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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Salomon |  |  Boy | Safety and peace |
| Salove | | Boy | He who is a savior |
| Salsa | |  Girl | The name of the dance |
| Salud | | Girl | Health; Cheers |
| Salut | | Girl | Heath; Cheers; A Spanish word |
| Salvador | | Boy | Savior |
| Salvadore | | Boy | The one who brings salvation |
| Salvator | | Boy | One who is a defender or a savior |
| Salvatora | | Girl | She is the savior |
| Salvatore | | Boy | Savior; Rescuer; Deliverer |
| Salvia | | Girl | A person who redeems; Who saves others |
| Salvina | | Girl | A wise woman; A savior |
| Salvino | | Boy | He who saves the men; A defender and redeemer |
| Sancha | | Girl | Holy; Pure |
| Sanche | |  Unisex | Blessed one |
| Sanchez | | Boy | Son of Sancho; Holy; Saintly |
| Sancho | | Boy | Holy; Saintly |
| Sandia | | Unisex | Watermelon |
| Sangay | | Girl | One who frightens people |
| Sanita | | Boy | A little girl in good health |
| Sanjuana | | Girl | Saint John |
| Sanjuanita | | Girl | Saint john; John the evangelist one of the twelve apostles |
| Sanora | | Unisex | Pleasant sound |
| Santa | | Girl | One who is a saint |
| Santana | | Unisex | Holy; Saintly; Santa Ana |
| Santi | | Boy | One who is holy |
| Santiago | | Unisex | Saint James |
| Santidad | | Girl | Holiness |
| Santiel | | Unisex | Gift from God |
| Santina | | Girl | A little saint |
| Santo | | Boy | A holy one |
| Santos | | Unisex | Holy; Blameless; Saints |
| Sanvah | | Girl | An open plain |
| Sapphire | | Girl | Blue; Precious gem |
| Sara | | Girl | Princess |
| Sarella | | Unisex | Princess |
| Saturnino | | Boy | Little Saturn |
| Saul | | Boy | Asked; Loaned; Grave |
| Saulus | | Boy | One who is prayed for |
| Savana | | Girl | Plateau |
| Savanah | | Girl | Grassy plain |
| Savanha | | Girl | A tropical grassland |
| Savanna | | Unisex | From the open grassy plain |
| Savannah | | Unisex | Treeless plain |
| Savier | | Boy | Variant of Xavier; New house; Bright |
| Saviero | | Boy | One who has a new home |
| Savira | | Unisex | Abundance |
| Segundo | | Boy | One who is born second |
| Selena | | Girl | Moon |
| Sempronia | | Girl | Eternal and everlasting |
| Senalda | | Girl | A sign from God |
| Senorita | | Girl | Sweet |
| Ser | | Unisex | A knight or person of authority |
| Serafina | | Girl | Burning ones; Fiery ones; Thrice holy |
| Seras | | Unisex | Beloved; Precious |
| Sergi | | Unisex | Servant |
| Sergio | | Unisex | Protector; Servant; Soldier |
| Servando | | Boy | One who is in service of others |
| Seve | | Unisex | Energetic; Free-spirited |
| Sevilla | | Girl | A Spanish place name |
| Seville | | Unisex | A city located in the southern part of Spain |
| Shiera | | Girl | Bright; Luminous light |
| Siarra | | Unisex | Mountain range |
| Siera | | Girl | To be like a mountain |
| Sierra | | Unisex | Mountain range; Darkness |
| Silvana | | Girl | A woman of the woods |
| Silvano | | Boy | He who lives in the woods |
| Silverio | | Boy | One who loves trees and forest |
| Silvestre | | Boy | A man of the forest |
| Silvi | | Girl | A woman from the woods |
| Silvia | | Unisex | Wooded; Forest |
| Silviana | | Girl | A girl of the forest |
| Silvio | | Boy | He who loves the woods |
| Siomara | | Girl | Obedient one |
| Socorro | | Girl | Succor; Aid; Help |
| Sofia | | Girl | Wisdom; Learned |
| Sofiana | | Girl | Gentle; Wise; Graceful |
| Sol | | Boy | One who brings peace; Sun; Calm |
| Sola | | Girl | A woman who is alone |
| Solana | | Girl | Sunshine; Melting; The sun; Wind from the East |
| Solano | | Unisex | Eastern wind |
| Soledad | | Girl | Solitude |
| Solenne | | Girl | Sunlight; Religious; Solemn |
| Soley | | Girl | A girl who is like a sunshine |
| Soliesse | | Girl | She who is like a Sun |
| Solina | | Unisex | Peaceful; Sunlit |
| Solita | | Girl | A little loner; A little girl who enjoys solitude |
| Solo | | Unisex | Single; Alone; Done by one person |
| Soluna | | Unisex | Sun, moon; Unity of opposites or balance |
| Sonrisa | | Girl | She who is full of smiles |
| Soto | | Boy | He who is a forest grove |
| Stellamaris | | Unisex | Star of the sea |
| Stellita | | Girl | A girl who is like a little star |
| Sucre | | Unisex | Sugar |
| Suela | | Girl | Sole; Base |
| Suelita | | Girl | She is a little lily flower |
| Susanita | | Girl | Another name for lily flower |
| Taddeo | | Boy | Italian of thaddeus; A gift of God |
| Tadeo | | Boy | Praise |
| Tajo | | Boy | A name of the river in Spain; Day |
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
