 1.
María Rosario f Spanish
Combination of María and Rosario.
María Soledad f Spanish
Combination of María and Soledad.
Maricarmen f Spanish
Contraction of María Carmen or María del Carmen.
Maricruz f Spanish
Short form of María Cruz or María de la Cruz.
Marielos f Spanish
Contraction of María de los Ángeles.
Marilou f French, English, Spanish (Philippines)
Combination of Maria and Louise. In the Philippines it is usually a combination of Maria and Lourdes.
Marimar f Spanish
Contraction of María del Mar.
Marisol f Spanish
Short form of María Soledad. It is sometimes considered a combination of María and Sol 1, or from Spanish mar y sol "sea and sun".
Martirio f Spanish (Rare)
Means "martyrdom" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Martirio, the patron saint of the Spanish town of Ugíjar.
Mercedes f Spanish
Means "mercies" (that is, the plural of mercy), from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, meaning "Our Lady of Mercies". It is ultimately from the Latin word merces meaning "wages, reward", which in Vulgar Latin acquired the meaning "favour, pity".
Mercédesz f Hungarian
Hungarian form of Mercedes.
Merche f Spanish
Diminutive of Mercedes.
Milagros f Spanish
Means "miracles" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de los Milagros, which means "Our Lady of Miracles".
Milagrosa f Spanish
Means "miraculous" in Spanish. It is taken from the phrase medalla milagrosa meaning "miraculous medal", referring to the devotional medal made by Adrien Vachette based on Saint Catherine Labouré's visions of the Virgin Mary in Paris in 1830.
Milton m English, Spanish (Latin American)
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "mill town" in Old English. A famous bearer of the surname was John Milton (1608-1674), the poet who wrote Paradise Lost.
Mirta f Spanish, Italian, Croatian
Spanish, Italian and Croatian cognate of Myrtle.
Misericordia f Spanish
Means "compassion, mercy" in Spanish, ultimately from Latin miser "poor, wretched" and cor "heart". It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, La Virgen de la Misericordia, meaning "The Virgin of Compassion".
Morena f Italian, Spanish
Feminine form of Moreno.
Moreno m Italian, Spanish
Derived from Italian moro or Spanish moreno meaning "dark-skinned".
Natividad f Spanish
Means "nativity" in Spanish, commemorating the birth of either Jesus or the Virgin Mary.
Nazaret f & m Spanish, Armenian
From Nazareth, the town in Galilee where Jesus lived. This name is primarily feminine in Spanish and primarily masculine in Armenian.
Nelson m English, Spanish
From an English surname meaning "son of Neil". It was originally given in honour of the British admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805). His most famous battle was the Battle of Trafalgar, in which he destroyed a combined French and Spanish fleet, but was himself killed. Another notable bearer was the South African statesman Nelson Mandela (1918-2013). Mandela's birth name was Rolihlahla; as a child he was given the English name Nelson by a teacher.
Nereida f Spanish
Derived from Greek Νηρηΐδες (Nereides) meaning "nymphs, sea sprites", ultimately derived from the name of the Greek sea god Nereus, who supposedly fathered them.
Nieve f Spanish (Rare)
Variant of Nieves.
Nieves f Spanish
Means "snows" in Spanish, derived from the title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora de las Nieves meaning "Our Lady of the Snows".
Nives f Italian, Croatian
Italian form of Nieves.
Nubia f Spanish (Latin American)
From the name of the ancient region and kingdom in Africa, south of Egypt. It possibly derives from the Egyptian word nbw meaning "gold".
Obdulia f Spanish
Meaning unknown. This was the name of a saint from Toledo, Spain. The details of her life are unknown.
Olvido f Spanish
Means "oblivion, forgetting" in Spanish, taken from the title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora del Olvido, Triunfo y Misericordias meaning "Our Lady of Oblivion, Triumph and Mercies". It commemorates an 1831 vision of Mary by the Spanish nun Sor Patrocinio.
Orquídea f Spanish, Portuguese
Means "orchid" in Spanish and Portuguese, from Latin orchis, Greek ὄρχις (orchis).
Pacífica f Spanish (Rare)
Spanish feminine form of the Late Latin name Pacificus meaning "peacemaker".
Palmira f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Feminine form of Palmiro.
Paloma f Spanish
Means "dove, pigeon" in Spanish.
Patrocinia f Spanish (Latin American)
Strictly feminine variant of Patrocinio.
Patrocinio f & m Spanish
Means "patronage, sponsorship" in Spanish, taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, La Virgen del Patrocinio, meaning "The Virgin of Patronage".
Paz 1 f Spanish
Means "peace" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Paz, meaning "Our Lady of Peace".
Perla f Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish cognate of Pearl.
Perlita f Spanish
Diminutive of Perla.
Piedad f Spanish
Means "mercy, piety" in Spanish, ultimately from Latin pietas.
Pilar f Spanish
Means "pillar" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, María del Pilar, meaning "Mary of the Pillar". According to legend, when Saint James the Greater was in Saragossa in Spain, the Virgin Mary appeared on a pillar.
Pili 1 f Spanish
Diminutive of Pilar.
Presentación f Spanish
Means "presentation, appearance" in Spanish. This name commemorates the tale of the presentation of the young Virgin Mary at the Temple in Jerusalem.
Pura f Spanish
From Spanish pura meaning "pure", also used as a diminutive of Purificación.
Purificación f Spanish
Means "purification" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the ritual purification of the Virgin Mary after her childbirth.
Quixote m Literature
Created by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes for the hero of his novel Don Quixote (1605). This is the character's surname; see Quixote.
Regla f Spanish
Means "rule" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Regla, meaning "Our Lady of the Rule". This name is especially common in Cuba.
Reina 1 f Spanish
Means "queen" in Spanish.
Remedios f Spanish
Means "remedies" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, meaning "Our Lady of the Remedies".
Resurrección f Spanish
Means "resurrection" in Spanish, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus.
Reyes f & m Spanish
Means "kings" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, La Virgen de los Reyes, meaning "The Virgin of the Kings". According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to King Ferdinand III of Castile and told him his armies would defeat those of the Moors in Seville.
Reyna f Spanish
Variant of Reina 1.
Rocío f Spanish
Means "dew" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary María del Rocío meaning "Mary of the Dew".
Rosa 1 f Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, German, English
Generally this can be considered to be from Latin rosa meaning "rose", though originally it may have come from the unrelated Germanic name Roza 2. This was the name of a 13th-century saint from Viterbo in Italy. In the English-speaking world it was first used in the 19th century. Famous bearers include the Polish-German revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) and the American civil rights activist Rosa Parks (1913-2005).
Rosa María f Spanish
Combination of Rosa 1 and María.
Rosario f & m Spanish, Italian
Means "rosary", and is taken from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora del Rosario meaning "Our Lady of the Rosary". This name is feminine in Spanish and masculine in Italian.
Rosaura f Spanish
Means "golden rose", derived from Latin rosa "rose" and aurea "golden". This name was (first?) used by Pedro Calderón de la Barca for a character in his play Life Is a Dream (1635).
Rosita f Spanish
Spanish diminutive of Rosa 1.
Sagrario f Spanish
Means "sanctuary, tabernacle" in Spanish, derived from Latin sacrarium. It is taken from an epithet of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Sagrario, and is associated with Toledo Cathedral.
Salud f Spanish
Spanish cognate of Salut.
Salvacion f Spanish (Philippines)
Filipino form of Spanish salvación meaning "salvation". It refers to a title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Salvación, meaning "Our Lady of Salvation". This is the name of a statue of Mary in Joroan, the Philippines, that is associated with several miracles.
Sandalio m Spanish
Spanish form of Sandalius, possibly a Latinized form of a Gothic name composed of the elements swinþs "strong" and wulfs "wolf". It also nearly coincides with Latin sandalium "sandal". This was the name of a 9th-century Spanish saint martyred by the Moors.
Santana f & m Spanish (Latin American), Portuguese (Brazilian), English (Modern)
From a contraction of Santa Ana (referring to Saint Anna) or from a Spanish and Portuguese surname derived from any of the numerous places named for the saint. It can be given in honour of the Mexican-American musician Carlos Santana (1947-), the founder of the band Santana. The name received a boost in popularity for American girls after the character Santana Andrade began appearing on the soap opera Santa Barbara in 1984.
Santi m Spanish, Italian
Short form of Santiago or a variant of Santo.
Santiago m Spanish, Portuguese
Means "Saint James", derived from Spanish santo "saint" combined with Yago, an old Spanish form of James, the patron saint of Spain. It is the name of the main character in the novella The Old Man and the Sea (1951) by Ernest Hemingway. This also is the name of the capital city of Chile, as well as several other cities in the Spanish-speaking world.
Santos m Spanish
Means "saints" in Spanish. It is used in reference to the Christian festival Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints' Day) celebrated on November 1.
Socorro f Spanish
Means "succour, help, relief" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary María del Socorro meaning "Mary of Perpetual Succour".
Sol 1 f Spanish, Portuguese
Means "sun" in Spanish or Portuguese.
Soledad f Spanish
Means "solitude" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, María de la Soledad, meaning "Mary of Solitude".
Sonsoles f Spanish
From a Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Sonsoles, meaning "Our Lady of Sonsoles". Sonsoles is a sanctuary in the Spanish province of Ávila, which contains a famous statue of Mary.
Telmo m Portuguese, Spanish
Derived from a misdivision of Spanish Santelmo meaning "saint Elmo". This name is given in honour of Pedro González Telmo, a 13th-century Spanish priest.
Tercero m Spanish (Rare)
Means "third" in Spanish. This name was traditionally given to the third child born.
Tex m English
From a nickname denoting a person who came from the state of Texas. A famous bearer was the American animator Tex Avery (1908-1980), real name Frederick, who was born in Texas.
Toya f American (Hispanic)
Diminutive of Victoria or Custodia used among Hispanic Americans.
Tránsito f & m Spanish
Means "transit, travel" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the movement of the Virgin Mary into heaven.
Triana f Spanish (Modern)
From the name of a neighbourhood in the city of Seville, of uncertain meaning.
Trini f Spanish
Short form of Trinidad.
Trinidad f & m Spanish
Means "trinity" in Spanish, referring to the Holy Trinity. An island in the West Indies bears this name.
Vasco m Portuguese, Spanish, Italian
From the medieval Spanish name Velasco, which possibly meant "crow" in Basque. A famous bearer was the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama (c. 1460-1524), the first person to sail from Europe around Africa to India.
Vega 1 f Spanish
Means "meadow, plain" in Spanish. It is taken from a title of the Virgin Mary, La Virgen de la Vega, meaning "The Virgin of the Meadow". She is the patron saint of several Spanish municipalities, such as Salamanca.
Velasco m Medieval Spanish
Medieval Spanish form of Vasco.
Violeta f Romanian, Spanish, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian, Albanian, Lithuanian
Form of Violet in several languages.
Virgen f Spanish (Latin American)
Means "virgin" in Spanish, used in honour of the Virgin Mary.
Virtudes f Spanish
Means "virtues" in Spanish.
Visitación f Spanish
Means "visitation" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the visit of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth.
Xanti m Basque
Basque form of Santiago.
Yadira f Spanish (Latin American), American (Hispanic)
Meaning unknown, possibly derived from an Arabic name. It has been used in Mexico since at least the 1940s, perhaps inspired by the Colombian actress Yadira Jiménez (1928-?), who performed in Mexican films beginning in 1946.
Yaiza f Spanish
From the name of a town in the Canary Islands, Spain. It was used by the novelist Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa for the main character in his Ocean trilogy of books (beginning 1984).
Yeray m Spanish (Canarian)
Canarian Spanish name of recent origin, possibly from a Guanche word or place name meaning "big, grand".
Yesenia f Spanish (Latin American)
From Jessenia, the genus name of a variety of palm trees found in South America. As a given name, it was popularized by the writer Yolanda Vargas Dulché in the 1970 Mexican telenovela Yesenia and the 1971 film adaptation.
Yeseniya f Russian
Russian form of Yesenia. The 1971 Mexican movie was extremely popular in the Soviet Union.
Yessenia f Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Yesenia.
Yunuen f & m Spanish (Mexican)
Meaning unknown, probably of indigenous (maybe Purépecha) origin. This is the name of an island on Lake Pátzcuaro in Mexico.
Yurena f Spanish (Canarian)
Canarian Spanish name of recent origin, derived from the Guanche word yruene meaning "demon, evil spirit". This word was first recorded incorrectly as yurena by the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent in 1803.
Zaray f Spanish (Latin American)
Meaning unknown.
Zoraida f Spanish
Perhaps means "enchanting" or "dawn" in Arabic. This was the name of a minor 12th-century Spanish saint, a convert from Islam. The name was used by Cervantes for a character in his novel Don Quixote (1606), in which Zoraida is a beautiful Moorish woman of Algiers who converts to Christianity and elopes with a Spanish officer.