Alejandra, the Spanish form of this popular and multivaried name, has fans both in and outside the Latino community. Still, it has lost ground since its peak in the 1990s.

Alejandra

Amada is an unusual Spanish name that's becoming more famous thanks to Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, who named their second daughter Amada Lee and their first Esmeralda Amada. Amada was also the name of two characters played by Mendes and, not coincidentally, her grandmother's name.  In 2015, it was used for only 21 girls while brother name Amado was used for twice as many girls, but we predict the name will become more popular thanks to its new star power. Related names include the Latin saints' name Amatus, the musical Amadeo, and even Amy and Amanda.

Amada

Amaranta is the unusual and intriguing Latinate form of the Greek botanical name Amarantha, which connects to an eternal mythical figure.  An excellent choice for the parent who wants an A name but wishes to move beyond the usual complement of names from Amelia to Annabel.

Amaranta

The name of a popular Mexican singer and a telenovela character, Aranza incredibly rose out of obscurity to become Number 607 in the US in 2014.
 The name comes from Arantzazu, a shrine associated with the Virgin Mary in Basque Country, Spain. Legend has it that a shepherd discovered a statue of Mary in a hawthorn bush in 1468 and exclaimed, "Arantzan? Zu?"—"You? Among the thorns?" It's been a pilgrimage site ever since, and occasionally a given name, too.

Aranza

Brisa is commonly used in Latino families, all but unheard of in others. 

Brisa

This name of a touristed island in sight of Los Angeles makes an attractive and newly stylish variation on the classic Catherine or overused Caitlin. 
 Santa Catalina of Siena was, along with Saint Francis, one of the two patron saints of Italy and was a respected spiritual writer of the Church. Catalina de Aragón y Castilla is the original Spanish name of the first wife of Henry VIII, known to history as Catherine of Aragon. In a completely different vein, Catalina Aruca was a character on the sitcom My Name is Earl.

Catalina

Coco came to prominence as the nickname of the legendary French designer Chanel (born Gabrielle) and has lately become a starbaby favorite, initially chosen by Courteney Cox for her daughter Coco Riley in 2004. At first it was the kind of name that the press loves to ridicule, but we predict Coco's heading for more broad acceptance and even popularity.

Coco

Consuelo is a chic, highly sophisticated Spanish name that works well with Anglo surnames. It was regularly on the U.S. popularity list through 1983, reaching as high as Number 339 in 1930.
 The name is a reference to the Virgin Mary, as Nuestra Senora del Consuelo--our lady of consolation.
 Its most noted namesake in this country is Consuelo Vanderbilt, the beautiful only daughter of railroad millionaire William K. Vanderbilt. She was given the Spanish name in honor of her half-Cuban godmother. Another fashionable Consuelo was the American-born Italian countess Consuelo Crespi, the editor of Italian Vogue. In literature, Consuelo was used by George Sand for the title character of a novel about a beautiful Venetian singer. There have also been Consuelos in West Side Storyand Precious.
 Consuelo is still well-used in Spanish-speaking countries, and is especially popular in Chile. The unusual o-ending for a girl's baby name adds to her appeal.

Consuelo

Diablo Cody, self-named (she's really Brook Busey) screenwriter of Juno, singlehandedly helped popularize not just her heroine's name and her own but all o-ending names for girls. You don't need us to tell you that it takes a brave parent, in every way, to name a baby Diablo. Diablo is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/161/spanish-names">Spanish baby names</a> that diverges furthest from the well-paved camino.

Diablo

Though it's related to the Virgin Mary, this name was once perceived as the height of sensuality, a role since taken over by nicknames Lola and Lolita. 
 Dolores is one of the many titles given to the Virgin Mary — Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, or Our Lady of the Sorrows, and was one of the Spanish names that really caught on in this country — at one point in time, in 1930, Dolores was the 13th most popular girls' name in the US. But in the twenty-first century, you might prefer one of the other names derived from Mary's Spanish epithets — Mercedes, Soledad, Rosario or Luz. Dolores does have some Harry Potter cred, via the witch Dolores Umbridge. Addison Timlin and Jeremy Allen White gave the name to their daughter in 2020.

Dolores

Elena is at its most popular point ever in the US, thanks to its cross-cultural appeal and the overall popularity of El- names. It's more international than Ellen or Eleanor, but still accessible.
 A pan-European version of Helen, Elena has roots in Spanish, Italian, Slavic, and Romanian, among other languages. Helen, the name from which it derives, came from the Greek word helene, meaning "torch." Alternate spellings include Elaina, Ellena, and Alena.
 
Elena may be trending, but she's also a solid classic as well as an international favorite. Elena ranks highly in France, Italy, Germany, and Spain along with a host of other countries. 
A worthy namesake is Elena Kagan, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the fourth female to hold that position. Pseudonymous Italian writer Elena Ferrante, author of the Neapolitan Novels, is another famous Elena. 
 
A fictional bearer is Elena Gilbert, protagonist of The Vampire Diaries. and Elena Lincoln is a character in Fifty Shades of Grey. Elena of Avalor is a princess featured in the Disney Junior show of that name. 
 
Read more about Elena and other <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/disney-princess-names">Disney Princess Names</a> in our featured blog.

Elena

The enormous popularity of Emily and Emma means that parents will be looking further afield for substitutes -- and this is one of the prettiest.

Emiliana

Emmanuela

Esmeralda came into use as an applied use of the Spanish word for emerald, esmeralda. In the 1831 Victor Hugo novel Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, the heroine was born Agnes, but called La Esmeralda in reference to the jewel she wears around her neck. The name Esmeralda got increased visibility via the Disney version of the story.
 
This Portuguese and Spanish version of the jewel-like Emerald has long been popular with Hispanic parents. Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling named their first daughter Esmeralda, inspired by the Victor Hugo novel. Read more about Esmeralda and other <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/disney-princess-names">Disney Princess Names</a> in our featured blog.

Esmeralda

Esperanza is a Spanish classic that's found its way onto the national popularity list in recent years. It came into the spotlight not long ago when jazz singer Esperanza Spalding "stole" the Best New Artist Grammy from favorite Justin Bieber. It's also the name of the main character in the novel The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, about a young Latina growing up in Chicago.

Esperanza

Fidela

Fifi is a perfect name -- for a French poodle. But Fifi may seem more child-friendly as names like Coco and Lulu rise.  Fifi in its fluffiness also balances the seriousness of such full names as Josephine or Federica. 

Fifi

Florencia

Franka

Gabriella is the feminine form of Gabriel, a name derived from the Hebrew Gavri’el. Gavri’el is composed of the elements gever, meaning "strong," and ’el, referring to God. Gabriella is used among a variety of cultures in the US, including Italian Americans, Latinos, and in the Jewish community. Gabriela is the Spanish spelling.
 
Gabriella has been on the U.S. Top 1000 list since 1984, entering the Top 100 in 2000, while the single 'l' spelling rank is also somewhat popular. It also riding on a wave of popularity in Canada and Australia.
 Gabriella was a major character on High School Musical, and real life namesakes include poet Gabriela Mistral and tennis champ Gabriela Sabatini. The French version is Gabrielle.

Gabriella

Hermosa, the name of a California beach town, means "beautiful".

Hermosa

A distinctive, rhythmic, and lovely Spanish name that suggests enlightenment. 

Iluminada

Isabella has been a Top 10 name for girls in the US for two decades now. The Latinate form of Isabel, a variation of Elizabeth which originally derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba, Isabella reigned as Number 1 in 2009 and 2010.
Isabella, which feels both modern and traditional, has incredible cross-cultural appeal to parents from a range of religious and ethnic backgrounds. It's feminine but also substantial, with a long history as a royal and classic name comfortable on the international stage. 
 
Isabella is of course wildly popular in both the English and Spanish speaking worlds, but it also ranks among the Top 100 girls' names in a wide range of western countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia.
 
Isabella's success is due at least in part to the 'Twilight' effect and lead character Isabella 'Bella' Swan. Some parents choose it to get to the short form Bella, while others prefer to use the irreverent Izzy or Issy, while still others insist on using it in its full four-syllable glory.
 
Variations Isabelle and Isabel are also popular, with the Scottish spelling Isobel another possibility. Newer alternatives include Sabella and Isabetta.
 Isabella is familiar through various European queens, including the Queen of Spain who funded Christopher Columbus, and was used by Shakespeare in Measure for Measure.

Isabella

As Joaquin enters the American mainstream, his sister might just follow. 

Joaquina

Juana has not achieved the popularity in the U.S. of the male version Juan.  Whereas Juan has made it almost to the Top 50 on the U. S. hit parade, sister Juana has barely entered the thousand most popular. 

Juana

Contrary to popular belief, the name Kahlo has German origins, rather than Spanish. It derives from kahl, a German word meaning "bald." Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo was born to a German father, photographer Guillermo Kahlo. 
 
Kahlo is given to baby girls and boys in roughly equal numbers each year. It's a modern hero name — the names of virtually all baby Kahlos were inspired by Frida.

Kahlo

Leocadia marries a mix of sounds: the strength of a lion, with a rhythmic Latin ending. 
 St. Leocadia was an early martyred Spanish saint, and "La Leocadia" is a famous Goya painting of Leocadia Weiss, the artist's maid and caretaker.

Leocadia

A feminine name heard most often in the Hispanic community. Surprisingly, Lorena was on the US Top 1000 list of <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls' names</a> for an impressive 130 years, from 1880 until falling off in 2011. We do not predict an imminent return.

Lorena

Lucia is a lush, rich Latinate equivalent of Lucy, popular in Spain and throughout Latin America and also a cross-cultural favorite. You might be surprised to know that Lucia has ALWAYS ranked among the Top 1000 girl names in the US, though she's really taken off only since the turn of this century.
 
Derived from lux, the Latin word for light. Lucia is considered to be the feminine form of Lucius. Due to its connection to light, Lucia was traditionally given to babies born as daylight was breaking.
 
A variety of references include Santa Lucia, a fourth century martyr who was revered in the Middle Ages and the Caribbean island named for her, and the tragic opera Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti.
 
Lucia has for several years ranked as the Number 1 name in Spain. It was chosen for their daughters by James Joyce, Mira Sorvino, Giovanni Ribisi, Mel Gibson, and Sasha Alexander and Eduardo Pointi, among others.

Lucia

Luvena

Manuela is one feminine form that's more energetic than the male original, and is worth considering if you're seeking an easily assimilated Spanish name.
 In the 1948 film The Pirate, set in the Caribbean village of Calvados, Judy Garland plays a spirited senorita named Manuela. Manuela Santos is a fictional character in Degrassi: The Next Generation and there is a Manuela in the James Bond film Moonraker.

Manuela

Derived from Maria, the meaning of which is uncertain. Theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Marita

Mercedes is one of the few names attached to luxury living that we can wholeheartedly recommend, it being a legitimate Spanish appellation stemming from one of the epithets given to the Virgin Mary--Santa Maria de las Mercedes, or Our Lady of the Mercies. The car, by the way was named after the eleven-year-old daughter of the Daimler company's French distributor in 1901.
 Always well used in the Spanish-speaking community, Mercedes had a sudden spurt of overall popularity in the 1990's, moving as high as Number 164 in 1991.
 Mercedes has been widely used in a variety of art forms--from the opera Carmen to Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo to the film Pan's Labyrinth to the TV show Glee.

Mercedes

Mesa is the term for a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table".

Mesa

If you're looking for an unusual Michaela alternative, try this Spanish route. 

Miguela

Traditionally given to girls born on the September birth date of the Virgin Mary. 

Natividad

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

Nazaret

Might be carrying things too far -- little little girl? -- though could freshen up this favorite.

Ninetta

This name of an admired Puerto Rican pop singer has been picked up by hundreds of Hispanic parents. 

Noelia

Norita

Otavia

When properly pronounced, has an alluring sound and harmonious meaning. 

Pacifica

Pedra has never caught on with anything like the popularity of its male counterpart, Pedro. The Greek Petra sounds a lot cleaner and more refined.

Pedra

Querida

Mexican place-name famously used by Joan Didion for her daughter, Quintana Roo. 

Quintana

A feminine and fragrant member of the Rose family.

Rosalina

Anglo parents are taking note of this Hispanic classic, thanks to actress Rosario Dawson and a character on Will & Grace. Poetic and powerful, it comes from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Rosario, or "Our Lady of the Rosary", Rosary referring to vocal and mental prayer in Catholicism, that reflect on the life of Christ and his Mother. 
 
Given to around 80 girls in the US in a recent year, it is also used as an exclusively masculine name in Italy.

Rosario

Rosita

Sancha of Leon was an 11th century princess who became Queen of Spain after her brother was killed by Ferdinand I, whom she then married. A twisted tale indeed, but Sancha is one of those names that is both historic and extremely rare -- no babies were named Sancha or Sancho in the US in 2021. Sancho Panza was the sidekick of the fictional Don Quixote.

Sancha

Sefarina is dramatic and feminine, but Serafina is far more commonly used. Think of Sefarina as deriving from Zephyr, which can be used as a male name; the female version is Zephyrine or Zephyrina, or the Portuguese Zeferina.

Sefarina

Selena is smooth, shiny, and sensual, a nineteenth-century name that found new life in the Latino community, following the biopic of slain Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, starring Jennifer Lopez. But you don't have to be Latin to love Selena, which is both distinctive yet in step with stylish modern names such as Seraphina and Celia.
 Young Disney channel favorite Selena Gomez, former star of The Wizards of Waverly Place and current pop singer, was named after Selena Quintanilla. Selina Kyle is the secret identity of Catwoman. Selena is an alternate name of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and hunting.

Selena

Socorro is a Spanish and Portuguese word name taken from a title of the Virgin Mary, "Mary of Perpetual Succour." Its religious meaning makes it somewhat old-fashioned and not among the <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/495/spanish-names-for-girls">Spanish names for girls</a> widely used in the US.

Socorro

Cute, distinctive diminutive for this regal-sounding name.

Tavia

Tornado first meant thunderstorm and only later came to mean whirlwind, the common modern meaning.  More recently, Tornado is the first name of a tennis-playing teen whose sister is called the equally attention-getting Hurricane.  Both names work for either gender, if you think you can withstand the storm jokes.

Tornado

Rhythmic name with both religious and geographical ties, commonly heard in Latin countries. 

Trinidad

Ursulina

Verde is an uncommon color name with a Latinate accent, perfect for a spring baby.

Other unique color names include Cerulean, Amethyst, and Iolanthe, while color names with green meanings include Jade, Emerald, and Moss.

Verde

Like Vita and Viva, one of several similar life-affirming names, this one was chosen by Matthew McConaughey and his Portuguese-born wife Camila.  

Vida may also be a diminutive of Davida. Australian suffragette and human rights campainer Vida Goldstein is an notable bearer of this name.

Vida

Viva la baby with this life-affirming name, one of the appealing group of <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/607/girl-names-that-mean-life">girl names that mean life</a>.! Singer Rufus Wainwright chose it for his baby daughter, perhaps in celebration of a new life entering the world the year after he lost his mother Kate McGarrigle. The baby's middle name is Katherine. 
 Viva (born Janet Susan) was one of Andy Warhol's single-named superstars.
 Other related life-giving names on the rise: cousins Vida and Vita, and Vivian, Aviva, and even Zoe.

Viva

For any parents out there searching for a nature name starting with x -- and we doubt there are many -- this one, named for a Spanish monk called Ximenes, is a small tropical plant bearing wild limes. 

Ximenia

Ynesita

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

Zamora

Zarita

Fiery~Red~Fox's list "My Favorite Latina Names!" of 63 great name ideas: Alejandra - Zarita!

My Favorite Latina Names!

I LOVE the names of Latin women, so here's a list of my very favorite Latina names, the first of which is Selena! Please enjoy! Woohoo!