Spanish is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world, with over 400 million native speakers. So it’s no wonder that Spanish baby names are trendy throughout the globe.
The Spanish language and culture began to spread during the Spanish Empire when explorers were commissioned to expand the territories of Spain.
The Spanish Empire stretched to the Philippines, Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, central and much of South America, and a huge chunk of what is now the southern and western parts of the United States.
Spanish baby names have many origins, including religion, literature, and history. Names like Sofia and Martina or Sebastián and Mateo are trendy, while Cecilia and Isabel or Manuel and José are classic and never seem to lose popularity.
You may want to give your child a Spanish name to pass down a family name or honor your heritage. But lots of people just love and admire the Spanish culture and language or a specific name within it.
So, whether you’re not living in a Spanish speaking region or you’re not Hispanic, choosing a baby name you love from a different region or culture doesn’t matter.
Brazil and Portugal are not technically Hispanic countries, and the primary language is not Spanish but Portuguese. However, the two languages share some similarities, though they are distinctly different.
And a lot of names from these countries are similar, if not the same as those from Spain and other Hispanic countries.
Therefore, this list of Spanish baby names features names that are popular in Brazil and Portugal as well. Check out Spanish baby boy names.
Popular Spanish Baby Names for Your Baby Girl
Here are some trendy and unique Spanish baby girl names along with their origins, meanings, and other fun information.
Alejandra
- Meaning: Defender and protector of humankind
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Alejandrina, Alyjandra, Alajandra, Alexandra, Ali, Allie, Ally, Alexi, Alex, Lexi
- Famous Namesakes: Alejandra Guzmán (Singer), Alejandra Garcia (Olympic athlete)
Peak Popularity: Alejandra reached its peak in 1993 when it ranked at number 147 on the top 1,000 list of girl names. It has dropped a little in the last 25 years and in 2018 ranked at number 512.
Alondra
- Meaning: A lark
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Alondria, Alandra, Alondrah, Alonda, Ally, Londi, Alondrina, Alondre
- Famous Namesakes: Alondra Nelson (Writer), Alondra Hidalgo (voice actress)
Peak Popularity: Alondra has been a relatively popular name in the United States since 1995, and topped out at number 120 in 2005. It was the most popular name in Puerto Rico in 2009 but fell to the 22nd spot in 2016.
Aurora
- Meaning: The dawn, the sunrise or light
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Arora, Arorah, Aroarah, Aurore, Aurorah, Rory, Rorie
- Famous Namesakes: Aurora Clavel (Actress), Aurora Miranda (actress)
Peak Popularity: Aurora has been a top 1,000 girls’ name for over a century. It has been on the top 100 list since 2015 and rose to the 44th spot in 2018.
Catalina
- Meaning: Pure
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Catelina, Catalena, Cathy, Kathy, Kat, Cat, Katalena, Katalina, Catarina, Kathalina, Kathline, Katarina, Catrina, Kathleen, Cathline, Katrina, Cathalina
- Famous Namesakes: Catalina Sandino Moreno (Actress), Catalina Vasquez Villalpando (former U.S. Treasurer)
Peak Popularity: Catalina had been a top 1,000 entrée between 1920 and 1935, before dropping off the list. In 1989, almost 55 years later, Catalina returned to the top 1,000 and was at number 235 in 2018.
Cecilia
- Meaning: Blind
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Cicilia, Sicilia, Sicelia, Cecelia, Cacelia, Cecile, Celia, Cece, Sissy, Ceil, Ceci
- Famous Namesakes: Cecilia Braekhus (Boxer), Cecilia Freire (actress)
Peak Popularity: Cecilia is a classic, but consistent name, and has been a top 500 entrée for more than 100 years. After ranking at number 199 in 1900, it saw an increase in usage and rose 155 in 2018.
Clara
- Meaning: Clear and bright
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Klara, Khlara, Claire, Clarissa, Clarah, Clare
- Famous Namesakes: Clara Lemlich (Civil rights leader), Clara Horton (actress)
Peak Popularity: Clara is another popular classic name. The early part of the 20th century saw it rise to a top 50 name, ranking at number 19 in 1900. It ranked 103 in 2018.
Claudia
- Meaning: Crippled, lame, and limping
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Claudiah, Claude, Claudette, Claudie, Claudine, Claudina, Klaudia, Cloudia
- Famous Namesakes: Claudia Schiffer (Model), Claudia Feliciano (musician)
Peak Popularity: Claudia has been a top 1,000 name for more than a century, but it has been suffering a decline in usage in the last 15 years. It suffered a massive fall from the 200th spot in 2000 to number 872 in 2018.
Concepción
- Meaning: The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Conchita, Concepta, Concha, Conxita, Concetta, Conchetta
- Famous Namesakes: Concepción – Conchita – Cintrón (Bullfighter), Conchita Martinez (tennis player)
Peak Popularity: Concepción was a top 1,000 girl’s name during the first parts of the 20th century till 1937, and is no longer on the list.
Consuelo
- Meaning: One who provides consolation and gives comfort
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Consuela, Consuello, Consolata, Conswello, Consuella, Consuelita
- Famous Namesakes: Consuelo Crespi (Fashion editor), Consuelo Duval (comedian)
Peak Popularity: Consuelo was a top 1,000 girl’s name between 1902 and 1983. 1930 was its peak year.
Cruz
- Meaning: The cross
- Origin: Portuguese, Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Cruise, Cruze, Cruzita, Kruze, Kruise, Cruzitte, Kruz
Peak Popularity: Cruz is a unique name because it can be given to a boy or girl, but it’s not new. It staggered as a top 1,000 name for girls from 1919 through 1940.
Dulce
- Meaning: Sweet like candy
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Doulce, Dulcea, Dulcee, Doulcea, Dulcie, Dulcia, Dulsea
- Famous Namesakes: Dulce Maria (Singer), Dulce Piña (Olympic athlete)
Peak Popularity: Dulce first entered the top 1,000 girls’ names list in 1990, and was most popular in 2007 at number 264.
Elena
- Meaning: Beautiful bright shining light
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Ella, Jelena, Elaina, Ileana, Alena, Yelena, Elina, Elana, Lena, Helena, Elene, Elaine
- Famous Namesakes: Elena Kagan (Supreme Court Justice), Elena Kampouris (actress)
Peak Popularity: Elena is a widely used name for well over a century, although it has been enjoying an increase in popularity during the last two decades. It became a top 100 name in 2015 and ranked at 66 in 2018.
Elisa
- Meaning: Devoted to God
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Eliza, Elicia, Elisha, Lisa, Elise, Elyse
- Famous Namesakes: Elisa Donovan (Actress), Elisa Toffoli (singer)
Peak Popularity: Elisa is another traditional name. Its most popular year in the last century was 1981 when it ranked at number 311.
Emilia
- Meaning: A rival or competitor
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Emelia, Amelia, Emilie, Emilee, Milly, Millie, Emily, Emmie, Amila, Emelie
- Famous Namesakes: Emilia Clarke (Actress), Emilia Pardo Bazan (writer)
Peak Popularity: Emilia had been a top 1,000 girls’ name for most of the early 20th century before declining in usage in the 1940s. It resurfaced in the 1980s and has been rising steadily since then. It was at number 58 in 2018.
Esperanza
- Meaning: Hope
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Esparazna, Espe
- Famous Namesakes: Esperanza Martinez (Artist), Esperanza Spalding (musician)
Peak Popularity: Esperanza has been a top 1,000 name for girls for almost a century. Its most popular year was 1929, when it ranked number 446.
Eugenia
- Meaning: Regal and born into high society
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Eugenie, Eugenya, Eugena, Eugina, Eugynia, Eugeny, Genie
- Famous Namesakes: Eugenia Price (Author), Eugenia Silva (model)
Peak Popularity: Eugenia is a classic name that was in the top 1,000 before 1900 and until 1984. It is not so popular nowadays.
Fabiola
- Meaning: Bean
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Fabia, Faviola, Fabrizia, Fabi, Fabiolah, Fabeola
- Famous Namesakes: Fabiola Da Silva (Skateboarder), Fabiola Zuluaga (tennis player)
Peak Popularity: 1986 saw Fabiola rise as a top 1,000 name. After reaching a peak number of 664 in 1995, it soon began to lose traction and finally fell off in 2007. However, it is still a popular name in Puerto Rico and was a top 100 name in 2016.
Gabriela
- Meaning: God is the strength and hero
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Gabryela, Gaby, Gabriella, Gabrielle, Gabriele
- Famous Namesakes: Gabriela Spanic (Actress), Gabriela Sabatini (tennis player)
Peak Popularity: Gabriela became a top 1,000 name in 1965. It has gained massive usage ever since and reached a high of 102 back in 2003. In 2016, Gabriela ranked at number 21 in Puerto Rico.
Gloria
- Meaning: Glorious and full of praise
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Glorea, Glorhea, Gloriah
- Famous Namesakes: Gloria Estefan (Singer), Gloria Vanderbilt (designer)
Peak Popularity: Gloria has been trendy for over a century. It had been a top 50 name for the most part of the 20th century but has since dropped in ranks and was at 584 in 2018.
Guadalupe
- Meaning: Named after the Guadalupe River, the patron saint, or the town in Spain
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Lupe, Lupita, Guadelupe, Guadeloupe
- Famous Namesakes: Guadalupe Canseco (Olympic athlete), Lupita Jones (Miss Universe 1991)
Peak Popularity: Guadalupe has been a top 1,000 name for girls for over 100 years. It reached a high of 210 in 1997 in the U.S. and is also a very popular name in Mexico.
Isabel
- Meaning: One who loves and commits to God
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Isa, Izzy, Izabel, Isabelle, Isabela, Isobel, Isobelle, Bella, Isabella, Izabela, Izabella
- Famous Namesakes: Isabel Pantoja (Singer), Isabel Sanford (actress)
Peak Popularity: Isabel is a traditional name. It was at number 185 in 1900 and rose to 139 in 2018. It is also in the top 100 list in Portugal and Spain.
Isidora
- Meaning: Strong and beautiful gift
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Isidoria, Isadoria, Isadora, Isadore Isa, Iza, Dora, Izadore
- Famous Namesakes: Isidora Zegers (Artist), Isidora Vives (actress)
Peak Popularity: Isidora is an uncommon name and is not in the top 1,000 list.
Jade
- Meaning: Green and like the gemstone
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Jayde, Jada Jadie, Jadine, Jadin, Jaden, Jayda
- Famous Namesakes: Jade Jagger (Designer), Jade Barbosa (Olympic athlete)
Peak Popularity: Jade entered the top 1,000 list in 1975 and has enjoyed a steady increase in usage. It ranked at number 86 in 2002.
Juana
- Meaning: God is gracious and merciful
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Juanna, Juanita, Joan, Joanna, Jane
- Famous Namesakes: Juana Molina (Singer), Juana Lumerman (artist)
Peak Popularity: Juana was a top 1,000 name for most of the last century. It became less common around 2000 and last featured on the list in 2002.
Juliana
- Meaning: Forever young
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Julianna, Giuliana, Juliannah, Julita, Juliette, Julieta, Julie, Julia, Julianne, Julie, Jules
- Famous Namesakes: Juliana González Valenzuela (Philosopher), Julianna Margulies (actress)
Peak Popularity: Juliana has been in use for quite a long time, but has been gaining more popularity in recent years. It ranked highest in 2010 at number 146 and has hovered around that range ever since.
Laura
- Meaning: Crowned in laurel or from the laurel tree
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Laurita, Laurel, Laurie, Lori, Laurette, Lauren, Laurena, Lauretta
- Famous Namesakes: Laura Ingalls Wilder (Writer), Laura Ashley (designer)
Peak Popularity: Laura was a top 100 girl’s name for the most part of the 20th century. It rose as high as 10 in 1969 but began losing traction and was at number 340 in 2018.
Leticia
- Meaning: Joy and happiness
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Letitia, Latisha, Letizia, Letishia
- Famous Namesakes: Leticia Bufoni (Skateboarder), Leticia Castro (TV personality)
Peak Popularity: Leticia first appeared on the top 1,000 list of girl names in 1950 and stayed on the list till 2008. Its most popular year was 1976.
Lola
- Meaning: Full of sorrow
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Lolita, Lolah, Lowla
- Famous Namesakes: Lola Glaudini (Actress), Lola Falana (singer)
Peak Popularity: Lola is a classic name that was number 114 in 1900 and struggled to keep a spot in the top 1,000 until it disappeared in 1981. It reappeared in 2001 and has been gaining popularity ever since. It was at number 239 in 2018.
Lucia
- Meaning: Light
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Lucita, Luicia, Lucie, Lucy, Luciah, Luciana
- Famous Namesakes: Lucia Moniz (Actress), Lucía González (writer)
Peak Popularity: Lucia has been a top 1,000 name for over a century. It has maintained the number one spot in Spain from 2003 to 2018. In the U.S., it as number 183 in 2018.
Luisa
- Meaning: Warrior
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Luiza, Luz, Louisa, Luisana, Louiza, Luisita
- Famous Namesakes: Luisa Castro (Writer), Luisa Sobral (singer)
Peak Popularity: Luisa is a vintage name that has featured in the top 1,000 list several times over the last century. Its peak year was 1911 at number 750.
Margarita
- Meaning: Pearl or the daisy flower
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Margherita, Margharita, Margaret, Margo, Margarite
- Famous Namesakes: Margarita Zavala (Former First Lady of Mexico), Margarita Levieva (actress)
Peak Popularity: Margarita topped out at number 334 in 1950. It fell off the list in 2007 and is now rarely used.
Marina
- Meaning: loves the sea or from the sea
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Marena, Merina, Mariana, Marinda Maritza, Martina, Maribel, Marin
- Famous Namesakes: Marina de Tavira (Actress), Marina Ruy Barbosa (actress)
Peak Popularity: Marina was a top 1,000 girls’ name for most part of the 20th century. It is currently a top 100 name in Spain. Its most popular year in the United States was 1994 when it appeared at number 218.
Mariposa
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Butterfly
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mariposah, Mari, Maryposa, Marriposa, Mareposa
Peak Popularity: Mariposa is a vintage name and is not on the top 1,000 girls’ name list.
Marisol
- Meaning: The sun and the sea or the solitude of the Virgin Mary
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Marisole, Marisa, Mari, Marizol, Marrisol, Marisal, Marisel, Merisol
- Famous Namesakes: Marisol Nichols (Actress), Marisol Escobar (artist), Marisol Ramirez (actress)
Peak Popularity: Marisol struggled to keep a spot in the top 1,000 list since when it first appeared in 1962 till when it fell off in 2016. Its most popular year was 1996 when it ranked at 235.
Mercedes
- Meaning: Merciful
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Merci, Mercy, Merce, Mercedita, Mercedis, Mercides, Mersaydes, Mersades
- Famous Namesakes: Mercedes Peris (Olympic athlete), Mercedes McCambridge (actress)
Peak Popularity: Mercedes is a vintage name that has been in use since before 1900. Its most popular year was 1991 when it ranked at number 164. It has since fallen out of favor during the last 15 years and finally fell off the list in 2015.
Milagros
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Miracles
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Milagro, Millagros, Milagrosa, Mili, Milagritos
- Famous Namesakes: Milagros Schmoll (Model), Milagros Flores (actress)
Peak Popularity: Milagros is an uncommon name, but has made several appearances in the top 1,000 girls list including 1954 through 1970 and 2008 through 2011.
Natalia
- Meaning: Born on Christmas Day
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Natala, Natalya, Nathalia, Natalie, Talia, Thalia
- Famous Namesakes: Natalia Jiménez (Singer), Natalia Tena (actress)
Peak Popularity: Natalia appeared several times on the top 1,000 list, including 1925 to 1929 and 1934. It reappeared 40 years later in 1975 and quickly gained traction. 2018 saw it rise to a new high of 114.
Paloma
- Meaning: Beautiful dove
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Palloma, Peloma, Piloma, Palomma
- Famous Namesakes: Paloma Picasso (Designer), Paloma Faith (singer)
Peak Popularity: Paloma first appeared on the top 1,000 list in 1993. It ranked highest in 2010 at number 699.
Paula
- Meaning: Small and petite
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Paulina, Pola, Paola, Paulita, Paulette, Pauline
- Famous Namesakes: Paula Abdul (Singer), Paula Deen (Chef)
Peak Popularity: Paula is a vintage name. It was a top 100 name from 1943 to 1975. It has been dropping in recent years in the United States and fell to number 793 in 2018. However, it has held a spot on the top five list in Spain for 20 years and was in the top 100 list in Puerto Rico in 2016.
Paz
- Meaning: Peaceful
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Pazz, Paza, Pazita, Pazia
- Famous Namesakes: Paz Vega (Actress), Paz De la Huerta (actress)
Peak Popularity: Paz is a rare name and is not a top 1,000 girl’s name.
Pilar
- Meaning: Pillar of strength
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Pillar, Pilare, Pilarre, Pylar, Pilaer, Pili
- Famous Namesakes: Pilar Montenegro (Singer), Pilar Pallete (actress)
Peak Popularity: Pilar is an uncommon name in the United States and not on the top 1,000 list of girl names.
Ramona
- Meaning: Wise protector
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Ramonna, Ramonha, Ramonda, Ray, Ramonah, Raymona, Raimona, Romona, Remona
- Famous Namesakes: Ramona Marquez (Actress), Ramona Singer (reality TV star)
Peak Popularity: Ramona has been a trendy girl name for more than a century. Its peak year was 1928 when it ranked at number 117. It fell off the top 1,000 list in 1988 but resurfaced in 2016 and ranked at number 835 in 2018.
Rosa
- Meaning: Like the rose blossom
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Rose, Rosie, Rosalie, Rosalinda, Rosario, Rosaline, Rosita
- Famous Namesakes: Rosa Parks (Civil rights leader), Rosa Salazar (actress)
Peak Popularity: Rosa is a traditional name. It was a popular name during the first part of the 20th century but has since lost traction and is not so popular nowadays. It ranked at number 69 in 1900 but featured at number 641 in 2018
Savannah
- Meaning: A grassland without trees or the open plains
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Savanna, Savana, Sevanna, Savanneh,, Savanah, Sevannah, Vanna, Vannah
- Famous Namesakes: Savannah Guthrie (News anchor), Savannah James (basketball wife)
Peak Popularity: Savannah is a traditional name. It first appeared on the top 1,000 list of girls names in the year 1900 and lasted until the late 1920s. It fell off the list after 1931 but reappeared 52 years later in 1983. It has enjoyed steady usage since then and has been a top 50 name in the United States since 1996.
Selena
- Meaning: The moon
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Celia, Selene, Salene, Celine, Salina, Selina, Saleena, Celena, Celina, Saleen, Sela
- Famous Namesakes: Selena Gomez (Singer and actress), Selena Quintanilla (singer)
Peak Popularity: Selena has been a top 1,000 girl’s name since 1958. It was most popular in 1995 when it ranked at number 91.
Sierra
- Meaning: From the mountains
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Siera, Syera, Sierrah, Seara
- Famous Namesakes: Sierra McCormick (Actress), Sierra Swan (singer)
Peak Popularity: Sierra first appeared on the top 1,000 list in 1978. Its most popular year was 1999 when it ranked at number 49, but has since dropped to the 400s in recent times.
Sofia
- Meaning: Having great wisdom
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Sophia, Sophie, Sofie, Sofea, Sofiya
- Famous Namesakes: Sofia Vergara (Actress), Sofia Carson (actress)
Peak Popularity: Sofia is a common name. It has been on the top 100 list of girls’ names since 2003 and ranked at number 17 in 2018. It is also a popular name in Portugal as well as Spain, Mexico, and other Spanish speaking countries.
Soledad
- Meaning: Solitude, solitary
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Sol, Solada, Sole, Solita
- Famous Namesakes: Soledad O’Brien (Journalist), Soledad Miranda (actress)
Peak Popularity: Soledad has only appeared once in the last century, and that was in 1929.
Tia
- Meaning: Aunt or princess
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Tea, Tiah Thia, Thea
- Famous Namesakes: Tia Carrere (Actress), Tia Mowry (actress)
Peak Popularity: Tia appeared on the top 1,000 list in 1957. It resurfaced in 1962 and struggled to keep a spot before disappearing in 2012. It hasn’t resurfaced since then.
Yolanda
- Meaning: beautiful like a violet flower
- Origin: Spanish
- Alternative Variations & Spellings: Yolandah, Yalanda, Yolana, Yolande, Yolannda, Yolonda, Yolada, Yolanta, Yolanthe, Ianthe, Iolanthe, Violet, Yolie, Yoli, Yolee
- Famous Namesakes: Yolanda Griffith (Basketball player), Yolanda Adams (singer)
Peak Popularity: Yolanda is a vintage name and has been fashionable since 1905. It ranked highest in 1972 at number 89. However, it has been suffering a decline in usage in the last two decades.
