Spanish Cat Names

Claudina — a traditional Spanish diminutive of Claudia — was a Top 500 name in Spain for the first half of the 20th century. It never caught on as a given name in the US. At its peak, Claudina was given to 17 American baby girls in 1969.

A worthy honoree that would place a too-heavy expectation on a child, probably subjecting him to ridicule. Try Pablo instead.

Occasionally heard Spanish name referring to Christ's native village.

Paquito's minimizing ito ending could make your child feel insignificant.

A very popular girls' name in the Basque country and Puerto Rico. It is among the Top 100 Spanish baby names, so it's a girls' name that's widely used in Spain.

A worldly and attractive choice for a child of any background. Two early New World explorers were Hernandos — de Soto and Cortés.

A name that's more familiar in its male form, Placido, but this can be a similar-feeling alternative to Serena.

A male take on the feminine name Zoe, it's hard to give an attractive pronunciation.

The Spanish travelling or Romani community are called Gitanos, and Gitana is the feminine word. The term evolved from the Old Spanish word egiptano "Egyptian".

With word names increasingly acceptable or even desirable, this Spanish word for heart, brought to the fore by Philippine president Corazon Aquino, may find more takers.

Cute, or maybe qute, nickname for the upstanding Enrique.

Unfashionable name, with the rather poignant lone sound.

Heard in Spain more as a last name, but would work here as an alluring first.

This variation on Moses got a boost from Moises Alou, a Dominican-American baseball player who spent 17 seasons in the National League.

A word that carries a broad range of connotations across Europe, all of which ultimately derive from the Roman term for a country estate. Villa is well established as a surname, especially in Spanish-speaking countries, and has also occasionally been used as a first name for girls.

The name of cities in Mexico and Colorado, Durango is a pleasant, fresh option from the atlas.

Adds some spunk and Latin rhythm to mundane Martin.

Loyola is a Spanish surname occasionally used as a first name for girls. This is most likely in honor of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Loyola O'Connor was an American silent film actress.