Dulcinea

dull-SIN-ee-uh
Spanish
"sweetness"

Dulcinea Origin and Meaning

The name Dulcinea is a girl's name meaning "sweetness".

Miguel de Cervantes invented this elaborate-sounding name -- which roughly translates as "sweetness" -- for the beautiful maiden Don Quixote is obsessed with in his great novel. Even in the fictional world of the book, though, Dulcinea is not the woman's real name; Aldonza is. And because she never appears in person in the text, it's unclear whether she is as beautiful and saintly as the protagonist believes her to be. Probably not, given Don Quixote's track record.

Dulcinea in Pop Culture

  • Dulcinea del Toboso
    character in Miguel de Cervantes' "Don Quixote"
  • Dulcinea the Dragon
    character in the "Sonic the Hedgehog"
  • Dulcinea "Nan" Pilgrim
    character in "Witch Week" by Diana Wynne Jones (named after her ancestor, the "Archwitch" Dulcinea Wilkes)
  • Dulcinea
    sweet natured cat character from the Adventures of Puss In Boots