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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  Girl | A person who is happy and cultured |
| | | Girl | The blessed one |
| | | Girl | Blessed |
| | |  Boy | Blessed |
| | | Boy | Gift of God |
| | | Boy | A blessed soul |
| | |  Unisex | Son of the worker |
| | | Girl | A bitter one |
| | | Girl | Insightful, sensitive, and energetic individual |
| | | Girl | City of the Prophet |
| | | Girl | Mother; One who is motherly |
| | | Girl | Mother |
| | | Unisex | A place name; Madrid in Spain |
| | | Girl | Mother Goddess |
| | | Unisex | From the tower |
| | | Girl | A powerful warrior |
| | | Girl | Of Magdala; High tower; Variant transcription of Magdalena |
| | | Girl | A woman from the tower town |
| | | Girl | Dark Red Wood |
| | | Girl | One whose hair is the color of corn |
| | | Boy | A Spanish male name |
| | | Unisex | Gorse flower; Furze flower |
| | | Girl | She who is walking proudly |
| | | Girl | Love |
| | | Unisex | Attractive; Charming |
| | | Girl | Angel |
| | | Boy | He who is my messenger |
| | | Girl | Suitcase |
| | | Girl | A soothing balm; Lemon balm |
| | | Unisex | Honey; Sweetie |
| | | Girl | A Spanish girl name |
| | | Unisex | Man in the army; Soldier |
| | | Boy | God is with us; A contraction of the name Manuel; Shark; Passionate lover |
| | | Boy | God is among us |
| | | Boy | God is with us |
| | | Boy | God is among us |
| | | Girl | God is with us |
| | | Girl | God is with us |
| | | Boy | God is with us |
| | | Unisex | Machine |
| | | Boy | One who is a Lord |
| | | Boy | Bitter |
| | | Girl | A sea of bitterness and sorrow |
| | | Girl | A woman who is admired |
| | | Girl | A Spanish place name |
| | | Boy | From Marcus |
| | | Boy | Like a hammer |
| | | Boy | Dedicated to Mars |
| | | Unisex | Warlike; Martial; Dedicated to Mars (Roman God of war) |
| | | Girl | A young warrior |
| | | Boy | Dedicated to Mars |
| | | Boy | The Roman fertility god Mars for whom March was named |
| | | Girl | A daisy flower |
| | | Girl | Pearl |
| | | Girl | Pearl |
| | | Girl | A daisy flower |
| | | Girl | Pearl |
| | | Girl | Bitter |
| | | Girl | A bitterly wanted child |
| | | Girl | Star of the sea |
| | | Boy | A star of rebelliousness |
| | | Girl | One who is rebellious and like a star |
| | | Girl | Sea; Grace |
| | | Boy | A hostile, war-like man |
| | | Girl | Beautiful sea; Wonderful sea |
| | | Girl | A war-like girl |
| | | Girl | Beloved of the sky |
| | | Girl | A bitter woman |
| | | Girl | Combination of Miria or sea of sorrow and Felicity or happiness |
| | | Unisex | Sailor, sea traveler, adventurous |
| | | Girl | Belonging to the sea |
| | | Boy | Warlike; Mars |
| | | Girl | Butterfly |
| | | Girl | Of the sea |
| | | Girl | A woman who is war-like and aggressive |
| | | Boy | An aggressive young man |
| | | Girl | Mary of solitude; Sea and sun |
| | | Girl | Of the sea |
| | | Girl | A young woman of the sea |
| | | Girl | A lady |
| | | Girl | A lady of the sea |
| | | Girl | Beloved; Loving |
| | | Unisex | Miraculous; Wonderful |
| | | Boy | One who is manly but tender |
| | | Boy | A title name that is below Duke and above an earl |
| | | Girl | A noble title that means march; Borderland |
| | | Boy | Son of the sea |
| | | Girl | The Lady; The mistress |
| | | Boy | From the God Mars |
| | | Girl | Warrior |
| | | Boy | A person who is combative |
| | | Girl | A petite woman who is a soldier of Mars |
| | | Boy | One who is a martyr |
| | | Girl | A true lady; Dame |
| | | Girl | She who is a lady; A mistress |
| | | Girl | A miraculous one |
| | | Girl | She who came down from the stars |
| | | Boy | Gift of God |
| | | Girl | A spiritual thought |
| | | Girl | One who is a gift from God |
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
