Spanish Names

  1. Raquel
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Rachel
    • Meaning:

      "ewe"
    • Description:

      Attractive name popular in the Latino community, long identified with half-Bolivian actress Raquel Welch. Similarly to the Hebrew form Rachel, Raquel is past its peak. Nonetheless, it retains a certain sparkle and would feel newly refreshing for a baby today.
  2. Alberto
    • Origin:

      Germanic
    • Meaning:

      "noble, bright"
    • Description:

      Alberto is the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese variation of Albert and lends a more unusual and fashionable edge to this name which is still a grandpa name to many.
  3. Min
    • Description:

      Min is a concise, impactful masculine name with diverse cultural origins. In Chinese, Min (闵) means 'quick' or can represent 'sensitivity and compassion,' depending on the character used. In Korean, Min can mean 'cleverness' or 'quickness of mind.' The name also appears in Ancient Egyptian mythology as the god of fertility and reproduction. Its brevity makes it a striking modern choice in Western contexts, where single-syllable names have gained popularity. Min functions well internationally due to its ease of pronunciation across languages. Though traditionally more common in East Asian countries, Min has potential appeal to parents seeking minimalist, gender-neutral naming options with cross-cultural significance. Its simplicity belies its rich cultural heritage.

  4. Damián
    • Description:

      Damián is the Spanish form of Damian, derived from the Greek name 'Damianos,' which comes from 'damao' meaning 'to tame' or 'subdue.' This masculine name has strong historical roots, particularly associated with Saint Damian, who along with his twin brother Cosmas, was a physician who provided free medical services and became a Christian martyr. Damián is widely used in Spanish-speaking countries and has gained international popularity in recent decades. The name carries connotations of healing, selflessness, and compassion. The accent mark gives it a distinctive pronunciation (dah-mee-AHN) and adds to its cultural authenticity.
  5. Melania
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Greek variation of Melanie
    • Meaning:

      "black"
    • Description:

      The current wife of Donald Trump, Slovenian model Melania Knauss, brought this pretty version to the fore. Saint Melania was an heiress who freed thousands of enslaved people.
  6. Salvador
    • Origin:

      Spanish from Latin Salvator
    • Meaning:

      "savior"
    • Description:

      A common epithet of Christ, frequently heard in the Hispanic community, Salvador could also be a great choice for artistic parents, given the continuing popularity of Dada and Surrealist painter Salvador Dalí. (If Monet and Raphael get a look in, why not Salvador?)
  7. Julietta
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Juliet
    • Meaning:

      "little Julia"
    • Description:

      Julietta feels newly fresh and friendly thanks to the growing familiarity of Juliet and French sister Juliette.
  8. Leocadia
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "splendid brightness"
    • Description:

      Leocadia marries a mix of sounds: the strength of a lion, with a rhythmic Latin ending.
  9. Savanna
    • Origin:

      Variation of Savannah
    • Description:

      Savanna has lost ground in recent years. It remains eclipsed by its more traditionally spelled cousin Savannah.
  10. Gracia
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Grace
    • Description:

      Although Gracia is the literal Spanish translation of Grace and is used as the Grace equivalent in Spanish-speaking countries, where it's pronounced grah-see-ah or grah-thee-ah, it's also a long-time if unusual Grace variation pronounced gray-sha. You might consider Gracia if Grace is getting too commonplace for you.
  11. Vale
    • Origin:

      Geographical name
    • Description:

      Vale is part place name, part nature name -- a poetic term for a type of valley. Today Show coanchor Savannah Guthrie put Vale on the baby name map when she chose it for her daughter, but there's no reason the name can't work equally well for a boy. Vale might also be a short form for Valentine or a spelling variation of the city name Vail.
  12. Liliosa
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Liliosa, one of the most extravagant forms of the ever-more-popular and varied Lily family, is an ancient saint's name that's a perfect candidate for revival by parents who love the double-L flower name trend but want a distinctive variation. Saint Liliosa was one of the martyrs of 9th century Cordoba, along with her husband Felix and cousins Aurelius and Natalia — all names newly fashionable in the modern world.
  13. Chila
    • Description:

      Chila is a feminine name with diverse cultural origins. It may be derived from the Hindi word 'chila' meaning 'kite' (the bird), or it could be a diminutive form of names like Priscilla or Cecilia in some Latin cultures. The name might also have roots in Native American languages. Chila has remained relatively uncommon in most Western countries, giving it a distinctive quality. Those named Chila often appreciate its brevity and melodic sound. The name's rarity makes it stand out while still being straightforward to pronounce in many languages. In some communities, Chila may be used as a nickname for longer names, adding to its versatile appeal.

  14. Felipe
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Philip, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "lover of horses"
    • Description:

      A royal name in Spain, Felipe could make a lively alternative to the English sounding Philip. It has ranked on the US Top 1000 almost every year since the beginning of the twentieth century, but has never risen above the Top 300, making it a familiar without being overused.
  15. Maritza
    • Origin:

      Spanish diminutive of Maria
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Used especially in Latin America, this would make a funky spin on Maria.
  16. Mora
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "blackberry"
    • Description:

      Intriguing derivation, though people will assume it's a simplified form of Maura.
  17. Iago
    • Origin:

      Welsh and Galician variation of James and Jacob
    • Description:

      Iago, the villain of Shakespeare's Othello, was so treacherously evil that his name has hardly ever been heard offstage. Try the much-more-benign Inigo.
  18. Pedro
    • Origin:

      Spanish; Portuguese variation of Peter, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "rock, stone"
    • Description:

      Pedro is one of the most familiar Spanish names for boys, via baseball star Pedro Rodriguez and many others.
  19. Micaela
    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish, and Israeli variation of Michaela
    • Meaning:

      "who is like God"
    • Description:

      The original versions of Micaela have morphed into all manner of "inventive" spellings -- Makayla, McKalla et al -- but we prefer the genuine international versions, like this one.
  20. Mariposa
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "butterfly"
    • Description:

      Mariposa is a rare, romantic choice with an intriguing meaning.