Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
Spain is a beautiful country with rich history and culture dating back thousands of years, and Spanish baby names are a testament to the country's diversity and heritage. Generally, Spanish names are longer than those found in other cultures. And by longer, we don't mean more letters. Their names consist of more words. At the time of birth, Spanish babies are given one or two given names and two surnames. The first surname is the father's paternal surname, whereas the second is the mother's paternal surname. However, an individual can use their mother's family name as their first name if they wish. So in a family, the mother, father, and children can have different surnames. Also, women are not required to change their surname after marriage. The full names are used only in formal, legal, and document-related matters, while given names or first names are used for daily communication or social purposes. The majority of the Spanish population is Catholic. In Christian communities, a customary practice involves assigning Spanish female individuals composite names from revered saints and local patrons, such as María de los Ángeles. Here, María is derived from Virgin Mary, whereas De los Ángeles is a suffix emphasizing the individual's connection to the divine. Generally, women with Marian names are addressed with the last portion of the suffix, which is Ángeles in this case. However, they can also be addressed with the first name 'María.' The exclusive utilization of "María" for girls is infrequent, contrasting with its role as a middle name among Spanish males (1). If you are looking for distinctive names that exude Spain's elegance and flair, explore the list of Spanish baby names with meanings below. The list contains names from diverse origins and significance, which add to their beauty and distinctiveness.
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  Boy | He who wears a crown of laurels |
| | |  Girl | From the place of honor and victory |
| | | Girl | Laurel tree; Sweet bay tree; Symbol of victory |
| | | Girl | An individual who is purified and cleansed; Of pure soul |
| | | Boy | Lion-like person |
| | | Girl | Noble, brave, lion-hearted |
| | | Girl | Person with splendid brightness |
| | | Boy | Bright light; Clear light |
| | | Girl | Bright; White one |
| | | Boy | Brave lion |
| | | Boy | Who is like a lion |
| | | Girl | Light; Luminous; Torch |
| | | Girl | God is my light; Light; Bright |
| | | Girl | An illuminated and compassionate person |
| | | Girl | An allusion to the Virgin Mary |
| | | Girl | Joy; Gladness |
| | | Girl | A woman who is a dear friend |
| | | Girl | Loyalty |
| | |  Unisex | Descendant of Levi; Joined; Attached |
| | | Girl | Weary; Relaxed |
| | | Boy | The feeling of complete freedom |
| | | Boy | Free, liberated |
| | | Girl | Noble |
| | | Girl | A person who is from Lydia |
| | | Girl | Lily; Purity; Innocence |
| | | Girl | Name of a flower; Spanish variant of the name Lily |
| | | Girl | Beautiful; Soft |
| | | Girl | A woman whose beauty can be compared to a Linden tree |
| | | Girl | A coinage of the Linden tree; Beautiful in Spanish |
| | | Girl | Strong and courageous |
| | | Unisex | Pure and delicate flower |
| | | Girl | God's promise; God Is My Oath |
| | | Girl | Joy; God is my oath |
| | | Girl | Envious; Blue |
| | | Girl | Rain |
| | | Girl | The soothing sound of the falling rain |
| | | Girl | A diminutive of Dolores and means Sorrow |
| | | Boy | A person who is like a Wolf |
| | | Girl | Something holy |
| | | Girl | Lady of sorrows |
| | | Girl | Famous bearer; Sorrow |
| | | Girl | Manly |
| | | Unisex | Sorrows |
| | | Girl | A small hill |
| | | Boy | Person as fierce as a Lion |
| | | Girl | An escapade; A Lark |
| | | Boy | A warrior who is noble and always battle-ready |
| | | Boy | Noble; Ready for battle |
| | | Boy | A noble and ready person |
| | | Boy | A man of noble and accessible character |
| | | Boy | Battle-ready; Skillful and noble person |
| | | Boy | Short of Alonzo; A noble and ready person |
| | | Unisex | Son of Lope; Wolf |
| | | Girl | Laurel |
| | | Girl | A woman who is as beautiful as a flower |
| | | Unisex | A place name of the region of Navarre in Spain |
| | | Girl | From Laurentum; Laurel |
| | | Boy | From Laurentum |
| | | Girl | She who is pure |
| | | Boy | A womanizer |
| | | Girl | French town; Craggy slope |
| | | Unisex | Glory; Fame |
| | | Boy | Light |
| | | Boy | Warrior of great fame |
| | | Girl | Light |
| | | Girl | Light; Illumination |
| | | Boy | Light; Shining |
| | | Boy | Illuminated; Light |
| | | Girl | graceful light; Illumination |
| | | Girl | Light |
| | | Boy | Light |
| | | Girl | little light |
| | | Girl | She who brings light |
| | | Unisex | Graceful and divine |
| | | Boy | Famous in battle |
| | | Girl | Famous warrior |
| | | Girl | A loud fighter |
| | | Girl | A maiden in war |
| | | Boy | A warrior of fame |
| | | Girl | Spanish name for maiden in war |
| | | Unisex | Bright, shining, or illustrious |
| | | Boy | Illumination; Light |
| | | Girl | A girl born at a daybreak |
| | | Girl | She acheaved Fame in the War |
| | | Girl | Bright as a Sunshine |
| | | Girl | She who is full of light and brightness |
| | | Girl | Moon |
| | | Girl | River of the Wolf |
| | | Girl | Valley of the wolf |
| | | Girl | Ancestor of roman people |
| | | Boy | Light |
| | | Girl | The Lady of the light |
| | | Girl | Form of Lucy; Light |
| | | Girl | Light |
| | | Girl | Our lady of light |
| | | Girl | A combination of Luz and Maria |
| | | Unisex | A gentle person |
| | | Girl | Describing beauty |
| | | Girl | A place by the lake |
Spanish baby names are as unique as the country's cultural heritage. They effortlessly interlace complex meanings, echoing spiritual beliefs and virtues. Their phonetic sound and pronunciation add to their refinement and charm and help them stand apart. Parents looking for meaningful names can explore the list of Spanish baby names shared above. These names offer options that can allure parents across cultures and linguistic backgrounds. So explore the list to find the perfect name that carries a piece of Spain's linguistic and cultural legacy.
Infographic: Spanish Names To Consider For Your Precious Baby
Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world. The language spread across parts of the Americas with the Spaniards, expanding the spread of the language. If you are exploring a Spanish name for your baby because you speak the language or are charmed by its allure, then read on. We present an infographic with a list of superb Spanish names you may consider for your baby.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do Spanish baby names differ from names in other European cultures?
Spanish baby names are distinct from other European names because of the number of given names. The first given name would usually be given as a form of reverence to a saint, believed to protect them, and would rarely be used to refer to the person (2). They would more likely be referred to by their second or third given name.
2. How do baby names reflect the historical roots and cultural diversity of Spain?
The historical origin of Spanish names can be attributed to the multiple cultural influences brought about by Jewish, Latin, Germanic, Arabic, and Catholic traditions (3). Some examples are Ada, a shortened form of the Germanic name Adelaide which means ‘nobility’ or ‘nobleness.’ Casilda is a name with Arabic origins that could mean ‘battle’ or ‘poem.’ Cecilia is a name with Latin roots meaning ‘blind.’
3. How have Spanish baby names changed over time?
There have been gradual but noticeable changes in the Spanish naming system, which took over three centuries to develop. Initially, most people had only one name, but keeping records was deemed necessary with the increase in population. By the 1100s, the naming system was well-established in Spain. Only one family member usually took up surnames, but later on, the names became hereditary. Surnames were generally borne by the wealthy class and later by the lower classes (2).
4. Who did the Spanish descend from?
Like most of the European population, the Spaniards came from three distinct groups, the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, the Neolithic early European farmers, and the Yamnaya Steppe herders. But the genetic pool of the Spaniards consists mainly of the pre-Roman settlers in the Iberian peninsula, specifically the Iberians, Vettones, Aquitani, and Turdetani. There were also the Celts like the Gallaecians, Celtici, Celtiberians, and the Turduli (3).
References
- A GUIDE TO NAMES AND NAMING PRACTICES.
https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf - Spain Personal Names
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Spain_Personal_Names - History of Spain
https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/espana/historyandculture/history/Paginas/index.aspx
